AIIP Honors Members at 2023 Awards Ceremony
By Denise Carter and Chris Cochran
(Editor’s note: In the coming weeks and months, the AIIP Connections Blog will present highlights from the annual conference held in April 2023.)
The Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) announced its award recipients on April 29th during the recently concluded annual conference (AIIP 2023), a hybrid event featuring in-person programs in Milwaukee as well as virtual events. AIIP Immediate Past President Denise Carter presented awards to AIIP members who embrace and promote the values of the association. AIIP thanks Awards Nominating Committee members Arthur Weiss and Michele Bate for guiding the process this year. More information about each award is available on the AIIP Awards page.
Sue Rugge Memorial Award – presented to a full member who has significantly helped another member or members through formal or informal mentoring.
Award Recipient: Ruth Balkin
Ruth has provided help and informal mentoring to numerous AIIP members during her many years of membership. The colleague who nominated Ruth said that at her first AIIP conference in Austin, Ruth took her under her wing, inviting her to have breakfast with her and introducing her to other members. She frequently answers members’ questions on our members-only discussion list and highlights learning and networking opportunities from which members can benefit. As Ruth winds down her professional business, this is a fitting way for us to mark her career as an information professional and acknowledge her huge contribution to AIIP.
Pam Wegmann International Award – celebrates members who have demonstrated extraordinary support of the association’s global presence.
Award Recipient: Elizabeth Hutchinson
In her short time as a member of AIIP, Guernsey-based Elizabeth has done a great deal to promote the association and its international reach. She is a frequent contributor to the AIIP-L discussion list and presented two virtual sessions at AIIP23. Elizabeth was a member of the 2023 Conference Program Committee and was an interviewee on one of the social media live calls used to promote the conference. It is perhaps unusual to give this award to someone who is a new member, but it’s important to show that new members can make significant contributions to the Association as soon as they join.
Roger Summit Conference Sponsorship – promotes awareness of the benefits of attending the annual conference and supports and nurtures an AIIP member who has not previously attended an in-person AIIP Annual Conference.
Sponsorship Recipient: Margaret Harrison
Margaret founded her independent information company in 2021 and has actively engaged with AIIP through occasional web posts, volunteering on the website update team, and participating in our virtual conferences. In April 2023 she joined the AIIP Board as Director of Outreach.
Marilyn M. Levine President’s Award – given at the recommendation of the association’s President in recognition of a person or institution demonstrating extraordinary support of the AIIP’s objectives.
Award Recipient: Jennifer Pflaumer
Jennifer’s tenure as AIIP President-Elect, President, and Past President from 2019 through 2022 met ample challenges from the extraordinary and unforeseen events affecting the entire world during that time. As she wrote in her President’s report for 2020-2021, that particular year took the board from one unknown to another at a rapid pace, especially around details for annual conferences that had to be retooled due to the pandemic. The Board, steered by Jennifer, created benefits and assistance for members to keep AIIP useful and relevant during the pandemic. As then-President Denise Carter said, “Jennifer is one of the quiet leaders, magnificently effective without seeking attention. I would like to bring Jennifer into the spotlight by nominating her for this award, one I believe she truly deserves.”
Congratulations to our 2023 award recipients!
Denise Carter is the immediate past president of AIIP. She started DCision Consult in 2013, providing research and analysis to support the competitive intelligence activities of pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. Chris Cochran is principal of Cochran Information Services and serves as editor of the AIIP Connections Blog.
