Sally's award

Sally Wakefield is being recognized by her peers with a Polaris Mid-Career Leadership Award from the Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium at their annual conference in October. Sally is pictured at left with nominator Joella Givens (MNDOT).

Polaris (itself a triple star) is the proper name for the North Star, for centuries a beacon used by navigators to help keep their bearings and find their way. Each year three individuals are recognized with this honor. The Polaris Leadership award was established to recognize mid-career GIS professionals who demonstrate a beacon of energy and creativity that inspires and guides the rest of us.

Sally is being recognized as a leader with an amazing ability to make things happen. As the Geospatial Services Manager for 1000 Friends of Minnesota, she using geographic information and visualization technology to help citizens and elected officials make more informed decisions and better “see” their growth options as they face development pressure. As a member of the GIS/LIS Board, she reached out to K-12 Educators and supported their GIS activities by co-founding the MN GeoTech Conference and serving as its co-chair in 2004-05.

While on staff at the State Planning Agency, she provided outstanding staff support and encouragement to the Governor’s Council on Geographic Information, including significant outreach to local government. She also coordinated many GIS Day events – including the largest technology display ever at the State Capitol. She chaired the state GIS/LIS conference in 2005 and again in 2006 when the chair had to step down. Sally is the current chair-elect of the GIS/LIS Board. She also represents non-profit agencies on leadership and policy groups at the state and regional level.

We are pleased to see Sally being recognized by her peers and support her continued efforts to coordinate GIS activities and find new ways to deliver these important technologies to growing communities. Congratulations Sally!!