• 2025 Professional of the Year – Research: Nick Ferenchak, Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico, has a deep passion for traffic safety, particularly pedestrian and bicyclist safety, which he has championed through his research, outreach, mentorship, and leadership. Nick has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed research publications to date, with a remarkable h-index of 17 and over 860 citations. Many of these projects are either led by him or developed in collaboration with other leading safety researchers, and notably, with undergraduate students. His commitment to engaging undergrads in research is rare and truly commendable, and it has made a profound impact on the student community at the University of New Mexico (UNM). In June 2023, Nick achieved a significant milestone in his career by securing and leading a Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC) dedicated exclusively to pedestrian and bicyclist safety—the first of its kind. Through this work, he has not only advanced the field in substantial ways but also enabled a culture of collaboration, innovation, and academic excellence. Nick continues to promote process improvements, create new educational programs and lead efforts to secure additional external funding, ensuring the center’s success and relevance. His achievements throughout his career reflect his commitment to advancing pedestrian and bicyclist safety, mentoring the next generation of professionals and researchers, and promoting justice and equity in our field. 
  
  
• 2025 Professional of the Year – Public Sector: Active transportation professionals need to champion and prove the value of multimodality well beyond their existing sphere of influence to further integrate walking, biking, and rolling into state transportation networks and policy. Few understand this as well as Celeste Gilman, Strategic Policy Administrator at Washington State Department of Transportation. Gilman’s transportation career is distinguished with many examples of leading successful collaborations between not only dozens of teams at WSDOT, but also across state and local agencies, to elevate the status of active transportation in Washington state. She epitomizes the definition of a Public Sector Professional of the Year through her ability to navigate complex systems, develop relationships with and partnerships between countless diverse groups around novel concepts, and launch and shepherd projects toward institutional change that increases everyone’s access to bicycle and pedestrian improvements. If that weren’t enough, Celeste extends her positive influence by giving others the educational resources and tools they need to lead, preparing teams to advocate for active transportation-positive policy and direct projects themselves. If there is ever a need to improve the active transportation system anywhere, Celeste is literally the first on the ground to identify how to foster support for change. She always leaves better infrastructure – and strengthened communities – in her wake. 
  
  
• 2025 Professional of the Year – Private Sector: Dave McLaughlin, Principal, Senior Director of Business Development and National Active Transportation / Complete Streets Lead at WSP Canada, is a true pioneer in the field of active transportation. As a multi-modal transportation planner, he has over 30 years of experience in active transportation network planning and facility design, transportation master plans, cycling and trail system network strategies, design guidelines and policy development. As one of Canada’s leading urban mobility and complete streets specialists, Dave has made invaluable contributions to hundreds of active transportation design projects and has served as an expert advisor to all levels of government. He has also authored and co-authored a number of key technical thought leadership papers that focus on active transportation, complete streets and micromobility. Dave’s legacy of advancing the state of active transportation across Canada and beyond includes the thousands of industry professionals he’s influenced, and the millions of citizens who benefit from healthier, safer and more connected communities that he had a part in through his work. Dave has collaborated with municipalities across the country to create progressive active transportation plans, and developed high quality design guidance at the national, provincial and local levels to support implementation. Through his mentorship of dozens of active transportation and complete streets team members, Dave has inspired a new wave of planners and engineers to embrace careers in active transportation, think big, and realize ambitious visions for better streets and safer and more equitable communities. 
  
  
• 2025 Professional of the Year – Nonprofit Sector: Rachel Hollar Umana is the founding Executive Director of Bike Walk Macon, Macon-Bibb County’s first and only pedestrian and bicycle advocacy nonprofit organization. In the ten years since she launched the effort, what started as a small grassroots initiative has grown into a powerful local movement for safer, healthier, and more accessible streets for all. Rachel began this work through the Emerging City Champions fellowship program with 8 80 Cities, inspired to make her city more walkable and bike-friendly. At the time, Macon had fewer than a mile of bike lanes and little dedicated infrastructure for people walking or biking. Ten years later, through sustained advocacy and community engagement, Macon-Bibb has taken major steps forward in supporting multimodal transportation and traffic safety, and has been officially recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Through it all, Rachel has stayed grounded in a community-first approach — listening, showing up, and advocating alongside residents. She has prioritized equity and inclusion in Bike Walk Macon’s leadership and programming, especially in neighborhoods historically impacted by transportation and infrastructure decisions. Whether helping reconnect divided communities like Pleasant Hill or making sure local voices are at the table for major projects, Rachel’s work is rooted in the belief that safer streets are about more than transportation — they’re about dignity, access, and opportunity. A decade in, Bike Walk Macon is not just an organization — it’s a movement. And thanks to Rachel’s leadership, it’s helping transform the future of transportation in Macon-Bibb County. 

The Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals (APBP) announces the winners of its annual awards program to honor excellence in the profession. The 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award, three Professional of the Year Awards, and two Chapter Awards were presented during the final day of APBP’s Conference in Detroit, MI on August 14. 

Lifetime Achievement Award 

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has made a substantial commitment to the profession during their 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 bike and walk and who inspire others.  

The 2024 APBP Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Tim Young, a bicycle and pedestrian advocate, whose visionary leadership has profoundly shaped the landscape of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, through the development of the Jackson Hole Community Pathway System. Tim's efforts, beginning in the early 1990s, led to the creation of a more than 70-mile network of all-ages and all-abilities multi-use pathways that safely connect the entire region. As the first Pathways Director for Teton County, Tim’s relentless advocacy, strategic partnerships, and innovative funding strategies were instrumental in overcoming significant opposition and bringing these pathways to life. His impact extends beyond Jackson Hole, with his work influencing pedestrian and bicycle advocacy at local, state, and national levels. Tim’s legacy is cemented by the lasting benefits he has brought to the community. 

Professional of the Year Awards 

The APBP Professional of the Year Awards recognize the achievements of pedestrian and bicycle professionals made in the last 12 months in the private, public, and research sectors. 

Chapter of the Year Awards 

New in 2024, the APBP Chapter of the Year Awards recognize chapters that have significantly contributed to the organization by fostering local engagement, professional growth, and visibility over the last 12 months.  

For more information about the APBP awards, please visit the APBP website at https://www.apbp.org/annual-awards.