Larry Emig received a standing ovation Wednesday, March 4, from the Michigan Works! West Central Workforce Development and Local-Elected Officials boards for his dedication and years of service. Emig has served on the joint boards for the organization in two different capacities since 1993, and counting.

To honor his more than three decades of service, the conference room at the organization's Reed City service center was dedicated in Emig's honor. A plaque will forever be hung outside the doorway alerting all who enter the room about Emig's passion and dedication to workforce development.

For more than three decades, Emig has embodied what it means to be a public servant whose leadership is defined not by recognition, but by responsibility. Since first joining the workforce boards in 1993, he has been a steady, trusted presence, serving initially on the LEO board as an Osceola County commissioner and continuing today on the Workforce Development Board representing the Mecosta-Osceola Youth Attention Center. From 2009 through 2020, he guided the organization as LEO board chair, offering thoughtful leadership marked by integrity, fairness and an unwavering focus on the people and communities served by Michigan Works! West Central.

Emig's service has never been about the passage of time; it has been about stewardship. As programs evolved from JTPA to WIOA, and as newer initiatives such as the Going PRO Talent Fund and Offender Success Reentry Services took shape, he stood alongside the organization, patient, supportive and deeply committed to ensuring each new effort grew into a meaningful, effective service. His institutional knowledge and quiet consistency helped strengthen systems that continue to change lives across the region.

That same commitment defines Larry’s broader legacy of public service. During his 30 years as an Osceola County commissioner, he helped guide investments that continue to benefit residents today. Under his leadership, emergency services were expanded with the creation of the Marion and Tustin EMS sites, a county Veterans Affairs office was established to better serve local veterans, and major improvements were completed at the county annex, sheriff’s office and jail. Beyond those roles, Larry has given his time and expertise to organizations focused on juvenile justice, aging services, community foundations and poverty reduction, always advocating for those who might otherwise be overlooked. He also previously served as mayor of Reed City.

While Larry has never sought the spotlight, his impact has not gone unnoticed. He has been recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Reed City Area Chamber of Commerce and honored with the Claude Pepper Award from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for his efforts to improve the lives of seniors. These are fitting acknowledgments for a lifetime spent putting his community first.

For Michigan Works! West Central, an organization that has supported communities for more than half a century, Larry’s 33 years of service represent a remarkable share of its history and heart. His leadership has shaped the board, strengthened partnerships and set a lasting standard for what thoughtful, humble and effective public service can be.

In addition to the presentation of the plaque, Emig also was given a legislative tribute recognizing his years of service, signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, State Rep. Tom Kunse and State Sen. Roger Hauck. Speakers at the presentation included fellow long-time workforce board member and Lake-Osceola State Bank board chair Debbie Smith-Olson, and Michigan Works! West Central CEO Shelly Keene. Big Rapids Mayor Fred Guenther also was on hand to help present the legislative tribute.

In recognition of his enduring contributions, the organization's Reed City service center now bears his name. It is a permanent reminder of a leader whose legacy is measured not just in years served, but in lives improved. Thank you Larry for your continued years of service, dedication, leadership and friendship. Congratulations!