HATS 2009 Professionals of the Year
June 11, 2008
Huntsville Marriott
The Huntsville Association of Technical Societies (HATS) honored 17 recipients at its annual Professionals of the Year (POY) Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 11, 2009, at the Huntsville Marriott.
The Huntsville Association of Technical Societies was founded June 17, 1969, as a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization comprised of technical and professional societies dedicated to the advancement of science and engineering. Its mission is to help coordinate the professional, educational, and civic activities of Member organizations and to promote common goals, particularly those that can best be performed by cooperative action. HATS sponsored technical and business exhibitions and symposia (TABES and TEAMS) during the period, 1985-2005. These served the local business and technical communities by providing a forum for displaying their products and talents to the international community. Since 1988, the HATS Science and Technology Education and Training (STEDTRAIN) Seed Grant Program has provided 285 individual grants and over $270,000 to K-12 programs for learning activities, such as hands-on science projects. This year eight HATS STEDTRAIN 2008-2009 Grant recipients were guests courtesy of donors. Each teacher gave a brief overview of their Grant projects.
This year 17 professionals were nominated and selected for the HATS POY Award by their Member organizations for outstanding contributions toward the mission of their awarding organization. Because the professional activities of these professionals have resulted in broad social, technological, and/or economical consequences benefiting the science and engineering community, it is fitting that their hard work has been recognized. Their extraordinary dedication, creativity, and leadership will be an inspiration to all.
Left to Right: Philomena Grodzka, Ph.D., HATS Interim President; Robert King for Dr. Sam Crews, American Helicopter Society (AHS); Dale Hudson, Ph.D., American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME); Danny Duke, Calhoun Community College – SpaceTEC; Cindi Branham, HATS; Ronald D. Hackett, HATS STEDTRAIN; William A. Seidler, II, Ph.D., IEEE; Doug Parker for Paul Stover, IEEE Electro-Magnetic Capability (EMC) Society; Jan P. Eiras, Huntsville Association of Small Businesses in Advanced Technology (HASBAT) and the 2009 Recipient of the HATS Fourth Annual Joseph C. Moquin Award; Jimmy Parker, The International Society of Logistics (SOLE); Sherry Hilley, International Test & Evaluation Association (ITEA); Tony Stedman, National Contract Management Association (NCMA); Dean Kimmel, Society of Cost Estimating & Analysis (SCEA); Mary Horneck, Society for Technical Communications (STC); Gary Braman, System Safety Society (SSS); James Brelsford, Von Braun Astronomical Society (VBAS)
The Fourth Annual Joseph C. Moquin Award in 2009, named for one of Huntsville’s most outstanding technical and business leaders throughout the past 50 years, was presented to Jan P. Eiras of the Association of Small Businesses in Advanced Technology (HASBAT) in recognition for his extraordinary technical contribution to the North Alabama technical community. This award is selected each year from among the Professional of the Year honorees.
Left to Right: Robert (Bob) Robinson, 2008 Recipient of the third Annual HATS Joseph C. Moquin Award; Jan P. Eiras, HASBAT POY and the 2009 Recipient of the HATS Fourth Annual Joseph C. Moquin Award; Sharon Myers, HASBAT President.
The guest speaker, Dr. Williams, gave a talk concerning “New Beginnings Require New Partnerships” and stressed the important role of educators. Click here for the text of the Dr. Williams speech at the HATS 2009 Professionals of the Year Awards Banquet.
David B. Williams, Ph.D., UA Huntsville President
The HATS POY09 Chair, Frank Parris, welcomed attendees, recognized committees, and special guests including the HATS STEDTRAIN teachers.
Frank Parris, HATS POY09 Chair
The POY09 emcee, Greg Screws, kept the attendees entertained, added to the importance of the awards, and acknowledged the important role of teachers.
HATS POY09 emcee, Greg Screws, WHNT-TV Channel 19 News Anchor
Photo CDs available.
Click here for the text of the script for the HATS 2009 Professionals of the Year Awards Banquet.
Click here for the text of Mr. David B. Williams speach.
Click here for a copy of the dinner program.
Click here for Dr. Grodzka’s summary and thank you text.
Huntsville Association of Technical Societies (HATS) www.hats.org
Photos by Woody Williams
