The Mission of MDI – To cause greatness by mentoring men to live with excellence and as mature masculine leaders, create successful families, careers and communities.
Every year since 2014, this periodical has crowned a “Legacy Magazine MDI Man of the Year.” It has been bestowed on that man who has done the most to live the mission and core values of MDI, as well as promote the organization in some public way, showing up as an example for successful families, careers and communities. The key factor here is that the man makes public this men’s organization in some manner.
CRITERIA
- An MDI man
- Lives the mission and core values of MDI
- Shows up as an example for successful families, careers and communities
- Promotes the organization in some public way
In years past we acknowledged these men:
• 2014 – Ashanti Branch – Western Region – LINK
• 2015 – Jeff Lawrence – Western Canada Region – LINK
• 2016 – Brian Mumford – New England Region – LINK
• 2017 – Ian Kennard – Eastern Canada – LINK
• 2018 – Eric Mortimer – Canada – LINK
• 2019 – “The Man We Lost” – LINK
• 2020 – David Smith – Canada – LINK
• 2021 – “The Mature Masculine Leader” – LINK
• 2022 – Erfan Ahmadi – Atlas – LINK
• 2023 – Jonathan Lane – Atlas – LINK
AND NOW … The 2024 Legacy Magazine MDI Man of the Year
…
OLAF KROP
There are few men who have done as much to move Mentor Discover Inspire into the mainstream than Olaf Krop.
A veteran of the men’s work within MDI since April 1998, Krop has held pretty much every leadership position, including Division Coordinator, Regional Coordinator, International Director of the Membership Training Program, Chairman of the Board and as of July 2024 the MDI President, a position he needed to leave, regretfully and painfully, due to illness. Even with his illness, Krop continued to present a vision of a future of MDI and the vision of a world in need of mature masculine men.
THE LEGACY MAGAZINE INTERVIEW
WINNER OF THE RICK RUSSELL AWARD – STORY HERE
A consistent contributor to the Legacy Magazine since the beginning, Krop’s vision included building followers through a social media presence. He endeavored to use the 100-plus articles that have been written for the Legacy Magazine. He wants to see built on-demand content and training videos and placing those behind a paywall to offer free to our members and through subscriptions to our followers. Every one of these on-demand videos will contain an ad for MDI Men’s team membership.
In his tenure, he envisioned:
- A successful social media strategy resulting in a minimum 50,000 followers on the top 5 social media sites
- Support our members with online resources so that we become an organization that communicates well with our members on a regular basis)
Because of his constant giving to the men, because of his faithful dedication to the MDI principles, and because of a vision that reaches out to the multitudes of men in our world, this year’s Legacy Magazine MDI Man of the Year goes to Olaf Krop.
Nomination From Kraig Beale: I nominate Olaf Krop. I can think of no man who has left a larger mark on the MDI organization. From the formation and throughout the genesis, Olaf has been a guiding force. Olaf’s selfless and tireless dedication to MDI, his men and his communities is legendary. No matter what. He is an exemplary man in all areas of his life and most deserving the title “MDI 2024 MAN OF THE YEAR.” Thank you for your consideration.
Stephen de Wit – Honorable Mention
This year an honorable mention goes to Stephen de Wit of Western Front in Canada. Through the nomination of Matthew Biswas, de Wit showed the sort of dedication to not only Mentor Discover Inspire and its principles, but also the drive to help bring the organization out to the wide public. His participation in the multitude of Legacy Discoveries as well as his own workshops open to guests establish him as a man putting MDI on the map, something the Legacy Magazine has endeavored to do for over a decade.
From Biswas:
I am pleased to nominate Dr. Stephen de Wit for “Man of the Year.
For over 12 years, Stephen has dedicated himself to the growth and transformation of MDI men throughout North America.
- Stephen has been a key figure in more than 17 Legacy Discovery weekends, from Toronto to Calgary and New England.
- In 2024 almost 100 MDI members and a few guests participated in a day-long seminar called “To Cause Relationship Greatness” The two events (one in person and one online) encouraged men to explore their relationships and sexual lives with newfound clarity and confidence, offering them a source of personal power.
His training are transformative for MDI members and open to and promoted to guests, showcasing the true spirit of brotherhood and the profound impact men can have when they support each other.
Dr de Wit made a massive impact on the health and relationships of my team Midnight Sons. His in-person sessions with the team and ongoing coaching with individual men have given our team a level up in the way our team supports each other through the struggles of interpersonal relationships. He’s an invaluable resource.
As a sexologist and speaker, Stephen challenges societal taboos by promoting sexual empowerment, normalization, and destigmatization. He encourages men to explore their relationships and sexual lives with newfound clarity and confidence, offering them a source of personal power.
Stephen is an exceptional leader who walks with men in the trenches, inspiring change with his unwavering honesty, integrity, and truthfulness. he embodies the values of excellence, reliability, and commitment He consistently brings his best, helping men confront and transform the areas of their lives that aren’t working.
His leadership, commitment to growth and embodiment of MDI’s mission makes him the obvious choice for “Man of the Year.”
OTHER NOTABLE NOMINATIONS
Will Pascoe
My nominee for man of the year has taken some pretty big steps in his life he graduated college, moved out of his parents house and has switched departments at work, putting himself in a higher position with a higher salary. This man knows what he wants/deserves out of life and he’s not afraid to go and get it he has a strong drive and high standards it’s kind of funny when we were on the same team despite being the same age we were mirrored opposites his strengths, were my weaknesses and vise versa my strengths were his weaknesses, I admire his discipline and his drive to meet/accomplish his goals although I worry that when he has setbacks/delays in hitting his goals he makes himself miserable I remind him to do at least one thing that makes him smile/laugh so he can get out of his head which isn’t an easy thing for him to do but despite that, this man has worked his ass off to get where he is today and that’s why I feel Will Pascoe deserves to be 2024’s Man of the year.
~ Adam Copeland
Joseph Ranseth
I nominate Joseph Ranseth, Continental Region, Atlas Division, Team All In. This man is completely sold out to MDI heart and soul. From growing his team to the point of splitting, to his work on core team, to his love for the men, to putting on the best Division Meeting I’ve attended. If you’ve ever spent more than 10 minutes talking with the man, you will not forget it. He understands men and men’s work as well as anyone I’ve come to know through MDI.
~ Jeffrey A. Craven
George Johnston
I gladly nominate George Johnston for MOTY in MDI for 2024. Why? Just because he is so bitchin! Seriously, George’s continual dedication for (30?) years at every leadership level of MDI has been with diligence and a great heart. He challenges himself and those he is leading to be the man they always wanted to be. He has sponsored several men to the SMW as well as LDs, I believe.
He has served as team leader multiple times, DC, Regional Coordinator, nultiple Division Levels positions, Point Man multiple times (I believe), He holds his standards high and lives the Code of Honor with intent.
Thank you for your consideration.
~ Darrell Gaul
Joe Baptista
Here’s why I nominated Joe Baptista:
- He runs a tight division that supports men to succeed
- He enrolls men into leadership opportunities
- He’s completely on top of his commitments
- He’s a successful husband
- He’s a successful father
- He has a successful career
- He has a successful side business
- He provides sound mentoring
- He lives the code
- His men are completely behind him
~ Matt Coddington
Jim Ellis
Mr. Ellis’ consistent publication of The Legacy Magazine over the years, with the help of Justin LaBarge, has been a vehicle of communication, education, mentoring, and inspiration for the global men’s circle, MDI. The Legacy Magazine is glue that binds us together. This vehicle allows men, teams, families, and communities to share and receive life lessons learned, all forms of life lessons, perspectives from all ages. This mentoring used to be available only in person, but now is available to us wherever we are.
Jim has inspired me, and others, to up my game as a writer. His life is a very full plate of challenges, yet he makes the time to do what it takes to provide this communication vehicle to us all, month after month. I am in awe and full of gratitude of Mr. Jim Ellis, my Man of the Year.
~ Michael Burns