Personal education, awards and recognition:
Graduate Whitman College – BA in Economics
Graduate on the Commandant’s List from the US Army Command and General Staff College – Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Graduate US Army Logistical Management College – Fort Lee Virginia
Graduate – National Association of Parliamentarian’s – Effective Meeting Techniques
Received the US Army Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for Community Volunteerism
Retired US Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel
Served as a Commissioned Medical Service Corps Officer in the 385th
Evacuation Hospital also as a Training Officer and Executive Officer in the 416th Regiment of the 104th
Training Division
Named 2011 Tri-Citian of the Year
Chairman Port of Kennewick Vista Field Advisory Board
Chairman Port of Kennewick Re-Branding Committee
Member Regional Veteran’s Memorial Committee
Received the “Everyday Hero Award” from the Pacific Northwest District of Kiwanis International for community service
Presented the “Top Hand Award” from the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Received 2001 Special Appreciation Award from the Mid Columbia Education Alliance
Received “The Outstanding Partner of the Year” award from the Kennewick School District
Recognized several times by the Kennewick City Council for service to the community
Received City of Kennewick Leadership Award for Chairing the Bridge to Bridge/River to Railroad project. Also received a Tri-Cities Chamber Award of Appreciation for the same project
Placed on the First Night International Lifetime Volunteer Honor Roll.
The Downtown Kennewick and Columbia Drive Association named Skip and Shannon Novakovich 1994 “Downtowners of the Year”
Skip was named Kennewick Man of the Year in 1999
Skip and his wife Shannon were honored and publicly recognized as Mr. and Mrs. First Night Tri-Cities on December 30, 2006, for their years of service and contributions to First Night Tri-Cities since its inception in 1995
Recognized by the Tamkaliks Committee for outstanding contributions and volunteerism
Recognized by the Benton Franklin Mounted Sheriff’s Posse for years or loyalty, friendship and service
Competed in Northwest rodeos and won an event at the 1985 Pendleton Roundup
Competed in over twenty marathons including qualifying for and competing in the 1982 Boston Marathon. Coached a new marathon runner.
Served as President of the Downtown Kennewick and Columbia Drive Association from 1998 to 2003. Board member from 1992 – 2004.
Served as President of First Night Tri-Cities for six years. Board member since 1995. One of the founding Board Members. Re-elected President in 2009.
Served as Chair of the Bridge to Bridge/River to Railroad Committee that was successful in bringing an Urban Design Assistance Team to Kennewick in 2003.
Serving as Chair of the Wallowa County Economic Action Team that was successful on bringing a Rural Development Assistance Team to Wallowa County. Received a leadership award from the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce for this effort.
Served as Chair of the 2006 Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce Business and Community Development Committee
Served as President of Kennewick Safetown
Served on the Board of Junior Achievement
Chair of the City of Kennewick Centennial Finance Committee
Chair of the Fundraising Committee for the rebuilding of the Playground of Dreams
Board Member, Association of Washington Business
Executive Board Member of the Wallowa Band Nez Perce Trail Interpretive Center
Past President and voting Board Member of The Bowlby Group LLC, A for profit Historical Preservation Corporation. Negotiated the sale of a 50,000 square foot historic building while Chair.
Member City of Kennewick Historical Preservation Commission.
Columbia Basin Veteran’s Coalition Board Member.
Member Benton Franklin Counties Traffic Safety Task Force.
Member Kennewick General Hospital Community Advisory Board
Board and Executive Committee Member of the Wallowa County Economic Action Team
Board member Enterprise Hometown Improvement Group
Facilitated non-profit strategic planning
Provided information to several Cities on Public Input and Economic Development
Author of many 501(c)(3) Bylaws Documents
Licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Oregon
National Rifle Association Member and Range Safety Officer
Founding Board Member – Columbia Basin Badger Club
Member Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce
Member Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau
Member Tri-Cities Industrial Development Council
Member Calvary Chapel Tri-Cities
Washington State House of Representatives candidate in 2008
Elected Benton County PCO in November 2008
Elected Chairman of the Board of the Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition – January 2009
Also served on the various other Boards and Committees such as, Sand in the City, Boy Scouts of America, Citizens for Public Safety, Kennewick Focus, Benton Franklin Humane Society Fundraising Committee, Benton Franklin Humane Society Strategic Planning Committee, City of Kennewick Logo Selection Committee, Gang Awareness Committee, Benton Franklin Mounted Sheriff’s Posse, Washington State Cross Country meet, Big Pasco Invitational, Lewis & Clark Heritage Committee, Usher and Greeter at Calvary Chapel, etc. etc.
Business:
Skip and his wife Shannon founded Esprit Graphic Communications in 1989 at 110 N. Cascade in Kennewick. The company has been recognized locally, regionally, nationally and internationally for their, customer service, business ethics and quality of work.
A few examples:
- State of Washington Georgie Award for Tourism promotion in 1994;
- 1995-1996 Business of the Year by the Washington State Crime Prevention Association;
- 1998 Spirit of Excellence Award from the Better Business Bureau of Central Washington;
- The 2000 Small business of the year silver award for the mid-Columbia;
- The Mid-Columbia Business Award for Excellence in 2001;
- The Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau’s Tourism Business of the Year award for 2003;
- Leadership Tri-Cities awards for Recruitment Sponsorship
- Richland Business of the Year for 2005;
- National and International awards for quality printing from such organizations as Printing Industries of America, International Gallery of Superior Printing, Communication Concepts, the National Gold Ink Award, as well as many others.
Esprit makes a practice of donating a sizeable amount of printing services to local individuals and organizations that are trying to make the Tri-Cities region a better place to visit, live, work, invest, and play. Skip’s Wife Shannon is the current President of the Benton Franklin Humane Society.