APBP 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award and Professional-of-the-Year Awards
Peter Furth, Lifetime Achievement Award Jennifer Dill, Research Professional of the Year Armi De Francia, Public Sector Professional of the Year Tamika Butler, Private Sector Professional of the Year Michelle Lieberman, Non-Profit Professional of the Year Matt Pinder, Young Professional of the Year
The Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals (APBP) announces the winners of its annual awards program to honor excellence in the profession. Five Professional of the Year awards and the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award were presented at the APBP 25th Anniversary Webinar in September 2020.
The 2020 APBP Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Dr. Peter Furth, Professor of Civil Engineering, at Northeastern University. APBP is bestowing our most prestigious annual award to Dr. Furth for his enthusiasm as an educator, advocate, and researcher who elevated the discourse for better bicycling and walking while empowering professionals with proven research. His development of the Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress tool gave practitioners a new approach to assess community bicycling conditions. The training he provides to students and his contributions through the Transportation Research Board and APBP have been instrumental in bringing safe and sustainable multimodal networks into practice in North America.
The APBP Professional of the Year Awards recognize the achievements of pedestrian and bicycle professionals made in the last twelve months in the private, public, research, and nonprofit sectors and one young professional under the age of 30.
Dr. Jennifer Dill, Professor at Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies & Planning, Director at the Transportation Research & Education Center, and Director at the National Institute for Transportation and Communities at Portland State University, receives the 2020 APBP Research Professional of the Year award for her contributions advancing the state of practice in bicycle and pedestrian research with a high degree of professional integrity. Dr. Dill addresses important research questions related to walking and bicycling, points out limitations, and suggests lines of future research. Her teaching and advice to students at Portland State University, her leadership through the Transportation Research Board and APBP, and her insightful thoughts related to equity inspire practitioners and researchers working in bicycle and pedestrian transportation.
The 2020 Public Sector Professional of the Year award is being given to Armi De Francia. Armi serves as the Active Transportation Coordinator at the Town of Ajax and she is being honored for her unparalleled enthusiasm and commitment to improving our streets by combining her passions for equity and transportation. She has worked to advance our field and promote racial and social justice both on and off the job through initiatives such as the "Mini Conference on Racial Equity and Active Transportation", and by
transforming the Town of Ajax's transportation awareness campaign and overall engagement methods.
Tamika Butler, Esq., Founder + Principal of Tamika L Butler Consulting, LLC is awarded the 2020 Private Sector Professional of the Year for shining a light on inequality, inequity, & social injustice. Brave and fearless, Tamika shows up as her full, authentic self in all her work. Tamika has been instrumental in evolving the planning and transportation industry to be more inclusive, diverse and equitable. Her message is an inspiration and a call to action for each of us to understand anti-racism and how anti-Blackness shows up in our work, and to listen, appreciate, and step outside our comfort zones in applying that knowledge.
The 2020 Non-Profit Sector Professional of the Year award goes to Michelle Lieberman, AICP, LEED AP,
Consulting and Program Support Director of Safe Routes Partnership.Humbly imparting knowledge and wisdom within the industry, Michelle is a steady rock providing strength to her non-profit organization. Michelle brings energy, focus, and commitment to all her efforts, and to numerous communities throughout the United States that have benefited from her service.
Matt Pinder, Senior Designer at Alta Planning + Design, is being named APBP’s 2020 Young Professional of the Year. Matt's vast contributions to advancing the field of active transportation and creating space for all. Matt's relentless pursuit of excellence in design is furthering Canadian best practices for pedestrian and cycling facilities, which he matches with a conscious effort to draw attention to the role of equity in the active transportation field. Through his professional work as well as his volunteer initiatives such as BIKE MINDS, Matt's vision, determination and leadership are making communities better places to walk and bike.
Awards Criteria
The APBP Awards program began in 2000 with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Awards for Public and Private Sector Professionals of the Year were added in 2007; the Young Professional of the Year award was added in 2009; the Research Professional of the Year award was added in 2018.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has made a substantial commitment to the profession during his or her lifetime and who has shown excellence in the field of bicycle and pedestrian planning, design, advocacy, and/or education. The award distinguishes those whose vision and determination have made their communities better places to bicycle and walk and who inspire the rest of us. This award is open to both APBP members and non-members who have contributed to our profession. A person may be nominated posthumously, after retirement, or while still working in the field.
Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
2020
Dr. Peter Furth, Professor of Civil Engineering for Northeastern University
2019
Sally Flocks, President and CEO of PEDS
2018
Randy Wade, AICP, former director for Pedestrian Projects Group with the New York City Department of Transportation
2017
Norma Moores, P. Eng., Associate and Manager, Active Transportation, IBI Group
2016
Barbara McCann, Director, Office of Safety, Energy and Environment for the U.S. Department of Transportation
2015
Deb Hubsmith, Founder, Safe Routes to School National Partnership
2014
Jeff Olson, RA, Principal, Alta Planning + Design
2013
Anne Lusk, PhD, Research Scientist, Harvard School of Public Health
2012
Charles Zegeer, Director, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC), UNC-HSRC
2011
Mary Paul Meletiou, Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager (retired), NC-DOT and ITRE Tom Huber, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator (retired), WI DOT
2010
Lois Thibault, Director of Research (retired), U.S. Access Board, Washington, D.C.
2009
Bettina Zimny, Director of Planning, The RBA Group, Morristown, N.J.
2008
Linda Crider, Executive Director, Bike Florida Suzan Pinsof, Principal, Suzan Anderson Pinsof & Associates, Chicago, IL
2007
Michael Ronkin, Founder and Principal, Designing Streets for People
2006
Bill Feldman, Manager, Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects, The RBA Group, Morristown, N.J.
2005
John LaPlante, Director of Traffic Engineering, T.Y. Lin International, Chicago, IL
2004
Bill Wilkinson, Executive Director, National Center for Bicycling and Walking, Bethesda, MD John Williams, Editor and Senior Planner, National Center for Bicycling and Walking, Bethesda, MD
2003
Andy Clarke, President, League of American Bicyclists, Washington, D.C. (Distinguished Service)
2002
John Fegan, FHWA, Washington, D.C.
2001
Peter Lagerwey, Senior Transportation Planner, City of Seattle, WA
2000
Dan Burden, Founder, Walkable and Livable Communities (WALC) Institute
The Professional of the Year Awardsrecognize the achievements of pedestrian and bicycle professionals made during the preceding 12-month period. Separate awards acknowledge professionals working in the public sector, private practice, and those under age 30. These awards are open to APBP members only.
2020
Young Professional of the Year
Matt Pinder, Senior Planner at Alta Planning + Design
2020
Professional of the Year (nonprofit)
Michelle Lieberman, AICP, LEED AP, Consulting & Program Support Director for Safe Routes Partnership
2020
Professional of the Year (private)
Tamika Butler, Esq., Founder + Principal at Tamika L Butler, LLC
2020
Professional of the Year (public)
Armi De Francia, Active Transportation Coordinator for Town of Ajax
2020
Professional of the Year (research)
Dr. Jennifer Dill, Professor for Nohad A Toulan School of Urban Studies & Planning, Director at Transportation Research & Education Center, and Director at National Institute for Transportation and Communities at Portland State University
2019
Young Professional of the Year
Danielle Hess, Project Assistant at the Western Transportation Institute
2019
Professional of the Year (nonprofit)
Catherine Girves, Executive Director of Yay Bikes!
2019
Professional of the Year (private)
Brian Patterson, Principal and Senior Transportation Planner for Urban Systems
2019
Professional of the Year (public)
Paul Martin, Active Transportation Coordinator at the Orange County Transportation Authority
2019
Professional of the Year (research)
Robert J. Schneider, Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2018
Young Professional of the Year
Gwen Shaw, Engineer at Toole Design Group
2018
Professional of the Year (Public)
Katherine Glowacz, Active Transportation Planner
2018
Professional of the Year (Research)
Dr. Trisalyn Nelson, Director and Professor at Arizona State University
2017
Young Professional of the Year
Grace Kyung, Special Project Director, Trailnet
2017
Professional of the Year (Nonprofit)
Leah Shahum, Executive Director, Vision Zero Network
2017
Professional of the Year (Public)
Julie Walcoff, Active Transportation Program Manager, Ohio Department of Transportation
2016
Young Professional of the Year
Carlos Hernandez, Bike Share Program Coordinator for the City of Oakland, CA
2016
Professional of the Year (Nonprofit)
Tamika Butler, Executive Director for the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
2016
Professional of the Year (Public)
Dan Goodman, FHWA Office of Human Environment, Livability Team
2016
Professional of the Year (Private)
Ryan Johnson, Senior Planner for Alta Planning + Design
2015
Young Professional of the Year
Jessie Holzer, Mobility Deputy for Los Angeles Council Member Mike Bonin
2015
Professional of the Year (Nonprofit)
Barb Chamberlain, Executive Director of Washington Bikes
2015
Professional of the Year (Public)
Sean Co, Transportation Planner, SFMTC
2015
Professional of the Year (Private)
Jessica Roberts, Principal, Alta Planning + Design
2014
Young Professional of the Year
Dr. Adonia Lugo, Equity Manager, League of American Bicyclists
2014
Professional of the Year (Nonprofit)
James Wilson, Executive Director, Bike Delaware
2014
Professional of the Year (Public)
Stephen Patchan, City of Pittsburgh Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator
2014
Professional of the Year (Private)
Nick Jackson, NE Regional Office Director, Toole Design Group
2013
Young Professional of the Year
Kyle Wagenschutz, Bikeway/Pedestrian Coordinator, City of Memphis
2013
Professional of the Year (Non-profit)
Darren Flusche, Policy Director, League of American Bicyclists
2013
Professional of the Year (Public)
Joshuah D. Mello, AICP, Assistant Director of Planning, City of Atlanta Emily Snyder, AICP, Senior City Planner, City and County of Denver
2013
Professional of the Year (Private)
Michael King, RA, Principal, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates
Leslie Meehan, Nashville Area MPO Jim Sebastian, District of Columbia DOT
2010
Professional of the Year (Private)
Andrea White-Kjoss, Bikestation, Long Beach, CA
2010
Young Professional of the Year
Dan Jatres, New Orleans RPC
2010
Meritorious Service Award
Tedson Meyers, Board Chairman Emeritus, NCBW
2009
Professional of the Year (Public)
Rob Burchfield, Portland Bureau of Transportation
2009
Young Professional of the Year
Kathryn Reid Moore, City of Miami
2008
Professional of the Year (Public)
James Ercolano, NYS DOT
2008
Professional of the Year (Private)
Jennifer Toole, Toole Design Group, Hyattsville, MD
2007
Professional of the Year (Public)
Rochelle Wheeler, Senior Planner, Alameda CTC
2007
Professional of the Year (Private)
Mia Birk, Principal, Alta Planning + Design, Portland, OR
Professional of the Year Awards recognize those who in the past 12 months have accomplished some or all of the following:
Initiated, advanced, and/or published innovative research
Brought about institutional change to increase the quality and amount of pedestrian and/or bicycle improvements
Advanced the professional knowledge of others
Been active or involved in other organizations to share and expand the knowledge base of both
Advanced the perception of the profession in the eyes of the public
Published or presented innovative research
Produced high-quality plans and designs
Provided educational and training opportunities for new and existing professionals
Helped to expand the quality of employment opportunities in the field
Volunteered his or her time in the field.
The Young Professional of the Year Award recognizes a person under age 30, in either the public or private sector, whose leadership and accomplishments distinguish her from her cohort.