Past Award Winners
Planner of the Year
2022 Greg Toth, AICP
2021 Tyler Sinclair, Jackson, Wyoming
2020 Joe Dills, Angelo Planning Group
2019 John Van Dyke, Mandan, North Dakota
2018 Sara Fraser, Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska; Citizen Planner- Robert Griego, Santa Fe County, New Mexico
2017 Don Albrecht/Western Rural Development Center Logan, Utah
2016 Jayna Watson, Spearfish, South Dakota
2015 Dr. William Gribb, of the University of Wyoming Geography Department
2014 Chris Beck, AICP, is a Principal with Agnew::Beck Consulting out of Anchorage, AK and Boise, ID and has been instrumental in bringing planning to urban and rural Alaska since 1979
2013 Donna Bye, planner for the City of Minot, ND
2012 Cheyenne, WY Planning and Development Director Brandon Cammarata
2011 (Two winners) April Getchius, AICP, and Mary Randolph both of Cheyenne, Wyoming
2010 No Nominations received
2009 Tom Perrigo, AICP, City of Las Vegas, Nevada, Deputy Director of Planning
2008 Two Planners Recognized: Robert Briggs, City of Sheridan, Wyoming Planning Director; and Doug Self, City of Driggs, Idaho, Planning and Zoning Administrator
2007 Jessica Osborne, Planner III, City of Commerce City, Colorado
2006 No nominations received
2005 Robert Czerniak, City and Regional Planning Program Department Head, Las Cruces, New Mexico
President’s Award
2022 Ryan Wallace, Mhtn & Vernal City Staff, for their work on the Vernal City Downtown Plan
2021 John Day Innovation Gateway Integrated Planning Team
2020 Laura Paskus, Environmental Journalist
2019 Gregory T. Smith, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2018 Megan Nelms, Gillette, Wyoming
2015 no award given
2015 no award given
2015 no award given
2014 Ken Waido had served on the WPR Board for over 30 years
2013 Michael Harper, FAICP
2012 Long-time WP Board Member Ben Orsbon, FAICP for his many years of service “since forever” and his “cutting edge” contributions to The Western Planner.
2010 Ken Waido, WPR Treasurer, Fort Collins, Colorado for his unfailing commitment and enduring contribution to WPR. Ken was honored for his many, many, many years of service, outstanding achievements, and great adventures along the way as WPR’s treasured Treasurer.
2010 Dee Caputo, AICP, WPR Past President, Olympia, Washington, for her leadership, professionalism and focus. Dee’s many, many years of service to WPR reflect her dedication and passion to the planning profession.
2008 Wells Williams, AICP, Sitka, Alaska, 16-year WPR Board Member and First WPR Webmaster
2007 Steve Kurtz, FAICP, Casper, Wyoming, The Western Planner Editor 1991-2006
2007 Joanne Garnett, FAICP, Pinedale, Wyoming, 22-year WPR Board Member, WPR Emeritus Board Member, and “Mother of The Western Planner”
Sheldon D. Gerber Merit Award for Excellence in Environmental Planning
2022 Ladd Keith And Sara Meerow, University Of Arizona, Arizona State University (Respectively) For Their Work On Planning For Urban Heat Resilience
2021 CarlyAnn Carruthers—Wyoming State Parks, for The Sinks Canyon Master Plan
2020 Waverly Klaw, AICP, Program Director with Sonoran Institute
2019 Maria Lohmann, Santa Fe County, New Mexico
2018 KLJ Consultants and North Dakota Department of Transportation, US Highway 85 Wildlife Crossing System Study
2017 David Bell, Logan, Utah; Honorable Mention-Floyd Lamb Park Master Plan, Las Vegas, Nevada
2016 Ron Gardiner, Questa, New Mexico, Taos County Wildfire Protection Plan
2015 no award given
2014 no award given
2013 Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Regional Plan
2012 Mark Apel, who is currently the Area Associate Agent for the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension in Sierra Vista
2011 City of Las Vegas, Nevada, Unified Development Code
2011 Plan Fort Collins, Colorado, Project Management Team
2010 Planning Project Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, Environmental Review Process
2010 Outstanding Implementation Effort City of Caldwell, Indian Creek Revitalization Project
2009 Planning Project City of Cheyenne, Wyoming, in cooperation with Wenk Associates for their efforts to providing educational tools and a future vision for the Belvoir Ranch Master Plan.
2009 Citizen Initiated Effort City of Gillette Parks and Beautification Board. Michael Surface was the Senior Planner for the Project.
2008 City of Laramie, Wyoming, Community Development Department for the Casper Aquifer Protection Plan and Ordinance
2007 Planning Project City Creek Conservation Area, City of Pocatello, Idaho
2007 Planning Individual Byron Goynes, Planning Commissioner, City of Las Vegas, Nevada
2006 The Regional Animal Campus Project, by Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects, Las Vegas, Nevada Diablo Canyon Rural Planning Area
2006 Evolving Tradition in a New Economy, Coconino County Board of County Supervisors, Bar T Bar, and Flying M Ranches, Flagstaff, Arizona 2005 The 3 Creek Ranch Development Project, owned by The Ranches at Jackson Hole, LLC, and led by Verdone Landscape Architects
Citizen Planner Award
2022 Janine Divyak, Dona Ana County Community Development
2021 Rocky Schneider—Fargo, North Dakota
2020 Andrew Kjellman, AICP, PTP, Manager Transportation Planning, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
2019 Lyndsey Ulrickson, Souris Basin Planning Council, Minot, North Dakota
2018 no award given
2017 Bob Meyer, Spearfish South Dakota
2016 Ron Gardiner, Questa, New Mexico
2015 no award given
2014 no award given
2013 Cecilia McCord, Executive Director of the Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust in New Mexico
Rural Innovation Award
2022 Stephanie Salazar and the Upton Economic Development Board, for their work on Upton Futures: An Economic Development Strategy
2021 St. George, Alaska and Ecoplan International, for the project, Rebuilding Our Future - Kayutuuxtxin Tanagnangin Igayuusalix Angaglimchin Agnaxtxichin
2020 Uniquely Driggs Comprehensive Plan; Driggs, Idaho
2019 City of Ketchum, Idaho
2018 Shelly Wade, Agnew-Beck, Anchorage, Alaska and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Fort Hall, Idaho.
2017 Cities of Driggs and Victor, Idaho; City of Sheridan and Sheridan County, Wyoming (honorable mention)
2016 Arizona State University/Navajo Nation
2015 Minnehaha County, South Dakota for their Envision 2035 Comprehensive Plan
2014 The Fairbanks North Star Borough for its project, “Parcel Base Map Control with Differential GPS.” The purpose of this project was to provide the Fairbanks North Star Borough better control of its GIS parcel layer by referencing the parcel layer to GPS coordinates.
2013 The Jackson/Teton County Comprehensive Plan and Implementation Actions
KENNETH G. WAIDO AWARD FOR PLANNING TEAM OF THE YEAR
2022 Municipality Of Anchorage, Downtown District Plan Team
2021 Bernalillo County, Tiny Home Village Project Team
2020 City of Cheyenne Planning & Development Department
2019 Santa Fe County Planning Division, New Mexico
Stan Steadman Article of the Year
2022 Pauline Hardie, Lynne Mcconnell, And Allison Platt, for their article, Opening Zoning Barriers To The Missing Middle In Bend, Oregon
2021 Cole Grisham, AICP for the article: Five Planning Ideas For The Oregon Coast Trail
2020 “Land Use and Environmental Planning: History and Context” by Dan Pava
2018 “Teton Creek Corridor Project: Protecting a Key Resource in the GYE” by Shawn Hill, Jackson, Wyoming;
People’s Choice (2018) “Levers of Housing Affordability: Strategies and Tools for Planners” by Jamin Kimmell and Catherine Corliss, Portland, Oregon
2017 “Mining Cell Phone Data to Create a Multimodal Transportation Plan for Lake Tahoe” by Cynthia Albright, Reno, Nevada
2016 (Tie) “Harley-Davidson Rally Point in Downtown Sturgis, South Dakota:’ by Jessica Holdren, Rapid City, South Dakota;“Ranching with Fire and Rangeland Fire Protection Associations: Livelihoods, resiliency, and adaptive capacity of rural Idaho” by Kyle McCormick, MRCP, Boise, Idaho and Dr. Thomas Wuerzer, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2014 “The Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1942: A Model of Cooperation, a Blessing for the West”, Michael I. Smith, CFM
2013 “Going Green” by Adrienne Packer, Las Vegas, Nevada
2012 “A Ranchers Insights on Trails Planning Provide Lessons in Public Involvement” by Cindy Mendoza, Portland, Oregon
2011 TO AVOID A TAKING: Special assessments must create special benefits: by Ben Orsbon, FAICP, Pierre, South Dakota, Runner-up: Conservation Subdivisions— An Alternative to Western Ranchettes: by Mark B. Apel, Bisbee, Arizona
2010 “Putting Boots on the Ground: Lessons on Small Town Planning from Southwest Utah” by Elissa Black and Peter Stempel, Consultants, Virgin, Utah
2009 “Discovering Home: Readings on a Sense of Place for Planners,” by Scot Siegel, Planning Consultant. Lake Oswego, Oregon
2008 “Thinking Globally, Acting Municipally: Three Colorado Cities Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gases,” by Megan Day, Planner, Manitou Springs, Colorado
2007 “Open Space Success Stories: Albuquerque and Boise,” by Brad Stebleton, Senior Planner, Sandoval County, Bernalillo, New Mexico
2006 “Small Communities Struggle to Retain Identity in the Face of Commercialization,” by Matt Ashby, AICP, Senior Planner, City of Cheyenne, Wyoming
2005 “Roads, Growth Management and Rural Planners of the West,” by Mark Reid, Laramie County Planning Director, Cheyenne, Wyoming
2004 “BikeNet in Billings,” by Don Brigham, Consulting Planner, Southeast Washington
2003 “TRAC-ing Land Use Options in Mesa County” by Michael Warren, AICP, Senior Planner, Long-Range Planning Division, Department of Planning and Development, Mesa County, Colorado
2002 “Frontier Planners Tackle Intractable Challengers of Depopulation” by David Stauffer, Red Lodge, Montana Planning and Zoning Commission Chair
2001 “Fundamentals of Economic Development for Planners” by Dave Spencer, Wyoming Business Council Northeast Region Director, Gillette, Wyoming
2000 “Complicated Problems Call for Complicated Solutions” by Co-Authors JohnTaschek, Owner and Manager, Taschek Environmental Consulting, Seth Fiedler, Senior Environmental Planner, Taschek Environmental Consulting, Corrales, New Mexico, and Anita Miller, Attorney specializing in land use law, Albuquerque, New Mexico
1999 “Refugees in Western Planner States: Who Are They and How Do We Plan for Them?” John Gaber, Assistant Professor of Community and Regional Planning, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
STUDENT PLANNING PROJECT OF THE YEAR
2022 Geoffrey Weathers, University Of Colorado Denver, for their work on The Multifamily Housing Parking Optimization Study For Longmont, Colorado
2021 Northern Arizona University Planning Students for The Meadows Affordable Housing
Runner-up: Chelsea Gieryic and Ali Pfenninger, University of Colorado, Denver for Envisioning an Alternative Future for Valmont Power Plant
Lester Award
2021 Angela Parker, AICP for having been booted in the past, but still being the sole of Western Planner
2020 Sherwin Racehorse & Shelly Wade for their hard work facing the challenges of establishing the Tribal Interest Group of APA
2019 No lucky (or unlucky) recipient
2018 Candi Millar, Olympia, Washington
2017 Matt Ashby, Cheyenne, Wyoming
2016 Donna Bye, Minot, North Dakota
2015 No lucky (or unlucky) recipient
2014 The year’s conference chair Max Johnson
2013 Erick J. Aune, AICP, of Santa Fe, NM
2012 Wyeth Friday, Billings, MT
2011 No lucky (or unlucky) recipient
2010 No lucky (or unlucky) recipient
2009 Joanne Garnett, FAICP, Sheridan Wyoming
2008 Jody Sanford, Bozeman, Montana
2007 Dave Miller, Lincoln, Nebraska
2006 Robert S. Genzer, Private Planning Consultant and former City of Las Vegas, Nevada, Planning Supervisor
2005 Tammy McGill, Billings Montana