Leadership Awards

The Association is actively searching for community leaders who have demonstrated outstanding qualities and contributions to planning in Michigan.

These positive contributions to comprehensive community planning may have come in forms including, but not limited to the following:
• Continuing support for and implementation of comprehensive planning programs in the community over a period at least three years.
• Successful implementation of an outstanding project or program which demonstrates the objectives and benefits of comprehensive community planning.
• Successful implementation of a program serving to educate others in the objectives and benefits of comprehensive community planning.

Outstanding Community Administrator’s Award

This award was posthumously established in 1982 in recognition of Edward Potthoff, former MSPO Board of Director member who served as city manager of Saginaw and Cadillac. In honor of the recipient’s award, a letter of recognition will be presented to the community, acknowledging it contributions.

The Outstanding Community Administrator’s Award honors a city, village, township, county or regional community administrator who has made significant, positive contributions to comprehensive community planning in Michigan. Nominations may be submitted for any community administrator such as a mayor, village president, city/township/ village manager, county commission chairperson, county administrator/ controller/coordinator/executive, township supervisor/clerk, or regional council president/chair-person.

Criteria:
Support of Planning. To what extent has the nominee’s career increased the understanding of planning principles and the planning process? How has the nominee shown a clear understanding and support for planning?

Effectiveness/results. To what extent has the nominee been effective in furthering the cause of excellence in planning? Within what sphere of influence has this effectiveness been realized?

Helen S. Willis Outstanding Commissioner Award

This award was established in 1994. It was named in honor of the vast contributions Helen S. Willis had made to MSPO during her 10 years with MSPO as executive director.

The Helen S. Willis Outstanding Commissioner Award honors an individual who advanced or promoted the cause of planning in the public arena. This could include members of planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, economic development board member, or other appointed board officials. (Persons earning their living as planners and elected officials are not eligible for this award.

Criteria:

Support of Planning. To what extent has the nominee’s time and dedication increased the understanding of planning principles as well as the goals of the organization of what he/she is a part? How has this advocacy role been pursued?

Effectiveness. To what extent has the nominee promoted the cause and advanced the merits of planning? Within what sphere of influence has this effectiveness been realized?

Outstanding Professional Planner

The Outstanding Professional Planner Award honors an individual for a sustained contribution to the profession through distinguished practice, teaching, or writing. (This person must make his/her living in the practice of planning, either in the public or private sector.)

Criteria:

Support of Planning. To what extent has the nominee’s work increased the understanding of planning principles and the planning process?

Effectiveness/Results. To what extent has the nominee been effective in formulating and implementing his/her plans and ideas and, thus, furthered the cause of planning? Within what sphere of influence has this effectiveness been realized?