The award, sponsored by the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, represents the group's most prestigious honor.
Burdett was given the award at the group's annual banquet at the Bartow Civic Center.
A former president of the Bartow Chamber and a recipient of the city's Spirit of Bartow Award, Burdett has been credited with helping Mosaic generate more than $13 million for the United Way. Her efforts led to her induction into the agency's Hall of Fame for coordinators in the Tampa Bay area.
Closer to home, she's served on the Bartow Chamber's education committee, working extensively with public school officials to develop workforce education programs. She also serves on the Polk State College Workforce Education Council.
In 2009, The Ledger named Burdett, 55, among Polk County's Top 21 Women of the 21st Century.
In presenting the award, Emily Spath Clark said Burdett is among the elite in the Leadership Bartow program.
"The second youngest in a family of 10 children, Debbie Burdett came from a humble beginning on a Plant City farm, to become one of the area's most dynamic and influential graduates of the Leadership Bartow program."
Recipients of Bartow's leadership award must be graduates of the Chamber-sponsored Leadership Bartow program - a two-year program covering all facets of Bartow's economy and government. The Leadership Bartow Class XIII will graduate this spring.
The award is named for the late George Harris, chairman of Citrus & Chemical Bank who was renowned for his community service.
Burdett also has served as chairwoman of the Florida Sheriff's Youth Villa Classic, a fund-raising golf tournament event, and serves on the boards of directors for Junior Achievement, Volunteers In Service To the Elderly and Bartow Regional Medical Center.
She's also a recipient of community service awards from former President George Bush and Congressman Adam Putnam.
[ Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or at 863-533-9070. ]