Chapter Planning Leadership Awards

2024 Nomination Window Is Open

Do you know of someone who has made a difference in the planning field? Nominate them for the 2024 APA Florida Chapter Planning Leadership Awards.

Each year APA Florida, through its Chapter Planning Leadership Awards, recognizes individuals or organizations for their leadership on planning issues. These awards are APA Florida’s highest honors. 

The American Planning Association is organized to advance the art and science of planning and to foster the activity of planning — physical, economic, and social — at the local, regional, state, and national levels. The objective of the Association is to encourage planning that will contribute to public well-being by developing communities and environments that meet the needs of people and of society more effectively.

APA Florida is the state’s largest professional land use planning organization. With approximately 3,000 members, our statewide mission is to provide leadership in the development of sustainable communities and to protect and enhance the natural and built environments of Florida.

Each year APA Florida, through its Planning Leadership Awards, recognizes individuals or organizations for their leadership on planning issues. These awards are APA Florida’s highest honors. APA Florida’s Planning Leadership Awards Program consists of the Leadership Awards and the Chapter Award for Best EDI Workplace.

The Chapter Planning Leadership Awards are presented at the Florida Planning Conference, held each year in September. More than 900 planners, attorneys, interested citizens and public officials from around the state are in attendance to congratulate the award winners.

2023 Winners

Distinguished Service to the Chapter

LAURA EVERITT

Outstanding Local Public Official of the Year

KRISTEN SHELL, AICP

Outstanding Media Leadership

THE TAMPA BAY TIMES, TRACEY MCMANUS, & OLIVIA GEORGE

Student Planner of the Year

BENEETTA MARY JOSE

Best EDI Workplace

MIAMI-DADE REGULATORY & ECONOMIC RESOURCES PLANNING DIVISION

Best EDI Workplace

VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON

Past Winners

2022: 

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Petra Doan
• Distinguished Contribution to the Chapter: Roxann Reade, AICP
• Outstanding Public Interest Group: Devan Leavins
• Outstanding Community Engagement:  Howard Levitan
• Student Planner of the Year: Jady Chen
• Best EDI Workplace: Jacobs

2021: 

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Kim Glas-Castro, AICP
• Distinguished Contribution to the Chapter:   Alissa Barber Torres, FAICP, Ph.D.
• Outstanding Public Interest Group:  Gainesville Citizens for Active Transportation
• Outstanding Community Engagement:  Capital Area Section
• Student Planner of the Year:  Jessica Kluttz

2020:

• Lifetime Achievement Award:  Brian K. Smith, FAICP
• Outstanding Media Coverage of Planning Issues:  Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel
• Outstanding Student of the Year:  Lentzy Jean-Louis, Florida Atlantic University
• Distinguished Contribution to the Chapter:  Orlando Metro Section

2019:

• Lifetime Achievement Award:  Mary Kay Delk, FAICP
• Outstanding Local Elected Official: Commissioner Jenna Haligas
• Outstanding Local Public Official:  Courtney Barker, AICP
• Distinguished Contribution to the Chapter:  Susan Coughanour, FAICP
• Outstanding Public Interest Group:  All for Transportation
• Student Planners of the Year:  Tyler Woolsey, Florida Atlantic University
• Student Planners of the Year:  Amanda Sapala, Florida State University
• Student Planners of the Year:  Rosemarie Fusco, University of Florida

2018:

• Lifetime Achievement Award:   Michael Busha, AICP
• Outstanding Public Local Official:  Joni Brinkman
• Outstanding Media Leadership Award:   Richard Danielson of the Tampa Bay Times
• Distinguished Contribution to the Chapter:  Tony LaColla, AICP
• Students of the Year:  Connor Bailey (FAU), Bridget Callea (FSU), Allison Reagan (UF)
• Legislator of the Year:   State Sen. Bobby Powell, AICP

2017:

• Lifetime Achievement Award:  Jim Studiale, AICP (Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Planning)
• Outstanding Public Local Official:  Former Mayor Jim Tulley, Titusville
  
• Distinguished Contribution to the Chapter:  Trina Gilliam
  
• Student of the Year:  Les Brown (UF)
  

2016:

• Outstanding Public Local Official:  Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Tampa
  
• Distinguished Contribution to the Chapter:  Frank Palen, AICP
  
• Student of the Year:  Kayla Costello (FSU) &  Alexis Pena (FAU)

2015:

• Outstanding Public Interest Group:  Friends of the Underline
  
• Distinguished Contribution to the Chapter:  Wiatt Bowers, AICP
  
• Student of the Year:  Allison Goldberg (FAU)

2014:

• Lifetime Achievement Award:  Ramond Chiaramonte, AICP (Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Planning)
• Outstanding Local Public Official:  The Honorable Lori Boyer, Jacksonville
  
• Distinguished Contribution to the Chapter:  Merle Bishop, FAICP

2013:

• Outstanding Media Coverage:  Ron Cunningham (Gainesville Sun, Outstanding Coverage of Comprehensive Planning Issues)
• Outstanding Public Interest Group:  RealizeBradenton
  
• Outstanding Local Public Official:  Mayor Kristin Jacobs (Broward County)
  
• Outstanding Student Planner:  Marta Viciedo (FAU)

2012:

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert Hunter, FAICP (Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Planning)
• Distinguished Contribution to the Chapter: Julia Trevarthen
  
• Outstanding Public Interest Group: BikeWalkLee
  
• Outstanding Public Official: Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orlando
  
• Outstanding Student Planner: Amy Cavaretta (UF)

2011:

• President’s Award: Senator Bob Graham (Outstanding Leadership in Promoting Sound Planning and Environmental Protection for Florida)
• Distinguished Contribution to Chapter: Nancy Stroud, FAICP, and Tim Brown
  
• Outstanding Student Planner: Jacob Kain (UF)
  
• Outstanding Media Leadership: Craig Pittman (St. Petersburg Times)

2010:

• Outstanding Service to Chapter (President’s Discretion): Val Hubbard, FAICP
  
• Service to the Profession: Steven Lindorff, AICP
  
• APA Florida Section of the Year: First Coast Section
  
• Outstanding Local Public Official of the Year: Mayor Pam Iorio (Tampa) and Commissioner Mark Sharpe (Hillsborough County)
• Legislator of the Year: Sen. Lee Constantine (Distinguished Public Service in Promoting Environmental Protection and Regional Transportation Alternatives)
• Outstanding Media Coverage: Jack Harris
  
• Outstanding Student Planner: Seth Morgan (FSU)
  
• Outstanding Public Interest Group: United Citizens Action Network

2009:

• APA Florida Section of the Year: Sun Coast Section
  
• Outstanding Local Public Official of the Year: Mayor Scott Clemons (Panama City)
• Outstanding Student Planner: Jacob Cremer (FSU)
  
• Outstanding Public Interest Group: Metro Jacksonville

2008:

• Outstanding Service to Chapter (President’s Discretion): Marty Quinn
  
• Service to the Profession: Brian Teeple, AICP
  
• APA Florida Section of the Year: Heart of Florida and Orlando Metro Sections
  
• Outstanding Local Public Official of the Year: Mia Jones (Jacksonville City Council)
• Outstanding Student Planner: Iris Patten (UF)
  
• Outstanding Public Interest Group: Alachua Conservation Trust
  
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Earl Starnes, FAICP

2007:

• Service to the Profession: Mimi Reid Hartman
  
• APA Florida Section of the Year: Emerald Coast Section
  
• Media Appreciation Award: Naples Lake Wales News (Scenic Highway planning)
  
• Outstanding Student Planner: Clark Stephens (FAU)
  
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Ernest Bartley, FAICP

2006:

• Outstanding Service to Chapter (President’s Discretion): Tom Pelham, AICP
  
• Service to the Profession: Governor Bob Martinez
  
• APA Florida Section of the Year: First Coast Section
  
• Outstanding Local Public Official of the Year: Commissioner Michael DiTerlizzi (Martin County)
• Media Appreciation Award: Naples Daily News (Affordable Housing)
  
• Outstanding Student Planner: Travis Minch
  
• Lifetime Achievement Award: John DeGrove, FAICP

2005:

• Outstanding Service to Chapter (President’s Discretion): Henry Bittaker, AICP, and John O’Brien
• APA Florida Section of the Year: Treasure Coast Section
  
• Outstanding Local Public Official of the Year: Commissioner Doug Coward, (St. Lucie County) and Linda Saul Sena (Tampa City Council)
• Legislator of the Year: Tom Lee (Florida Senate President) and Mike Davis (House Growth Management Committee)
• Outstanding Student Planner: Kristen Nowicki
  
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Wayne Daltry, FAICP
  

2004:

• Outstanding Service to Chapter (President’s discretion): Brian Teeple, AICP, Lester Abberger, Marie York, AICP, Mary Wiser, Marty Quinn, Paul Bergmann, FAICP
• APA Florida Section of the Year: Capital Area Section
  
• Outstanding Local Public Official of the Year: Commissioner Katy Sorenson (Miami Dade County)
• Media Appreciation Award: Naples Daily News (Gulf in Peril)
  
• Outstanding Student Planner: William Nemser
  
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Henry Skokowski, AICP
  

2003:

• Outstanding Service to Chapter (President’s Discretion): Rich Unger, AICP
  
• APA Florida Section of the Year: San Felasco Section and Broward Section
  
• Outstanding Local Public Official of the Year: Commissioner Rich Crotty (Orange County Commission)
• Media Appreciation Award: Kendall Middlemas, News-Herald (Planning and Growth Management Issues coverage)
• Student of the Year: Tracy Hegler