Junior Achievement Volunteer Receives Top National Honor

Boston, MA — Junior Achievement USA announced Steve Sullivan of Wellesley, MA, as recipient of the Gold Leadership Award – the organization’s highest national recognition for volunteerism. Steve has been selected from among more than 150,000 Junior Achievement volunteers nationwide in celebration of his tenured leadership and steadfast support of local students.

The Junior Achievement Gold Leadership Award honors exceptional volunteer leaders whose service strengthens and expands JA’s student impact, resources, operational excellence, and long-term sustainability. This year’s awards recognize volunteer contributions during the 2025–2026 school year.

“We are very happy to see Steve’s dedication to Junior Achievement of Greater Boston’s mission and students recognized with this prestigious national award,” said Radhames Nova, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Greater Boston. “Steve’s generous investment of time and resources has empowered countless JA students to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make informed academic and financial decisions .”

A visionary leader and lifelong champion of youth success, Steve is the founder of Wild Blue Flight Simulators, LLC. He is a commercial rated pilot and a flight instructor. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Communications for Liberty Mutual Group, where he led advertising, public relations, internal communications, and worldwide branding.

Prior to Liberty Mutual Steve served as President of Mintz & Hoke Advertising and P.R. and Chief Operating Officer of Clarke Goward Advertising, both in Boston. He graduated from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and served in the U.S Air Force for six years including a combat tour in Vietnam. Steve was Chairman of the Board of the Association of National Advertisers and Chairman of BPA International, the circulation auditing firm. Steve was co-founder and Chairman of IMC Clubs International, the aviation safety and proficiency organization. From 1989-95 Steve was an adjunct instructor in history at Northeastern University where he taught courses on the Vietnam War and on the Cold War. He serves as a Corporation Member of Mass General Brigham Healthcare and is a Trustee Emeritus of Newton Wellesley Hospital.

Steve’s commitment to Junior Achievement spans almost three decades. He served as Chairman of Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Greater Boston and as a Board member from 1998 to 2008. Most recently, he served as one of the honorary chairs of Junior Achievement of Greater Boston’s 75th Anniversary Celebration. Since 2009, Steve and his wife, Rebecca, have continued their commitment through the Steve Sullivan Scholarship. Awarded annually, the scholarship recognizes a high school junior who exemplifies the mission and values of Junior Achievement. The recipient is named JA Student of the Year, receives a $10,000 scholarship, and commits to continued engagement with JA while preparing to attend college. Select scholarship finalists are also named JA Ambassadors, each receiving $2,000 in support of their educational dreams.

Junior Achievement’s programs in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness are delivered nationwide, typically during the school day, by volunteer role models from the local business community. These volunteers bring real-world experience into the classroom and bring the power of JA’s curriculum to life – helping students understand how their education connects to their future job prospects.

About Junior Achievement USA® (JA)  
Junior Achievement is education for what’s next. As a strategic partner working in collaboration with educators, employers, investors, leaders, and the communities they serve, we are dedicated to helping students achieve academically today and economically tomorrow. As a leader in experiential learning operating on a national scale with over a century of experience, we are driving toward lasting change. This means ensuring a generation of students has the transferable skills and competencies needed to navigate a rapidly changing world. By delivering career-connected learning, we are invested in accelerating economic mobility through education. By helping students become confident, capable, and connected today, we can ensure they have access to opportunity-filled futures tomorrow. Junior Achievement reaches more than 4.6 million students annually across nearly 100 U.S. markets, and is part of JA Worldwide, which serves over 19.9 million students in more than 100 countries. Learn more at www.ja.org.   

About Junior Achievement of Greater Boston (JAGB)

Incorporated in Boston in 1950 as a regional JA organization, Junior Achievement of Greater Boston seeks to close the wealth and opportunity gaps for youth in key impact communities (currently Boston, Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Quincy and Somerville) by creating middle school to career pathways, igniting youth entrepreneurship and preparing financially savvy youth. Junior Achievement of Greater Boston is education for what’s next. As a strategic partner working in collaboration with educators, employers, investors, leaders, and the communities they serve, we are dedicated to helping students achieve academically today and economically tomorrow. As a leader in experiential learning operating on a national scale with over a century of experience, we are driving toward lasting change. This means ensuring a generation of students has the transferable skills and competencies needed to navigate a rapidly changing world. By delivering career-connected learning, we are invested in accelerating economic mobility through education. By helping students become confident, capable, and connected today, we can ensure they have access to opportunity-filled futures tomorrow. Learn more at www.greaterboston.ja.org.