Previous Kathy Swanson Outstanding Service Award Winners

See 2011 Kathy Swanson Outstanding Service Award Winners

2010

Sharon Gehrman-Driscoll

Director of Minnesotans for Safe Driving Sharon Gehrman-Driscoll has dedicated more than 25 years to improving traffic safety in Minnesota, including work with Minnesotans for Safe Driving, MADD, and as a concerned citizen and victim advocate. She has promoted legislation involving ignition interlock, felony DWI, forfeiture, and vehicle impoundment; worked extensively with victim impact panels; and provided training opportunities to law enforcement and first responders. Over the years, Sharon has partnered with law enforcement, the Office of Traffic Safety, the Minnesota Legislature, the courts, and many others to keep the public informed on traffic safety issues.

2009

Anne Beers

Retired Colonel Anne Beers was a member of the Minnesota State Patrol from 1975 to 2005. After being appointed colonel in 1997, she worked hard to pass primary seat belt legislation and testified in support of seat belts in front of many committees. As one of the first three female troopers in Minnesota, Beers was instrumental in developing a relationship between the Minnesota State Patrol and Minnesota Department of Transportation and was one of the original architects of the Toward Zero Deaths initiative. Beers has mentored many young troopers over the years and has worked to promote traffic safety and seat belt laws even after her retirement.

Carol Bufton

Minnesota Safety Council President Carol Bufton has been a long-time leader in efforts to make Minnesota’s roads safer through public education campaigns, legislative activity, and a broad spectrum of traffic safety programs, services, and materials. Bufton has worked to develop partnerships with organizations that include AAA, the Department of Public Safety, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, among others. Under Bufton’s leadership, the Minnesota Safety Council has offered driver training statewide to more than 30,000 people each year and has coordinated multiyear educational programs addressing seat belt use, pedestrian safety, and other issues. Bufton also co-chaired the development of the Car Seats Made Simple Web site.

2008

Bernie Arseneau

The recipient of the first Kathy Swanson Outstanding Service Award is Bernie Arseneau, Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) division director of the Policy, Safety, and Strategic Initiatives Division. Arseneau, along with Kathy Swanson, for whom the award is posthumously named, was a co-creator of the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) initiative, a program that has dramatically reduced the number of traffic fatalities in recent years. Arseneau has worked closely with the Federal Highway Administration to develop safety programs throughout Minnesota and last year completed the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). He has also championed an effort to create Mn/DOT’s Central Safety Fund, bringing needed funding to county roadways, cable median barriers, and improved speed enforcement. Arseneau was nominated for this award by Sue Groth and Mike Robinson, who have worked closely at Mn/DOT with him.