Nearly 500 GIS professionals – from 42 states (plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia), 7 Canadian provinces, and 7 countries – recently convened in New Orleans, Louisiana for GIS-Pro 2019. One of the highlights of the conference was the Awards Luncheon, during which a number of URISA leaders were recognized for their volunteer service. We also recognized Exemplary Systems in Government (ESIG) Award winners who were announced in July.
We congratulate and thank all honorees for their amazing contributions to the community!
Horwood Distinguished Service Award: An occasional award given for long-term service to URISA and the profession. This award is URISA’s ultimate award for service and leadership to URISA and within the geospatial industry. Awardees will have demonstrated significant contributions to both URISA and the geospatial technologies industry. The Horwood Distinguished Service Award is named after founding member and first URISA President, Edgar Horwood. Horwood was an early pioneer in the field of information systems for local government and admired by all for his intellectual and organizational contributions to URISA. Horwood was the Chair of the constitutional drafting committee, giving URISA the “open membership” model that has led to our inter-disciplinary organization.
• 2019 Recipient: Rebecca Somers, GISP (Somers-St. Claire GIS Management Consultants, Fairfax, Virginia)
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.
• 2019 Recipient: Brent Jones (Esri, Vienna, Virginia)
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.
• 2019 Recipients:
o Judy Colby-George, GISP (Spatial Alternatives, Yarmouth, Maine)
o John Nolte, GISP (Denver Water, Denver, Colorado)
o Jane Schafer-Kramer (California Department of Water Resources, Sacramento, California)
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.
• 2019 Recipient: Kathrine Cargo, GISP (Orleans Parish Communication District, New Orleans, Louisiana)
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 and Community Impact.
• 2019 Recipient: URISA Louisiana Chapter
Young Professional of the Year: URISA was also pleased to recognize Tory Elmore (Audobon California – Wrightwood, California) 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/.
