Awards
Nomination period for the 2024 Dr. Richard Kramer Memorial Award and the Emerging Environmental Professional Achievement Award opens January 17, 2024. Nomination period extended to March 19, 2024.
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Dr. Richard J. Kramer, CEP Memorial Award for Environmental Excellence
The Dr. Richard J. Kramer, CEP Award for Environmental Excellence was established to nationally recognize extraordinary achievements of individuals in the environmental profession. The award, which was first presented in 2004, is open to all ABCEP members, and includes worldwide recognition, a 0.999 fine silver medallion and a laser-engraved birds-eye maple plaque. More details can be found here.
2023 Dr. Richard J. Kramer, CEP Award for Environmental Excellence Recipient
Ronald E. Lamb, CEP Emeritus
Ron is a senior environmental program and project manager with more than 35 years of
experience in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, regulatory compliance
and policy, public involvement and community relations, solid and hazardous waste
management, pollution prevention; and issue management. He has worked in all aspects of
NEPA compliance at the local, regional and headquarters/national office levels, conducted
training, mentored junior staff, authored policy and research papers, and presented on agency
NEPA compliance at conferences and symposiums. He managed the preparation of dozens of
Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and Environmental Assessments (EAs). Before retiring
he was the NEPA program manager for the U.S. Marine Corps where he was responsible for
NEPA document review and compliance, NEPA program management and policy, and NEPA
training. He advised action proponents on NEPA and related environmental planning
requirements and strategies. At his retirement he was awarded the Superior Civilian Service
Award—the highest honorary award the Commandant of the Marine Corps may bestow on a
civilian employee—recognizing his exceptionally high-value contributions leading the USMC
NEPA program and mission-critical EAs and EISs. In 2016-2017 he was detailed to the Council
on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and served as a Deputy Associate Director for NEPA and
supported the Administration transition. In 2014 was detailed to the Deputy Assistant Secretary
of the Navy for Environment (DASN-E) to serve as Acting Director for Environmental Planning
and Terrestrial Ecology. Ron was previously a Vice President and NEPA Program Manager at
HDR|e2M. In 2005 he became a Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) in Environmental
Planning. He earned a Certificate in NEPA from Duke University (2012) and is co-chair of the
National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) NEPA Practice. Ron holds an
M.S. in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins University and an M.A. in Political
Science/International Economics from the University of Nebraska.
Previous recipients include:
2022 –
Dr. Terry Kuykendall, CEP – Environmental Assessment 2020 – Kelly Lyles, CEP – Environmental Documentation
2019 – James Elliott, CEP – Environmental Assessment
2018 – Elizabeth 'Liz' Johnson, CEP – Environmental Documentation
2017 – Dr. Kris Thoemke, CEP – Environmental Planning
2016 – Jennifer Lundberg, CEP – Environmental Documentation
2015 – Gary F. Kelman, MS, CEP – Environmental Documentation
2014 - Heidi Pruess, CEP – Environmental Operations
2013 - Connie Chitwood, CEP – Environmental Documentation
2012 – Lori Cunniff, CEP – Environmental Documentation
2011 – Richard P. McGucken, CEP – Emeritus
2010 – Irving D. Cohen, CEP – Environmental Assessment
2009 – John J. Fittipaldi, CEP – Environmental Planning
2008 – Richard E. Burke, CEP – Environmental Documentation
2007 - Michael R. Herbaugh, CEP – Environmental Assessment
2006 - Audrey Binder, CEP – Environmental Planning
2005 – Norman Arnold, CEP – Environmental Documentation
2004 – Dr. Robert A. Michaels, CEP – Environmental Assessment
Emerging Environmental Professional Achievement
The Emerging Environmental Professional Achievement Award is specifically focused on recognizing those under 35 years of age who demonstrate superior leadership, professional involvement, commitment to foster environmental improvement, and actions to help make the world a better place for future generations. This award is open to any young professional, with the recipient being featured in the ABCEP and NAEP’s publications. The recipient will also be eligible to apply for certification as either a CEP-IT or CEP through ABCEP, and application fees to join ABCEP will be waived for the first year. More details can be found here.
2023 Emerging Environmental Professional Achievement Award Recipient
Joshua Kunde, CEP-IT
Mr. Joshua Kunde has nearly nine (9) years of experience as an environmental professional. He is
currently a Senior Project Manager/Environmental Specialist at Brownfield Environmental Engineering
Resources, LLC (Brownfield Environmental) and has been managing large, complex projects since he
joined the Brownfield Environmental team in 2018. He manages and oversees Brownfield
Environmental’s operations in Davenport, Iowa.
Josh received a Bachelor of Science degree in May 2013 from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
in Geography and Environmental Resources with a specialization in Environmental Sustainability. During
his time at SIU-Carbondale, Josh earned the Outstanding Seniors in Geography Award and the
Environmental Ambassador Award. Additionally, he and his team earned the David and Carol
Christensen Award for Undergraduate Research in Geography and Environmental Sustainability – an
award given to students that look toward achievement of a sustainable balance between the human
family and the Earth. His group’s project and presentation was called, “Building a Better Famer’s Market
to Build a More Sustainable Community.” The group researched the feasibility of combining the
community’s two (2) competing farmers’ markets into one (1) farmers’ market which would move to a
downtown location. The move to a downtown location would provide significantly better access for the
SIU-Carbondale student body, and it would help bolster the economy of downtown Carbondale.
Josh began his career in 2014 as a temporary Air Quality Specialist with a manufacturer in northern
Illinois. While there, Josh was tasked with developing a program to track and calculate emissions data.
Josh developed a multi-faceted spreadsheet which allowed the manufacturer to remain compliant with
their air permit. This was Josh’s first experience in the environmental services world. In the short time
Josh was with the manufacturer, he had developed a complex tracking system for emissions, he worked
with operational personnel to gather data, created Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to assist with
emissions data collection and tracking, and provided direction to the Environmental & Safety Manager
for the continued use of the emissions tracking and calculations program. Nearly nine (9) years later, the
manufacturer still utilizes the spreadsheet Josh created to complete their Annual Emissions Reports and
to remain in compliance with their air permit.
Previous recipients include: 2022 – Poonam Rameshbabu,
CEP – Environmental Assessment 2021 – Emily Gulick, CEP-IT
2020 – Siddharth (Sid) Rajmohan, CEP-IT
2019 – Maggi Young, CEP-IT
2018 – Nicolas Piane, CEP-IT
2017 – Tina McIntrye, CEP
2013 – Heather Rickleff, CEP-IT
Please contact ABCEPs Executive Administrator; send an e-mail to office@abcep.org if you have any questions about either award or their nominations process.
