2008 Awards Information
The National Association of Regional Councils and its Board of Directors are proud to announce the 2008 General Achievement, Leadership, and President’s Lifetime Achievement Awards. Winners have been notified and will be recognized during the 2009 National Conference of Regions in Washington, DC, February 22-24, 2009. Join us in congratulating the winners and honoring their work.
TOM BRADLEY LEADERSHIP AWARD
Samuel Olens, Chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and Chairman of the Cobb County District 3 Commissioners, is the recipient of the 2008 Tom Bradley Leadership Award. This award recognizes leadership excellence in advocating regional concepts, approaches, and programs at any and all levels of government.
Mr. Olens serves on numerous boards and has received many awards and honors, including the 2007 “Excellence in Public Service Award” by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute and has been selected in Georgia Trend magazine's “100 Most Influential Georgians” for the last four years.
As Chairman of ARC, Mr. Olens’ focus on transportation issues resulted in the adoption of the record-breaking $51 billion Regional Transportation Plan. He also led the formation of the Transit Planning Board in 2006, resulting in the creation of a single board where all transit interests can come together to create a cohesive and truly regional transit system. Mr. Olens’ commitment to regionalism through his work with ARC and his community is evident in all his accomplishments.
WALTER SCHEIBER LEADERSHIP AWARD
Walter Diggles, Sr., Executive Director of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) and serves on the Executive Directors Council of NARC, is the recipient of the 2008 Walter Scheiber Leadership Award. This award recognizes the significant impacts an Executive Director has made at the local, state and national levels.
Mr. Diggles has served on numerous other Boards including, the Texas Association of Regional Councils’ Executive Director’s Council as Chairman and has been appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve as Chairman of the OneStar National Service Commission. Mr. Diggles has also received several awards including the “Al J. Notzon Regional Unity Award” from NARC in 2006.
Since becoming Executive Director of the DETCOG, Mr. Diggles has seen his community through three separate disasters: the murder of James Byrd in 1998, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, and most recently through Hurricane Rita. His dedication and commitment to his community is reflected in all his work.
ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
The General Achievement Awards recognize excellence in programs and services of Regional Councils and Metropolitan Planning Organizations. Considerations for the awards include: significance of the program in promoting and exemplifying regional cooperation and coordination; significance of the program in promoting and exemplifying regional excellence; innovation in concept or approach; impact of program on region; involvement of private and civic sectors; and originality, replicability, and quality of the program. NARC General Achievement Awards are selected by an independent panel of judges.
RURAL: Green River Area Development District
Green River Regional Entrepreneurial Initiatives
Jiten Shah, Executive Director
The Green River Area Development District (GRADD) represents Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Webster and Union counties in Western Kentucky.
In 2006, GRADD created what would become the Green River Regional Entrepreneurial Initiatives: the Green River Entrepreneur Club, Green River Works website, the Emerging Ventures Center for Innovation, and the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour. Each initiative encourages participation by elected officials and business leaders of the region to build momentum for entrepreneurship, acts as a job bank, and provides training and resources for new and existing companies. By working with the public and private sectors and educational institutions, GRADD and the Green River Regional Entrepreneurial Initiatives are working to ensure that economic future and workforce of their region is thriving. Additional information about these initiatives can be found by visiting the Green River Entrepreneurial Club website or the Green River Works website.
MEDIUM METRO: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Valley Vision 2
Tim Brennan, Executive Director
The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) is the regional planning body for Hampden and Hampshire Counties and their 43 cities and towns, in Massachusetts.
In 1997, the PVPC launched Valley Vision, their land use plan. For many reasons, the original plan was revisited and Valley Vision 2 was published in 2007, bringing with it many new features and updated statistical data. The plan itself consists of seven parts, including: the plan, toolbox (available via CD), map, an intergovernmental compact, pilot projects, a website, and public outreach and local technical assistance. Through public private partnerships and innovative techniques, Valley Vision 2, a Smart Growth program, has created an easy to use, accessible, and successful tool for its member communities. For more information on Valley Vision 2, visit PVPC’s website.
MAJOR METRO: Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency
Avon Interchange Process and Impact Study
Howard Maier, Executive Director
The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is the metropolitan planning organization for five counties in Ohio: Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina, including the Greater Cleveland area.
Last year, NOACA commissioned and oversaw the Avon Interchange Impact Study, which focused on the highway interchange in the City of Avon, one of the fastest growing communities in Northeast Ohio. The study examined, in part, the economic consequences of the interchange and the effects of the interchange in relation to NOACA’s principles and planning goals. The final report on the study shows that the interchange would have a “negligible” negative effect on the region, and a profound positive effect for the City of Avon. By bringing together public and private partners, in every stage of the study, the Avon Interchange and Impact Study allowed for a thorough, transparent, innovative, and successful project. NOACA’s Board overwhelming approved and supports the project. Additional information can be found by visiting NOACA’s website.
MAJOR METRO Runner-Up: Sacramento Area Council of Governments
Metropolitan Transportation Plan for 2035
Mike McKeever, Executive Director
The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) is the metropolitan planning organization for the counties of El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba, including the 22 cites within the region.
SACOG’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan for 2035 (MTP2035), two years in the making, was approved by their Board of Directors earlier this year. The plan invests more than $42 billion over the next 28 years and includes investments in transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects, and roads. By including public feedback in every stage of the process—through presentations, workshops, a televised forum, public opinion research, and direct feedback—the plan provides comprehensive transportation and infrastructure planning, while focusing on the fundamentals of the plan: smart land use, environmental quality and sustainability, financial stewardship, economic vitality, access and mobility, and equity and choice. Additional information is available by visiting SACOG’s website.
MAJOR METRO Runner-Up: Atlanta Regional Commission
Lifelong Communities
Chick Krautler, Director
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and coordinating agency for Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale, including the city of Atlanta, GA.
ARC’s initiative, Lifelong Communities, was built out of a necessity to serve its older adult population, many of whom have spent over thirty years in the region, and plan to spend many more there. By working with public and private partners throughout the region, Lifelong Communities works towards three goals: promoting housing and transportation options, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and expanding information and access to services. In understanding the current population census and looking at forecasted growth for the region, Lifelong Communities is designed to implement changes and programs that will work for many years to come. Additional information can be found by visiting ARC’s website.
PRESIDENT’S LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
The President’s Lifetime Achievement award is presented to Executive Directors who have shown outstanding leadership, initiative, and achievement in their tenure. We recognize them for their accomplishments and thank them for their continued service to their association, NARC, and regionalism across the country.
Dee Freeman
Triangle J Council of Governments
36 years of service
Jerry Lasker
Indian Nations Council of Governments
35 years of service
Nicolas Papadakis
Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
24 years of service
Vernon Martin
Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center
39 years of service
R. Douglas Taylor
Western Piedmont Council of Governments
37 years of service
Mark Pisano
Southern California Association of Governments
31 years of service