2012 Illinois CPS Conference

2012 Illinois CPS Conference
Awards given out at the 2012 Illinois CPS Conference
Pictured above: Mike Quimby and Lib Granzeau (IDOT- Traffic Safety)
Mike Quimby, Green Hyundai, in Springfield, received the Booster Award for his outstanding partnership with the local
CPS program. Mike dedicates a great deal of his resources as a local businessman to support CPS Week by hosting the
event, paying for advertising for the local Seat Check Saturday event, providing food and beverages for technicians and
event attendees as well as donating staff resources to assist with the event.
Pictured above: Jennifer Toney (IDOT- Traffic Safety), Walter Mikucki, Reagen Bradbury (Safe Kids Champaign County)
Walter Mikucki received the Booster Award for his work with Safe Kids Champaign County. He has been a volunteer at
the coalition’s inspection station since it opened in 1999 and serves as traffic monitor, baby wrangler, booster seat
assembler and various other things.
Pictured above: Janice Crow and Kathy White (IDOT- Traffic Safety)
Janice Crow received the Booster Award for her work as a CPS advocate in the Hamilton County area. Janice works for
the Hamilton County school system’s Birth-3 program and includes CPS in her programs as much as possible. Although
she isn’t a CPS Technician, she works closely with the technicians in her area to ensure she provides the most current
information in her programs.
Pictured above: Katrina Hubbard (IL CPS Advisory Board Chair), Kari Laird and Jennifer Toney (IDOT- Traffic Safety)
CPS Technician of the Year was awarded to Kari Laird, Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office/Safe Kids Kankakee County. Kari
was recognized for her tireless efforts promoting child passenger safety in Kankakee County and for being instrumental
in the development of Kankakee County’s educational program for violators of the Illinois Child Passenger Protection
Act.
Pictured above: JD Murphy and Jennifer Toney (IDOT- Traffic Safety)
JD Murphy, Illinois State Police, was recognized as CPS Instructor of the Year. JD was nominated for his willingness to
take time from his busy schedule to attend car seat check events, CPS classes, updates and enhancements despite the
fact that these duties are no longer a part of his normal work routine. JD is a strong mentor and advocate for
technicians in southern Illinois. His dedication to the field has helped the CPS program in southern Illinois thrive.
Pictured above: Jill Braselton, Michelle Klecka, Katrina Hubbard, Shannon McCall and Charlee Hayes
CPS Team of the Year was awarded to Cadence Health Systems. The Cadence team members were recognized for their
outstanding work with multicultural outreach and booster education. Team members included Cadence Health Systems
staff, several churches, Northern Illinois Food Pantry, West Chicago School District #33, and Community Consolidated
School District #93. This team has excelled by thinking outside the box in forming non-traditional partnerships.
Pictured above: Mary Kary Reed and Thelma Kuska (retired, NHTSA)
The Kuska Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest individual Child Passenger Safety award in Illinois and is named in
honor of Thelma Kuska, who has donated thousands of volunteer hours to CPS. Mary Kay Reed, SIU School of Medicine,
stood out in a crowd of outstanding individuals and was recognized as the 2012 Kuska Lifetime Achievement Award
Recipient. Mary Kay began her career in CPS in 1999 when she attended one of the first certification courses offered in
Illinois. Her enthusiasm for CPS quickly grew compelling her to become a certified CPS Instructor. This allowed her to
expand the CPS program in central Illinois reaching more families and saving more lives. At the end of the day, saving
lives is the most important thing to Mary Kay. She continues to be the driving force behind the CPS team in Sangamon
County.