Gale Klappa, executive chairman — WEC Energy Group, was honored Thursday, Nov. 17, by Boy Scouts of America’s Three Harbors Council, which awarded him its Distinguished Citizen Award.

The award, established in 1987, is presented annually to a leading corporate, civic or community leader in the greater Milwaukee area who embodies leadership, character and dedication to improving the local community. Past award recipients have included distinguished CEOs, elected officials and religious leaders.

In presenting the award, the group noted Klappa’s more than 40 years of experience in the public utility industry, his commitment to mentoring and developing future leaders, and his leadership of We Energies parent company WEC Energy Group and its board with a deep understanding of investment decisions and policy issues facing large public companies. They also highlighted his service on several community boards and his leadership in helping to shape the economic future of southeast Wisconsin through the launch of the Milwaukee 7 regional economic development initiative.