IMAGIN - Geospatial Achievement

IMAGIN's Geospatial Achievement Award

The IMAGIN Geospatial Achievement Award is the highest award given by IMAGIN and is presented to a member in recognition of outstanding contributions to the geospatial technology field, the IMAGIN organization and its geospatial professionals, colleagues, members and the public that it serves.

The Geospatial Achievement Award has been presented annually since 2000 as several different names:

"Outstanding Individual Achievement Award" (2000-2002)
"Jim Living Geospatial Achievement Award" (2003-2014)
"IMAGIN Geospatial Achievement Award" (2015-Present)

Chris Cantrell, IT/GIS Director
Midland County

Thomas Van Bruggen, GIS Administrator
Muskegon County

In 2025, IMAGIN awarded two Geospatial Achievement Awards.

Chris Cantrell, IT/GIS Director for Midland County and Thomas Van Bruggen, GIS Administrator for Muskegon County were dually awarded for the annual IMAGIN Geospatial Achievement Award for their decades long dedication to furthering opportunity in the geospatial industry in Michigan.

View the Geospatial Achievement presentation in slide form HERE

Past Award Winners

IMAGIN Geospatial Achievement Award

Presented since 2015 - Click slide thumbnail to view presentation slides

Year	Recipient	Presentation or Bio
2024	John Esch, State of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy (EGLE) View the Geospatial Achievement presentation in slide form HERE
2023	Barbara Saunders, Principal Supervisor (Retired) Gas Data Integrity, GIS Mapping Department - DTE Energy View the Geospatial Achievement presentation in slide form HERE
2022	Carla Elenz, GIS Manager (Retired) Michigan Army National Guard - Camp Grayling View the Geospatial Achievement presentation in slide form HERE
2021	Matt Malone, GIS Coordinator City of Farmington Hills View the Geospatial Achievement presentation in slide form HERE View the Geospatial Achievement presentation recording HERE View the 2021 IMAGIN Awards Storymap section for Geospatial Achievement HERE
2020	Ann Burns, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG)
2019	Everett Root, State of Michigan Center for Shared Solutions
2018	Michelle Lazar, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr, & Huber
2017	Dr. Andrew Brenner, Quantum Spatial
2016	Dave Frey, Frey Works, LIAA
2015	Scott Ambs, Jackson County GIS

Jim Living Geospatial Achievement Award

Presented by Woolpert, LLC.

Presented from 2003 to 2014, Woolpert, LLC. partnered with IMAGIN to present the Jim Living Geospatial Achievement Award

Year	Recipient	Presentation or Bio
2014	Frank F. Sobie, Mott Community College
2013	Brooks Kelley, InfoGeographics, Inc.
2012	Laurie A. Spencer, Grand Traverse County
2011	Steve Aichele, US Geological Survey	Coming Soon
2010	James R. Miller, Hubbell, Roth & Clark	Coming Soon
2009	Charlie Bristol, Bristol Consulting	Coming Soon
2008	Dr. David Lusch, Michigan State University, GIS Research & Outreach	Coming Soon
2007	James Bennett, InfoGeographics, Inc.	Coming Soon
2006	Joe VanderMeulen, Land Information Access Association (LIAA)	Coming Soon
2005	No Recipient Awarded
2004	John Middlestead	Coming Soon
2003	Donald F. Bellanger, Bellanger Consulting	Coming Soon

Outstanding Individual Achievement Award

Presented from 2000 to 2002

Year	Recipient	Presentation or Bio
2002	Jim Living, Woolpert, LLC.
2001	David Shinavier, Barry County Land Information Systems	Coming Soon
2000	William Enslin, Michigan State University Center for Remote Sensing	Coming Soon

IMAGIN: Improving Michigan's Access to Geographic Information Networks

IMAGIN is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with offices at 416 S. Cedar Street, Suite H, Lansing, MI 48912