Karl Flemke Pioneer Achievement Award

Karl Flemke joined Junior Achievement (JA) in 1958 as executive director in New Bedford, MA. In 1962, he transferred to JA in Pittsburgh as chief staff officer. Under Flemke’s direction, the area became one of the five largest program operations in the country, with student enrollment increasing by 142 percent. In 1970, Flemke received his first of two Charles R. Hook Awards, presented each year to the field staff person considered to be the most outstanding in the country. In 1973, Flemke became president of the JA office in Los Angeles, making it the largest JA area in the country. His leadership and innovation once again earned him the Charles R. Hook Award in 1975. Appointed president and CEO of Junior Achievement, Inc. in May 1982, Flemke’s goals embodied a broad vision expanding JA from 15 to more than 70 countries by the early 1990s including Russia and China.