MTPA Annual Awards
Each year MTPA recognizes a group of members for its annual awards. There are four categories for these awards:
SENIOR PLANNER
AWARD
Awarded to a planner who has demonstrated mastery in the multiple facets of transportation planning.
JUNIOR PLANNER
AWARD
Awarded to a planner who has demonstrated significant accomplishments in the multiple facets of transportation planning with fewer than ten years of experience.
BEST PRACTICES
AWARD
Awarded to a TMA or MPO who has reached an agency objective or advanced the agency as a whole using creative and imaginative techniques. We encourage MDOT, FHWA, or a MPO to nominate agencies.
RAY LENZ FRIEND OF
TRANSPORTATION AWARD
Awarded to a federal or state representative who has provided remarkable assistance and demonstrated exceptional professionalism in working with local transportation organizations.
2024 - BLANK
2023 - Laurel Joseph, Grand Valley Metropolitan Council
2022 - Sharon Gregory, Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission
2021 - Andrea Faber, Grand Valley Metropolitan Council
2020 - No Conference
2019 - Pat Karr, Battle Creek Area Transportation Study
2018 - Maja Bolanowska , Midland Area Transportation Study
2017- Steve Stepek, AICP, Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study
2016 - Kimberly Gallagher, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission
2015 - Andy Tilma, Battle Creek Area Transportation Study
Mark Kloha , Michigan Department of Transportation
2024 - Alec Miller, Macatawa Area Coordinating Council
2023 - Ali Townsend, Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study
2022 - Dominic Pavone, Bay City Area Transportation Study
2021 - Demetra Manley, Saginaw Transportation Agency
2020 - No Conference
2019 - Christina Ignasiak, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments
2018 - Tanya DeOliveira, Region 2 Planning Commission
2017 - Andrea Strack, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission
2016 - Mark Ferrall, Washtenaw Area Transportation Study
2015 - Elisa Hoekwater, Macatawa Area Coordinating Council
2024 - Macatawa Area Coordinating Council
2023 - Grand Valley Metropolitan Council
2022 - Southeast Michigan Council of Governments
2021 - Washtenaw Area Transportation Study
2020 - No Conference
2019 - Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission
2018 - Grand Valley Metropolitan Council
2016 - Washtenaw Area Transportation Study
2015 - Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission
2024 - Don Mayle, Michigan Department of Transportation
2023 - Lindsey Dowswell, Michigan Department of Transportation
2022 - Luke Walters, Michigan Department of Transportation
2021 - Susan Weber, Federal Transit Administration
2020 - No Conference
2019 - Jeff Franklin, Michigan Department of Transportation
2018 - Heidi Phaneuf, Michigan Department of Transportation
2017 - Eric Mullen, Michigan Department of Transportation
2015 - Racheal Tupica, Federal Highway Administration