Mike Lamach has been named the 2023 Citizen of the Carolinas by the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance®. The announcement was made during the CLT Alliance’s annual Leadership Retreat before an audience of Executive Committee, Board of Trustee members, elected officials, and community leaders.
The Citizen of the Carolinas is the CLT Alliance’s most prestigious award, given to a Carolinian who has made great strides for the region. The honoree, through years of accomplishments, has risen to support all who do business in the Charlotte Region, in areas including civic leadership, public policy and economic growth.
Lamach has been a steadfast leader in the Charlotte Region for more than a decade. As the retired chair and CEO of Trane Technologies, Lamach is best known for transforming the company from a diversified industrial manufacturer, formerly Ingersoll Rand, to a global industry leader on climate with consistent top-tier performance. Lamach also led the creation of the company’s purpose-driven sustainability strategy, its proprietary business operating system, and its widely recognized culture of engagement and inclusion.
As chair of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council (CELC) and co-chair of the Mayor’s Racial Equity Initiative, Lamach is a strong advocate for education and economic mobility. Lamach has led CELC’s involvement with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, working to improve information technology, human resources, and safety and security across the school district. For Lamach, there is a desire to see Charlotte set the standard for economic mobility and urgency to develop the region’s future workforce.
“The Citizen of the Carolinas not only has a personal commitment to the community, but also possesses a deep passion for people,” CLT Alliance Board Chair Kieth Cockrell said. “Mike is a devoted advocate for education, workforce development, economic mobility, and racial equity. His leadership across the Charlotte Region is a shining example to our current leaders as well as those who will follow in his footsteps.”
In 2019, Lamach was named one of Harvard Business Review’s top performing CEOs and listed by Forbes among America’s 100 Most Innovative Leaders. He is a leader in the manufacturing sector and has served as chair of the National Association of Manufacturers since June 2019.
Lamach serves on the Board of Directors of PPG Industries and Nucor. He is a trustee for Johnson C. Smith University and is a member of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business Board of Visitors. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Duke University.
The Citizen of the Carolinas award will be presented on Dec. 12 at the CLT Alliance’s celebration of excellence in business and leadership, the Tate Awards. The Tate Awards will immediately follow the premier economic forecast event in the region, the CLT Alliance Annual Outlook, which provides insight into industry and business trends from the region’s top Fortune 500 CEOs. For more information, sponsorships, or to secure your seat at the table, click here.
