URISA Leaders Recognized at GIS-Pro & CalGIS 2018

More than 500 GIS professionals - from 43 states, 5 Canadian provinces, and 8 countries - recently convened in Palm Springs, California for GIS-Pro & CalGIS 2018. One of the highlights of the conference was the Awards Breakfast, during which a number of URISA leaders were recognized for their volunteer service. The California Geographic Information Association (CGIA) also celebrated several award recipients.

We congratulate and thank all honorees for their amazing contributions to the community!

Leadership Award: Presented to members who have demonstrated exemplary leadership to URISA, creativity, innovation, and dedicated support of URISA programs. The recipient should be a member of URISA for enough years to show a pattern of leadership. Typically the recipient will have been responsible for new programs or activities, or significantly enhanced an existing activity or program, so that it takes URISA in a new direction and/or enhances our standing in the professional community.

2018 Recipient: Kevin Mickey, GISP (The Polis Center, Indianapolis, Indiana)

Service Award: Presented to members who have demonstrated faithful service to URISA and participation in its program over a period of several years. This award is for specific service to URISA. It should require a significant number of years of (not necessarily consecutive) service in a number of programs or committees, and a willingness to take on challenges without regard to the potential for recognition.

2018 Recipients:

Stephen Berry, GISP (Clark County Consortium for GIS, Winchester, Kentucky)

Christina Boggs-Chavira (California Department of Water Resources, West Sacramento, California)

Alex Hepp (CycloMedia Technology, Manahawkin, New Jersey)

Wendy Peloquin, GISP (GISinc, Jacksonville, Florida)

Barbara Hirsch Special Service Award: Presented to members or staff who have made special contributions to URISA. This award was created (in 2004) to honor URISA’s former Chief Financial Officer, Barbara Hirsch. Barb made her mark at URISA by being an exceptional professional who would always step forward when a point needed to be made, but never stepped to the front for recognition. It is in the spirit of this dedication that the Board of Directors has created an award for special service to URISA. This award will be given to individuals or committees who have shown a similar consummate level of service to URISA through an ongoing commitment to our success as an organization.

2018 Recipient: Katie Morehead, URISA and GISCI Office Manager

Outstanding Chapter Award: Each year, URISA recognizes a Chapter that has sponsored particularly effective activities or has otherwise excelled in serving its membership. Each year, chapters may apply for consideration as the Outstanding URISA Chapter. Nominations are coordinated by the URISA Chapter Advisory Board. Outstanding Chapter Award criteria include:

• Innovation
• Outreach
• Education
• Community Impact

2018 Recipient: URISA New England Chapter

Young Professional of the Year: URISA was also pleased to recognize Kara Utter (McCall, Idaho) as URISA's Young Professional of the Year in recognition of her outstanding contributions as part of URISA's Vanguard Cabinet.

Review the distinguished history of URISA Award winners here: http://www.urisa.org/about-us/awards/.