Monti Ackerman, recipient of the John Fluke Award, outside his office in Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Monti Ackerman, recipient of the John Fluke Award, outside his office in Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Monti Ackerman: A passionate volunteer and calculator whiz

The Fortive executive is the winner of this year’s Fluke Award by Economic Alliance Snohomish County.

This month’s Herald Business Journal highlights three people and one company whose achievements have helped create a better community or advance economic interests in the region. The four are recipients of Economic Alliance Snohomish County’s annual awards.

EVERETT — Monti Ackerman is most comfortable with a calculator.

The device has served him well — both as a financial officer at Fortive and a volunteer for the YMCA of Snohomish County.

“That’s the big organization where my time goes,” said Ackerman, who serves on the YMCA’s board of trustees.

Ackerman is this year’s winner of the John M. Fluke Sr. Award. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and community leadership, according to Economic Alliance Snohomish County. Established in 1970, it is named for the founder of Fluke Corp., a subsidiary of Fortive.

Ackerman has used his financial acumen to help the YMCA and other groups manage their costs, generate returns and boost donations. Just like private companies, nonprofits must keep an eye on the bottom line if they want to expand or continue their much-needed services, Ackerman said.

Ken Kettler, one of several people who nominated Ackerman for the award, wrote, “He is a magician when it comes to understanding the numbers and does a great job sharing his opinion about what the financials are telling us.” Kettler, who serves on the YMCA’s board, is president and chief operating officer at the Tulalip Resort Casino.

Ackerman was recruited by Fluke in 1981 after graduating with an accounting degree from the University of Washington.

Fluke and parent company Fortive are headquartered in Everett.

The firm’s leadership pointed him toward community service.

“I started at Fluke when John Fluke Sr. was running the company,” Ackerman said. “The company and Mr. Fluke were always avid supporters of improving the quality of life in the community.”

Ackerman has also served as a volunteer for the Boys & Girls Club of Snohomish County, Everett Community College, United Way and other nonprofits.

But the YMCA has his heart.

Ackerman was familiar with the organization from the time he was a boy growing up in Lake Forest Park.

Until serving as a volunteer, however, he didn’t realize how broad was its impact.

“A lot of people think of the Y as a gym and pool. It’s much, much more,” Ackerman said.

It supports the community, youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. “It is the largest child care provider in Snohomish County,” he said.

During his nine years as a board member, the YMCA has opened three new facilities — in Stanwood, Camano Island and a new Everett branch, which opened in late 2019 at 4730 Colby Ave.

Another nominator, Craig Connell with Click PNW, wrote, “Monti’s passion, dedication and insights have advised the county’s largest nonprofit through prosperity, expansion and executive leadership changes. Without a doubt his commitment as a community service volunteer will be felt for decades.”

Ackerman is a fan of the board and its chairman, Matt Reinhard. “It’s an outstanding group of people working to support the mission of the YMCA,” Ackerman said.

Board meetings begin with a “mission moment” detailing how the YMCA was able to help someone, he said.

One of the most memorable was a story he heard just last month.

The YMCA was able help a toddler who was socially behind, Ackerman said. The boy’s grandmother, who’d adopted him after his mother died, reached out to the Y for help.

The YMCA offered day care and other assistance.

As a result, “this little boy thrived,” Ackerman said. “His grandmother was very thankful and appreciative of what the Y was able to do for her family. You hear stories like this repeated many times over. It’s always so great.”

He is encourages friends and co-workers to roll up their sleeves and volunteer.

“It’s one thing to financially support an organization,” Ackerman said. “But it’s completely different when you’re involved with them and tackling the challenges. You get to see the rewards first hand — the services they’re able to provide people.”

Janice Podsada: 425-339-3097; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @JanicePods.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

A closing sign hangs above the entrance of the Big Lots at Evergreen and Madison on Monday, July 22, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Big Lots announces it will shutter Everett and Lynnwood stores

The Marysville store will remain open for now. The retailer reported declining sales in the first quarter of the year.

George Montemor poses for a photo in front of his office in Lynnwood, Washington on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Despite high mortgage rates, Snohomish County home market still competitive

Snohomish County homes priced from $550K to $850K are pulling in multiple offers and selling quickly.

Henry M. Jackson High School’s robotic team, Jack in the Bot, shake hands at the 2024 Indiana Robotics Invitational.(Henry M. Jackson High School)
Mill Creek robotics team — Jack in the Bot — wins big

Henry M. Jackson High School students took first place at the Indiana Robotic Invitational for the second year in a row.

The computer science and robotics and artificial intelligence department faculty includes (left to right) faculty department head Allison Obourn; Dean Carey Schroyer; Ishaani Priyadarshini; ROBAI department head Sirine Maalej and Charlene Lugli. PHOTO: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College.
Edmonds College to offer 2 new four-year degree programs

The college is accepting applications for bachelor programs in computer science as well as robotics and artificial intelligence.

FILE — Boeing 737 MAX8 airplanes on the assembly line at the Boeing plant in Renton, Wash., on March 27, 2019. Boeing said on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, that it was shaking up the leadership in its commercial airplanes unit after a harrowing incident last month during which a piece fell off a 737 Max 9 jet in flight. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times)
Federal judge rejects Boeing’s guilty plea related to 737 Max crashes

The plea agreement included a fine of up to $487 million and three years of probation.

Neetha Hsu practices a command with Marley, left, and Andie Holsten practices with Oshie, right, during a puppy training class at The Everett Zoom Room in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Tricks of the trade: New Everett dog training gym is a people-pleaser

Everett Zoom Room offers training for puppies, dogs and their owners: “We don’t train dogs, we train the people who love them.”

Andy Bronson/ The Herald 

Everett mayor Ray Stephenson looks over the city on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015 in Everett, Wa. Stephanson sees  Utah’s “housing first” model – dealing with homelessness first before tackling related issues – is one Everett and Snohomish County should adopt.

Local:issuesStephanson

Shot on: 1/5/16
Economic Alliance taps former Everett mayor as CEO

Ray Stephanson will serve as the interim leader of the Snohomish County group.

Molbak's Garden + Home in Woodinville, Washington will close on Jan. 28. (Photo courtesy of Molbak's)
After tumultuous year, Molbak’s is being demolished in Woodinville

The beloved garden store closed in January. And a fundraising initiative to revitalize the space fell short.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center executive director Larry Cluphf, Boeing Director of manufacturing and safety Cameron Myers, Edmonds College President Amit Singh, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 2 celebrating the opening of a new fuselage training lab at Paine Field. Credit: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College
‘Magic happens’: Paine Field aerospace center dedicates new hands-on lab

Last month, Edmonds College officials cut the ribbon on a new training lab — a section of a 12-ton Boeing 767 tanker.

Gov. Jay Inslee presents CEO Fredrik Hellstrom with the Swedish flag during a grand opening ceremony for Sweden-based Echandia on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Swedish battery maker opens first U.S. facility in Marysville

Echandia’s marine battery systems power everything from tug boats to passenger and car ferries.

Helion Energy CEO and co-founder David Kirtley talks to Governor Jay Inslee about Trenta, Helion’s 6th fusion prototype, during a tour of their facility on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
State grants Everett-based Helion a fusion energy license

The permit allows Helion to use radioactive materials to operate the company’s fusion generator.

People walk past the new J.sweets storefront in Alderwood Mall on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Japanese-style sweets shop to open in Lynnwood

J. Sweets, offering traditional Japanese and western style treats opens, could open by early August at the Alderwood mall.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.