News Feature                                                            10/08/2008

Banette Kritzky, GIS Specialist, NRCS, St. Paul, Minnesota Named Recipient Of The Polaris Leadership Award For 2008

The Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium has recently selected Banette Kritzky, GIS Specialist from MN Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to be the recipient of the Polaris Leadership Award for 2008.  The award is given by peers in the GIS community for leadership and significant contributions to the Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium and the statewide GIS community. 

The Polaris Leadership Award was created in 2003.  The award was established to recognize mid-career GIS professionals who demonstrate a beacon of energy and creativity that inspires and guides others.   

The Minnesota Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Land Information Systems (LIS)  Consortium is a forum for communicating information to, and improving cooperation among, those interested in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Land Information Systems (LIS) in the State of Minnesota. Members include GIS users in local, state and federal government agencies; business and industry; and educational institutions.  

Banette Kritzky has continuous and tirelessly contributed toward the betterment of the GIS community through service, coordination and education.  She has increased the awareness and the value of GIS to the state Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Transportation where she led efforts to provide service and increase communication within those agencies.  At the same time, she became a leading force for increasing communication across state agencies.  She continues this supportive and collaborative work at the NRCS – providing leadership across the state of Minnesota and the nation.  At the Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium she has provided service as the Secretary, Chair-elect, Chair, Spring Workshop Chair, Scholarship Chair, Data Base Chair, and Policy Manual Chair.  Her leadership of the Scholarship Committee has led to a better program, with a student competition and a growing endowment fund.  On top of all this, she has been the GIS instructor at Anoka Ramsey Community College for the past six years, where she educates and trains up and coming GIS professionals. 

Recognition for the Polaris Award occurred at the 2008 GIS/LIS conference at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, MN on October 2, 2008. 

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