Bill's Awards & Volunteer Work
There’s no question that the POPP Communications company values and strong desire to give back to the community emanate from Bill & Teri’s own personal missions to make their community and world a better place. Here are some of Bill’s notable positions and achievements throughout the years:
To honor his service to his community, Bill received the Titans of Technology Award as a Community Hero from Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
U.S. Representative Erik Paulsen commended Bill and Teri Popp for their service on behalf of military families, and Bill and Teri’s work in building the Military Family Tribute in the Congressional Record on June 23, 2015 during the 114th Congress, 1st Session, Issue: Vol. 161, No. 101.
The building of the Military Family Tribute at the Minnesota State Capital Grounds was completed in 2015. The dedication ceremony took place on June 13th. Many government and military leaders spoke at the event to show their thanks and support to military families. Bill Popp was the visionary, founder, chair, and volunteer for the Military Family Tribute.
The Popp Chronic Care Center was completed and opened to the public on August 16, 2015. The Bill and Teri Popp Chronic Care Center enables faster processing and care for all patients who go to the Carl Platou Emergency Center.
United States Department of the Army: Bill was honored with the Commander’s Award for Public Service.
Elton John AIDS Foundation, White Tie and Tiara Ball: Bill and Teri Popp attended this event at Elton John’s home in Old Windsor, Berkshire in England with Bill and Tani Austin of the Starkey Hearing Foundation in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Minnesota Business Magazine: Bill was selected as one of The (Real) Power 50 of 2013 by the Minnesota Business Magazine. The (Real) Power 50 is described as a group of, “remarkable players in the Minnesota business community with a knack for getting things done – and being helpful along the way.”
Bill was nominated by Founder and President of Media Logic Group Paul Douglas. Douglas had the following kind words to say about Bill in the May 2013 edition of Minnesota Business: “Bill Popp is a local entrepreneur who has carved out a unique and lucrative company by providing voice, data, and Internet services to mostly small and midsize business across the Upper Midwest. His company, POPP, has been able to consistently add value in the complex and rapidly evolving world of telecommunications, providing the right mix of technology, services, and customer service. Popp was able to scale a successful business without venture capital, and his vision and tenacity has kept him a few steps ahead of would-be competitors.
In addition to Bill’s business acumen, I admire his willingness to give back to our local community. His philanthropic work in Minnesota has been exemplary. Scores of local charities have benefited, and Popp actively supports our military as founder and chairman of the Minnesota Military Family Foundation, providing a financial lifeline for hundreds of military families trying to make ends meet. Bill Popp has been a dear friend and mentor, showing me how to grow as a person as well as an entrepreneur.”
Fairview Southdale Hospital: the Popp’s sponsored the building of the Popp Chronic Care Center as part of the Carl Platou Emergency Care Center. The Popp Chronic Care Center enables faster processing and care for all patients who go to the emergency center.
Starkey Hearing Foundation: Bill and Teri sponsored and traveled to complete Hearing Missions in Xi’an and Chengdu, China, Bill and Teri Popp along with Bill and Tani Austin, Glen and Becky Taylor, NBA Cares, and more distributed over 12,000 hearing instruments. This was China’s first government partnership with a foreign charity!
The State of Minnesota approved the design to build the Military Family Tribute at the State Capitol Grounds in St. Paul. The Military Family Tribute will forever stand as a personal thank you to each spouse, significant other, child, parent, grandparent, sibling and any other person a soldier defines as family who provides the true foundation of support to our military personnel. This will be the first ever tribute directed at saying thank you to military families.
Starkey Hearing Foundation: Bill and Teri sponsored hearing aid missions to Arusha/Moshi, Dodoma, and Dar Es Saalam, Tanzania where Bill and Teri Popp along with the Starkey Hearing Foundation team distributed over 4,000 hearing instruments.
State of Minnesota Naval Militia Certificate: Bill was made an honorary Admiral of the Minnesota Naval Militia. He was awarded by Governor Pawlenty and the Minnesota Adjutant General Major Larry Shellito for founding and chairing the Minnesota Military Family Foundation.
Gilda’s Club Twin Cities: Roseanne Roseannadanna Golf Benefit – Golf Chair
Starkey Hearing Foundation: Bill and Teri Popp sponsored two hearing aid missions to Vietnam and Egypt. Bill and Teri along with the Starkey Hearing Foundation team distributed over 4,000 hearing instruments in Vietnam and 3,000 hearing instruments in Egypt.
Rotary Club of Minneapolis: Bill and Teri were honored with the Service Above Self Award.
Robbinsdale Armstrong High School: Bill was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE): Bill was honored at the 20th Anniversary Celebration for his continued support of this organization.
Classic Lake Conference: Bill was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus.
The Rotary Club of Minneapolis Leadership Academy: Inside the Leaders’ Circle – Speaker
Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal Power Breakfast: Born in a Recession – Panelist
Starkey Hearing Foundation: Bill and Teri were honored with the “So the World May Hear” Humanitarian Award.
CBS Radio and Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal: Fall Business Breakfast – Panelist
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: Bill and Teri were honored with the Corporate Leader of the Year Award.
Minnesota National Guard: Bill was honored with the Outstanding Service Award for dedication to supporting members and families.
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR): Bill was honored with the Distinguished Service Award.
B’nai B’rith: Bill and Teri were honored with the Distinguished Humanitarian Award.
Congressional Record: Bill and Teri were honored by U.S. Senator Norm Coleman in the Congressional Record for the 2003 monetary gift to show appreciation and support to the members and families of the National Guard serving in Iraq and Afghanistan for their service to our country.
Minneapolis Aquatennial: Commodore
Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association: Bill was recognized as “Person of the Year” for donating 60 facsimile machines to police departments to send pictures of missing children in minutes instead of days.