APBP Annual Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has made a substantial commitment to the profession during their lifetime and who has shown excellence in the field of bicycle and pedestrian planning, design, advocacy, research, or education. The award distinguishes those whose vision and determination have made their communities better places to bicycle and walk and who inspire others.

Roger Millar
President
Millar Consulting Services, LLC

The guiding theme throughout Roger’s career has been planning and implementing transportation systems that are not ends unto themselves, but rather the means toward economic vitality, environmental stewardship, social equity, public health, and thriving communities where all are welcome. As Secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Roger Millar transformed the agency's approach to active transportation, directing the creation of WSDOT’s Active Transportation Division (ATD), the first such division in the nation positioned within a state DOT at the same level as other modes and major activities. His leadership sparked award-winning planning, innovative design, and historic investments in equity and safety. His strong advocacy helped secure new programs focused on underserved communities and guided statewide adoption of Complete Streets principles. A national leader, Roger served as AASHTO President from 2022-2023 and brought active transportation into the spotlight across major professional and advisory boards. Through it all, Roger remained committed to inclusion, spearheading anti-racism initiatives and fostering thoughtful dialogue on systemic inequities in transportation. Playwright John Fletcher said “Deeds, not words, shall speak me.” Roger’s actions encourage us all to do better and speak volumes for his commitment to advance diversity, inclusion and better multi-cultural awareness. His career has been a testament to the belief that transportation should serve people and communities. The APBP Lifetime Achievement Award exemplifies the heart of his work and the difference he has made. 

Professional of the Year Awards

The APBP Professional of the Year Awards recognize the achievements of pedestrian and bicycle professionals made in the last 12 months in the private, public, and research sectors. .

Professional of the Year - Research

Nick Ferenchak
Associate Professor
University of New Mexico

Nick has a deep passion for traffic safety, particularly pedestrian and bicyclist safety, which he has championed through his research, outreach, mentorship, and leadership. Nick has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed research publications to date, with a remarkable h-index of 17 and over 860 citations. Many of these projects are either led by him or developed in collaboration with other leading safety researchers, and notably, with undergraduate students. His commitment to engaging undergrads in research is rare and truly commendable, and it has made a profound impact on the student community at the University of New Mexico (UNM). In June 2023, Nick achieved a significant milestone in his career by securing and leading a Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC) dedicated exclusively to pedestrian and bicyclist safety—the first of its kind. Through this work, he has not only advanced the field in substantial ways but also enabled a culture of collaboration, innovation, and academic excellence. Nick continues to promote process improvements, create new educational programs and lead efforts to secure additional external funding, ensuring the center’s success and relevance. His achievements throughout his career reflect his commitment to advancing pedestrian and bicyclist safety, mentoring the next generation of professionals and researchers, and promoting justice and equity in our field. 

Public Sector Professional of the Year

Celeste Gilman
Strategic Policy Administrator
Washington State Department of Transportation

Active transportation professionals need to champion and prove the value of multimodality well beyond their existing sphere of influence to further integrate walking, biking, and rolling into state transportation networks and policy. Few understand this as well as Celeste Gilman. Gilman’s transportation career is distinguished with many examples of leading successful collaborations between not only dozens of teams at WSDOT, but also across state and local agencies, to elevate the status of active transportation in Washington state. She epitomizes the definition of a Public Sector Professional of the Year through her ability to navigate complex systems, develop relationships with and partnerships between countless diverse groups around novel concepts, and launch and shepherd projects toward institutional change that increases everyone’s access to bicycle and pedestrian improvements. If that weren’t enough, Celeste extends her positive influence by giving others the educational resources and tools they need to lead, preparing teams to advocate for active transportation-positive policy and direct projects themselves. If there is ever a need to improve the active transportation system anywhere, Celeste is literally the first on the ground to identify how to foster support for change. She always leaves better infrastructure – and strengthened communities – in her wake. 

Private Sector Professional of the Year

Dave McLaughlin 
Principal, Senior Director of Business Development and National Active Transportation / Complete Streets Lead 
WSP Canada 

Dave is a true pioneer in the field of active transportation. As a multi-modal transportation planner, he has over 30 years of experience in active transportation network planning and facility design, transportation master plans, cycling and trail system network strategies, design guidelines and policy development. As one of Canada’s leading urban mobility and complete streets specialists, Dave has made invaluable contributions to hundreds of active transportation design projects and has served as an expert advisor to all levels of government. He has also authored and co-authored a number of key technical thought leadership papers that focus on active transportation, complete streets and micromobility. Dave’s legacy of advancing the state of active transportation across Canada and beyond includes the thousands of industry professionals he’s influenced, and the millions of citizens who benefit from healthier, safer and more connected communities that he had a part in through his work. Dave has collaborated with municipalities across the country to create progressive active transportation plans, and developed high quality design guidance at the national, provincial and local levels to support implementation. Through his mentorship of dozens of active transportation and complete streets team members, Dave has inspired a new wave of planners and engineers to embrace careers in active transportation, think big, and realize ambitious visions for better streets and safer and more equitable communities. 

Nonprofit Sector Professional of the Year

Rachel Hollar Umana
Executive Director and Founder
Bike Walk Macon

Rachel Hollar Umana is the founding Executive Director of Bike Walk Macon, Macon-Bibb County’s first and only pedestrian and bicycle advocacy nonprofit organization. In the ten years since she launched the effort, what started as a small grassroots initiative has grown into a powerful local movement for safer, healthier, and more accessible streets for all. Rachel began this work through the Emerging City Champions fellowship program with 8 80 Cities, inspired to make her city more walkable and bike-friendly. At the time, Macon had fewer than a mile of bike lanes and little dedicated infrastructure for people walking or biking. Ten years later, through sustained advocacy and community engagement, Macon-Bibb has taken major steps forward in supporting multimodal transportation and traffic safety, and has been officially recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Through it all, Rachel has stayed grounded in a community-first approach — listening, showing up, and advocating alongside residents. She has prioritized equity and inclusion in Bike Walk Macon’s leadership and programming, especially in neighborhoods historically impacted by transportation and infrastructure decisions. Whether helping reconnect divided communities like Pleasant Hill or making sure local voices are at the table for major projects, Rachel’s work is rooted in the belief that safer streets are about more than transportation — they’re about dignity, access, and opportunity. A decade in, Bike Walk Macon is not just an organization — it’s a movement. And thanks to Rachel’s leadership, it’s helping transform the future of transportation in Macon-Bibb County. 

Chapter Awards

APBP Chapter Awards recognize the achievements of APBP chapters that have added value to the organization by creating opportunities for local APBP members to grow, engage and connect.  

Chapter of the Year Award

The Michigan Chapter is awarded the 2025 Chapter of the Year Award for its exceptional commitment to member engagement, professional development and community building. Through consistent communications, including a monthly newsletter and dynamic LinkedIn presence, the chapter celebrates members’ contributions and fosters cross-sector connection. To keep members across the state connected, the Michigan Chapter hosts an annual chapter planning workshop, a book club, quarterly regional meetups, and promotes information sharing through virtual avenues. APBP Michigan is prioritizing the development of future field trips and technical tours that highlight successful projects, showcase emerging trends, and create space for in-person networking and knowledge exchange across the state. APBP Michigan has been working hard over the past year to amplify their members and cultivate a vibrant, inclusive community dedicated to advancing active transportation in Michigan.