Tamika Butler Toole Design Group

APBP Annual Awards

APBP 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award and Professional of the Year Awards

Cara Seiderman, Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Sirisha Kothuri, Research Professional of the Year
Drusilla van Hengel, PhD, Private Sector Professional of the Year
Charlotte Claybrooke, Public Sector Professional of the Year - Tie
John Brazil, Public Sector Professional of the Year - Tie
Tobi Otulana, Young Professional of the Year

View the 2021 APBP Award Winner Acceptance Videos Here!

The Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals (APBP) announces the winners of its annual awards program to honor excellence in the profession. Four Professional of the Year awards and the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award were presented during the final day of APBP's Virtual Conference on August 11.

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 others. The 2021 APBP Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Cara B. Seiderman, Transportation Program Manager for the City of Cambridge.

Cara's high standard of professionalism, her focus on equitable access for all, ability to build community support, and cooperation with colleagues inspire professionals and communities across North America. Her leadership in national research and innovative ideas have shaped best practices for national guides. This award is given in appreciation for Cara's decades of work to promote walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly communities. Her research and pioneering work in planning, design, code reform, and public places have helped improve policies and practices at the national, statewide, and local levels. Cara's unwavering dedication to active transportation is an inspiration.

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. Sirisha Kothuri, Senior Research Associate at Portland State University, receives the 2021 APBP Research Professional of the Year award. Dr. Kothuri's contributions to advance the state of practice in bicycle and pedestrian safety research are outstanding. She has worked to inspire the next generation in our field and advance the professional knowledge of others through research around multimodal traffic operations, bicycle and pedestrian counting, and safety, with an emphasis in innovation in non-motorized transport.

Drusilla van Hengel, PhD, Principal, Nelson/Nygaard is awarded the 2021 Private Sector Professional of the Year. Drusilla always finds ways to drill down in projects, and always builds something that is relentlessly context specific. She helps make walking and bicycling viable options for people from age one to one hundred by eliminating cultural, organizational, and design gaps and barriers. Clients remark that equitable considerations have never been an afterthought in her approach; they are an intrinsic part of the lens she has always brought to her work. As a mentor, she teaches others how to raise the bar in every aspect of their work.

We have a tie this year for the Public Sector Professional of the Year! This award is being given to John Brazil and Charlotte Claybrooke.

John Brazil is the Active Transportation Program Manager for the City of San José. John has pushed the envelope to make San José one of the most bicycle and pedestrian-friendly cities. Within the City of San José, John's 20 years of service continue to inspire others to strive for safer street design, more inclusive outreach, and to be overall better public servants by listening to community members and exercising humility in his interactions with the public. His vast contributions to projects and programs are making a significant difference in safety, accessibility, and quality of life.

Charlotte Claybrooke is the Active Transportation Program Manager for the Washington State Department of Transportation. She is a leader in active transportation, supporting the update of the AASHTO Bicycle Guide. She leads in Safe Routes to School, strategic highway safety plans, and the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. Charlotte builds strong relationships with schools, agencies, tribes, and nonprofit partners, and supports equity for all, leading to safe systems approaches making progress toward zero traffic deaths.

Tobi Otulana, Planner at Toole Design, is being named APBP's 2021 Young Professional of the Year. Tobi is always ahead of the curve and pushing everyone around her to do better – particularly when it comes to incorporating equity into planning work and decision-making processes. Her passion for inclusive planning makes projects so much more comprehensive and thoughtful. Her public speaking skills, critical thinking ability, and general passion for her work surpass that of more experienced planners and she has already shown an ability to elevate and inspire others in the field.

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.

To Review the Awards Criteria for the 2021 APBP Award Nominations click here.

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

2021		Cara Seiderman,Transportation Program Manager at City of Cambridge Community Development Department
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.

2021	Young Professional of the Year	Tobi Otulana, Planner at Toole Design
2021	Professional of the Year (public)	Charlotte Claybrooke, Active Transportation Program Manager at Washington State Department of Transportation
2021	Professional of the Year (public)	John Brazil, Active Transportation Program Manager at City of San Jose, Department of Transportation
2021	Professional of the Year (private)	Drusilla van Hengel, Senior Principal at Nelson/Nygaard
2021	Professional of the Year (research)	Dr. Sirisha Kothuri, Senior Research Associate at Portland State University
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
2012	Professional of the Year (Public)	Kristin Bennett, City of Colorado Springs
2012	Professional of the Year (Private)	Jean-Francois Rheault, Eco-counter, Montreal
2012	Young Professional of the Year	Tessa Greegor, Cascade Bicycle Club, Seattle Stefanie Seskin, National Complete Streets Coalition
2011	Professional of the Year (Public)	Nicole Freedman, City of Boston
2011	Professional of the Year (Private)	Marc Joliecoeur, Vélo Québec, Montreal
2011	Young Professional of the Year	Brian Graham, City of Greenville, NC
2011	Meritorious Service Award	Rep. James Oberstar, Chisholm, MN
2010	Professional of the Year (Public)	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.

TheYoung Professional of the Year Awardrecognizes a person under age 30, in either the public or private sector, whose leadership and accomplishments distinguish her from her cohort.