2013 Operator of the Year

The Art Rohm Operating Excellence Award is given to the Osen-Hunter employee who embodies the characteristics of leadership, personal and professional excellence, organizational achievement, and heroism for which Art was so well known. This unique recognition is given to the employee who has gone above and beyond what is required in providing superior operational service to the company’s clients and who exemplifies and has demonstrated the high standards of accomplishment and ethics established and maintained by the Osen-Hunter Group.

Michael E. Becraft is the recipient of the 2013 Art Rohm Operating Excellence Award. Mike earned this award for his actions in response to an attack on the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, in which 67 people were killed and more than 175 wounded.

Mike was at the mall on September 21, 2013, passing time while waiting to leave on a flight out of Nairobi, when gunmen attacked. The peaceful mall, filled with families and shoppers, exploded into a war zone. Although Mike has experience in this type of environment, this situation was very different. All the equipment and tools that Mike would normally have had available were packed up and back at the hotel. He found himself in a surreal situation, surrounded by frightened civilians, innocent victims, and gunmen.

For over six hours, Mike ran on instinct, assisting others around him who had no idea what to do or where to go. He administered first aid to people who had been shot and injured by gunfire. He also calmed and comforted others around him who were in a state of panic. Mike’s quick reactions and resourcefulness were essential. He used whatever he could find to treat the wounded, helping to ensure that when outside help arrived, the injured persons could be moved. Mike continually reassessed the situation and guided those he was with to safety, keeping a constant eye out to ensure that the gunmen didn’t locate their hiding spot.

On that day, Mike demonstrated many of the attributes of Art Rohm: courage, caring for others, compassion, and selflessness. It is an honor to bestow this award on such a deserving individual.