Hurricane Professionals Honored At Orlando Conference

ORLANDO, FL. -- Governor’s Hurricane Conference Board of Directors members and participants at the 29th Annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference® today gathered at a luncheon in Orlando at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel to honor nine award recipients,including Robert Kosiba of Glades County for their various contributions towards hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation efforts at both the state and local level.

Awards Presented Today:

Distinguished Service Award – presented to Robert Kosiba, Regional Planner, Special Needs Consultant, 6-EM-Systems Administrator and Glades County Planning Section Chief for a 40-year career dedicated to disaster preparedness as an accomplished instructor, responding to numerous tropical events and other disasters.

Innovation Award – presented to Sally Bishop and Pinellas County Emergency Management for the creation and implementation of the Pinellas County Storm Surge Protector On-Line Viewer, a tool that allows citizens to personalize their own risk assessment for storm surge.

Tropical Meteorology Award – Andrew Devanas, National Weather Service Key West for a decade of initiative toward filling critical gaps in tropical training at Weather Forecast Offices in Florida and elsewhere significantly improving the content and quality of hurricane-related decision support and messaging.

Tropical Meteorology Award – David Sharp, National Weather Service Key West for a decade of initiative toward filling critical gaps in tropical training at Weather Forecast Offices in Florida and elsewhere significantly improving the content and quality of hurricane-related decision support and messaging.

Public Education/Public Information Award – Palm Beach County Department of Public Affairs for development of the Know Your Zone campaign, an effort that leverages the resources of several media platforms to provide tangible information to their county’s citizens.

Public/Private Achievement Award – presented to Gabe Tischler, Emergency Management Specialist, Florida Catholic Conference for his unwavering dedication and tireless work to support the needs of disaster survivors and his selfless and exceptional contributions from the not-for-profit sector.

Lifetime Achievement Award – John Dosh, Director, Escambia County Emergency Management for his 30 years in multiple fields of public service in planning for and responding to multiple hurricanes, tropical storms and other disasters.

Special Achievement Award – Dean Kelly for his 20-plus years as a dedicated Governor’s Hurricane Conference® Volunteer, selflessly serving in a variety of positions with professionalism, enthusiasm and sincere dedication to the organization and its goals.

Governor’s Award – presented to Karen Hagan, Retired Executive, American Red Cross for 30 years of exceptional and commendable service to the hurricane and disaster efforts throughout Florida and beyond, known as a stellar relationship builder who tirelessly carried the mission of hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation forward with passion and enthusiasm.