Frank C Balfour Professional of the Year Award

Named after the Association's founder, the Frank C. Balfour Professional of the Year Award honors professionals who have demonstrated exemplary support to the Association. Candidates are nominated by IRWA's local Chapters and members. Submissions are sent to the INEC for consideration and a maximum of six finalists are selected.

The INEC appoints the award recipient based on:

  • Outstanding contributions made through leadership positions in the Chapter, Region and International levels.
  • Fulfillment of educational courses and activities.
  • Participation in the Association's Region and International activities.
  • Achievement of IRWA's professional designations.

This Year's Recipient is :

Cyndi Whelpley, SR/WA

Chapter 04 - Region 7

Past Balfour Award Recipients:

Year - Name
2022 - Cyndi Whelpley, SR/WA
2021 - Kristen Bennett, SR/WA, R/W-RAC
2020 - Carol Bellinger, SR/WA, R/W-RAC
2019 - Fredrick L. Easton Jr., SR/WA, R/W-AMC
2018 - Leslie D. Finnigan, SR/WA
2017 - Patricia F. Thayer, SR/WA
2016 - Michael D. Murray, SR/WA
2015 - Wayne Larsen, SR/WA
2014 - Cynde Barker, SR/WA
2013 - Janet Walker, SR/WA
2012 - William Busch, SR/WA
2011 - Jerome Lund, SR/WA
2010 - Tamara Benson, SR/WA
2009 - Donald Sherwood, SR/WA
2008 - Jeffrey Jones, SR/WA
2007 - David Maturen, SR/WA
2006 - Lee Satterfield Hamre, SR/WA
2005 - Lisa R. Harrison, SR/WA
2004 - Karen M. Stein, SR/WA
2003 - Michael J. Pattison, SR/WA
2002 - Patricia Petitto, SR/WA
2001 - Kent Winslow, SR/WA
2000 - Lo Ann Weight, SR/WA
1999 - Carol Croft, SR/WA
1998 - Vickie Turpin, SR/WA
1997 - Gordon E. MacNair, SR/WA
1996 - Daniel S. Hushion, SR/WA
1995 - Clyde B. Johnson, SR/WA
1994 - Paula S. Rueter, SR/WA
1993 - Sharon E. McLeod-Everette, SR/WA
1992 - Paul Burrow, SR/WA
1991 - Woodrow W. Pemberton, SR/WA
1990 - David Layne, SR/WA
1989 - George F. Papacek, SR/WA
1988 - Alicia T. Worthley, SR/WA
1987 - Larry E. Griffin, SR/WA
1986 - Timothy J. Smith, SR/WA
1985 - Susan T. Maholland
1984 - Truman L. Carlson, SR/WA
1983 - John Berkowitz
1982 - John D. Knecht, SR/WA
1981 - Ronald L. Williams, SR/WA
1980 - Otis F. Koske, SR/WA
1979 - O. Dudley Kay, SR/WA
1978 - Ronald C. Kester, SR/WA
1977 - Thomas Kornelis
1976 - Keith L. Densley, SR/WA
1975 - Dean R. Little, SR/WA
1974 - Don Aircher, SR/WA
1973 - George E. Midgett, SR/WA
1972 - Wade S. Manning, SR/WA
1971 - Joseph E. Goodsell
1970 - Archie H. Christian
1969 - John V. Mulcahy, SR/WA
1968 - Gene L. Land, SR/WA
1967 - James W. Greathead, SR/WA
1966 - Max J. Derbes, Jr., SR/WA
1965 - Sam Houston

Balfour Award Eligibility

Nominees for the Frank C. Balfour Professional of the Year Award must be active members of the IRWA. To quality as a candidate for the award, a nominee must have made outstanding contributions to the activities of the Association. Members of the International Executive Committee, Advisory Council, International Nominations and Elections Committee, and International Headquarters Staff are not eligible.

Instructions for Completing the Nomination Form for the Frank C. Balfour Award:

Please utilize the most recent edition of the Nomination form for the Frank C. Balfour Award, which is available here. Instructions are contained within the Nomination form template.

  • The deadline for submission is the first business day of February. All submissions will be verified by email receipt. Nominations received after the deadline shall not be considered.
  • All nominations shall be evaluated by each Regional Representative of the INEC. The totals will be tabulated and a maximum of six finalists will be selected. The INEC Chair and Vice Chair will conduct the final tabulation at the Spring INEC meeting.
  • The INEC shall report its findings, notify the finalists, and announce the names of the finalists to the International Executive Committee by the IEC's April Meeting. The name of the award recipient will not be announced until IRWA's Annual International Education Conference. (Note: The name of the recipient will be revealed to IRWA's CEO beforehand to prepare the award.)
  • Finalists will receive a letter of congratulations from the INEC Chair and an engraved plaque, which is presented at the Annual International Education Awards Luncheon.
19210 South Vermont Avenue, Building A,Suite 100, Gardena, CA 90248 Telephone: (310) 538-0233 Fax: (310) 538-1471 Canadian Toll Free # 888-340-IRWA (4792)
© 2017 International Right of Way Association - All Rights Reserved