We’re excited to share some big news with our Living Water family! Our CEO and President, Mike Mantel, has been named one of the Houston Business Journal’s “Most Admired CEO of the Year Award” honorees. Mike and his fellow nominees will be honored at a luncheon at the Marriott Marquis Houston later this month.
According to the Houston Business Journal, the award “celebrates the achievements and successes of Houston’s top business leaders.” Under Mike’s leadership, Living Water International has doubled in size—with an annual revenue of more than $24 million—while still making a meaningful impact on our community in Houston.
“We help take a global issue like the water crisis and approach it with local solutions,” Mike said. “Here in Houston, that includes partnering with more than 200 area churches. Every year, we take hundreds of Houston residents on our Living Water Trips overseas, giving church members the opportunity to experience the global water crisis and the transformative power of water first-hand.”
Since taking the helm, one of Mike’s favorite projects has been helping to launch Team Living Water, our charity endurance program. The team has grown so much that at the Chevron Houston Marathon, Team Living Water is the largest charity team with more than 130 runners. The team’s runners have raised more than $1.1 million since its inception 10 years ago!
Mike joins several other nonprofit leaders as well as for-profit executives in receiving this year’s award. The Houston Business Journal described this year’s honorees as a group of women and men “who are making an indelible mark on their organization’s financial success, work culture and contributions to the community. This prestigious event honors great leadership, vision, and values.”
The Houston Business Journal is part of the American City Business Journals network, the largest publisher of metropolitan business newsweeklies in the United States, with 43 business publications reaching more than 3.6 million readers each week. The awards judging was conducted independently by a panel from the Houston Business Journal, and honorees were selected based on professional accomplishments, community involvement, philanthropic efforts, and other exemplary qualities.
“For more than 25 years, I’ve experienced the joy of helping others through my career in business and the humanitarian sector,” Mike said. “With every passing year, I am more and more grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to help lead change and impact the lives of others. I’m honored to receive this award this year, along with the other incredible honorees.”
On behalf of the entire Living Water International team, please join us in giving a big congratulations to Mike Mantel for his continued leadership, vision, and dedication to this work. Great job, Mike!
