Mackey award

Mackey named 2024 Geneseo Chamber Business Person of the Year

Geneseo Schools

August 15, 2024

Travis Mackey was named the 2024 Geneseo Chamber Business Person of the Year at the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce’s recent annual dinner and awards banquet.

Mackey received the honor for his outstanding contributions to make Geneseo High School’s Career and Technical Education Center a reality. The facility opened its doors to students at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, and now, interest in vocational classes at GHS is at an all-time high.

“This state-of-the-art vocational education center will play a prominent role in equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a variety of professional trades, while developing a critical workforce talent pipeline not only in Geneseo, but throughout the region,” said Zack Sullivan, Executive Director of the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce. “The positive ripple effect felt by students and our local business community as a result of the Career and Technical Education Center at Geneseo High School will be felt for decades to come.”

“I want to thank Zack Sullivan and the Chamber of Commerce for this award, which I feel is a reflection of our Board of Education’s vision,” Mackey said. “I appreciate the Board and Dr. Brumbaugh giving me the opportunity to still be involved with our school district. It is a special place that gives students so many opportunities to be successful.”

Due to a prior commitment, Mackey was unable to attend the chamber’s August 1 dinner and Superintendent Dr. Adam Brumbaugh accepted on his behalf. Mackey received his award at the Board of Education’s August 15 meeting with Brumbaugh and Sullivan on hand to present.

“Travis Mackey is one of the biggest dreamers I know,” said Brumbaugh. “He always has a new idea, a thought to make something better, and the ability to take it to the next level. Although many, many people had a hand in making the Career and Technical Education Center a reality, Travis was the connector, the one person who was able to get the right people in the room at the same time and pull everything together.”

After 33 years of working as a teacher, athletic director, principal and coach, Mackey stepped down from his role as a full-time educator at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

While Mackey’s retirement came before the district broke ground for the building, he agreed to be the vocational director to see it completed and expand its impact through new partnerships with local businesses, foundations, Black Hawk College, and the Department of Labor.

“Without Travis, I don’t see this project getting off the ground and completed as fast and with as much community involvement and support as it did,” Brumbaugh stated. “The relationships he has forged, the learning opportunities that have already begun to take place in the building, and the pathways for our students beyond their years at GHS have already exceeded what I could have hoped for or imagined.”

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