Robb Detlefs, 2019 VRA Distinguished Service Award Winner

The Awards Committee of the Visual Resources Association is delighted to announce that Robb Detlefs, Gallery Systems, EmbARK Product Manager, is the 2019 recipient of the Association’s Distinguished Service Award.   He was nominated for this award by Julia Deal, Davidson College.

For more than twenty years, Robb has proven himself to be a steadfast supporter of the visual resources profession and the VRA in particular. He has worked to support the creation of important visual resource technologies (e.g., LIDO - Lightweight Information.  Describing Objects, and CDWA Lite).  Through his skilled networking across organizations, institutions, and commercial partners, Robb has been an unofficial liaison between the VRA and other professional organizations, such as the Museum Computer Network.  As proof of his dedication to the VRA and its members, Robb has worked on four VRA committees, and was the Public Relations and Communications Officer while serving on the VRA Executive Board.  The VRA Core Advisory committee has long benefitted from his practical expertise.  He is active in the VRA Northern California Chapter and has participated and presented at CaVraCon and numerous VRA conferences.  On a personal note, those who know him discover that although Robb may start out as a professional colleague, he will soon become a true friend.

Please take a moment to learn more about the 2019 Distinguished Service Award recipient by reading the 2019 VRA Conference nomination speech presented by Julia Deal and Marcia Focht (Binghamton University, SUNY) as well as Robb’s acceptance speech at:  httpS://vraweb.org/about/committees/awards-committee/vra-awards-recipients/.

Being a member of the Awards Committee comes with an award all its own. What could be more rewarding an obligation than taking part in choosing and celebrating a colleague that has given so much to VRA! The heart of this association is its dedicated, hardworking members who keep this association vital and pertinent as we move into the future.  Do you know someone that fits this description? It’s not too early to start thinking about next year’s recipient. The Awards Committee solicits nominations from you, the membership, for consideration for this award.  Who would you like to see recognized for their contributions?  Feel free to contact any of us on the Awards Committee if you have any questions about the nomination process, or if you’d like to suggest someone for the 2020 VRA Distinguished Service Award.  Here’s the link for more details and contact information: httpS://vraweb.org/about/committees/awards-committee/

Sincerely,
Steven Kowalik
VRA Awards Committee Chair