Atigun Awards
Alyeska’s Atigun Awards
Every year, Alyeska leadership selects talented and hardworking people on TAPS for Atigun Awards. The awards recognize people and work that make our pipeline and the people on it safer, more efficient, more responsible, more innovative. These teams and individuals inspire us to collaborate more, communicate better, aim high in all we do, and overcome challenges.
The Atigun Awards reflect their namesake: Atigun Pass, at 4,379 feet, the highest elevation on the TAPS route. It might also be one of the most beautiful and intimidating landscapes along TAPS. Imagine the grit, determination and brilliance it took to get our pipeline constructed along this seemingly unforgiving area 45 years ago. That creativity and resilience is reflected in those we recognize with Atigun Awards and honorable mentions today.
Atigun Awards and honorable mention honors are presented in the following categories: Environment; Innovation; Health & Safety; Integrity; and Teamwork. There are also President’s Choice Awards, including: Contractor of the Year; Engineer of the Year; Technician of the Year; Professional of the Year; and Lifetime Achievement.
Alyeska’s Executive Team has selected 2024 Atigun Award recipients, honoring employees, contractors and teams that exemplify excellent work and go the extra mile.
“Reviewing the numerous nominations was inspiring for the entire Executive Team,” said John Kurz, Alyeska President & CEO. “We appreciate those who took time to recognize their peers for the exceptional work that is performed across TAPS. The nominees collectively demonstrate values that drive our operations.”
John also named President’s Choice category recipients in the following categories: Silent Runner, Contractor of the Year, Engineer of the Year, Professional of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Technician of the Year award recipients.
The 2024 Atigun Awards recognize 2023 performance in health & safety, integrity, teamwork, environment and innovation. Here are the 2024 winners and honorable mentions — click the links to learn more about the Atigun-worthy pipeline people and projects:
PRESIDENT’S CHOICE AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement: Norm Voorhis, PS09 Instrumentation Technician
Professional of the Year: Jessica “Jessie” Hannan, Operations Engineering Manager
Technician of the Year: Zeke Cervantes, PS01 Mechanical Technician
Engineer of the Year: Dennis Hansen, CPW Valve Engineer
Silent Runner: Jacquelynn Towner, Recruiting & Personnel Services SME
Contractor of the Year: SLR International Corporation
HEALTH & SAFETY: Recognizing achievements in health and safety of people and property, including process and operational safety.
Atigun Award: Mainline Refrigeration Unit brine release response
Atigun Award: New Safe Operating Committee effort
INTEGRITY: Demonstrating commitment to the highest ethical standards. Recognizing achievements in meeting commitments to protect the operating integrity of TAPS and the integrity of APSC business practices.
Atigun Award: Jan Shifflett, Environment Manager
Honorable Mention: Dan Joos, TAPS Security Sr. Manager
TEAMWORK: Applying shared responsibility for Alyeska’s mission and resources entrusted to us.
Atigun Award: Check Valve 11 replacement and Northern segment pigging recovery
Honorable Mention: Environmental and Civil Maintenance Coordinators across the system
ENVIRONMENT: Recognizing achievements in environmental protection, habitat enhancement, regulatory compliance or pollution prevention.
Atigun Award: Asset Retirement Obligation at Pump Stations 8 and 12
Honorable Mention: New low water crossing at PLMP 759.3
INNOVATION: Leveraging knowledge and creativity to continuously improve operations and efficiency.
Atigun Award: VMT crude headers drain down
Honorable Mention: Supporting Safe Natural Gas Liquid increases with True Vapor Pressure monitoring
2023 Atigun Awards
Environment
• Atigun Award: Pump Station 12 Facility Removal’s Bird Deterrent & Relocation. This successful effort demonstrates creative and proactive protection methods for coexisting with wildlife on TAPS.
• Honorable Mention: VMT Contaminated Soils Landfarming
Health and Safety
• Atigun Award: Mental Health Campaign. Year on year, Alyeska strengthens its mental health awareness campaign and 2022 was the biggest to date with nearly two months of weekly educational sessions focused on mental health awareness.
• Honorable Mention: Alyeska Traveling Health Fair Sails Again
Innovation
• Atigun Award: VMT East Tank Farm Vent Repairs. When extraordinary weather conditions created an unprecedented incident in Valdez tank operations, the VMT Mechanical Maintenance team responded: they repaired damaged pressure/vacuum valve vents that protect the 65-foot-tall crude oil tanks from over- and under-pressurization.
• Honorable Mention: Yoshi Okamoto’s LAVA Tool
• Honorable Mention: New In Line Inspection (ILI) Tool
Integrity
• Atigun Award: Joey Selby. Joey’s enthusiastic and even-keeled leadership has united and inspired the Operations Control Center team. The OCC team credits Joey’s integrity and steady guidance for fostering an empowered, solution-minded environment.
• Honorable Mention: Condon Johnson & Associates
Teamwork
• Atigun Award: Milepost 781 Integrity Dig above Keystone Canyon. This team came together to execute a long-anticipated integrity excavation, recognized as the most complicated dig conducted on TAPS in recent history. The dig was completed on time without any significant safety or environmental issues.
• Honorable Mention: Cyber Security team’s response to TSA Security Directives
2023 President’s Choice Awards
• Engineer of the Year: Greg Kinney, Site Engineer. Greg has learned and shared a lot in his 33 years on TAPS. He’s known for his work ethic, above-and-beyond energy, depth of engineering expertise, and willingness to lend a hand.
• Technician of the Year: Mike Huisingh, Mechanical Maintenance Tech, Valdez. In more than a decade with the Maintenance team, Mike’s had a hand in repairs and maintenance to almost every VMT system, and many on TAPS.
• Professional of the Year: Nancy Lea, Maintenance Supervisor, Pump Station 1. When Nancy joined the PS1 team, she brought years of Operations Control Center experience. Every shift, Nancy demonstrates hard work, dedication to the success of PS1 and TAPS, and a passion for sharing knowledge and experience.
• Contractor-Partner of the Year: Brice Incorporated. Brice and its people have demonstrated dependability, responsiveness, exceptional service, and an attentiveness toward protecting Alaska’s environment. In recent years, Brice played a critical role in monitoring and responding to the dynamic Sag River.
• Best Baker on the Line: Patty Miller, NMS, Yukon River Response Base. Patty’s delicious desserts and daily meals designate her as an official fan favorite with TAPS crews up and down the line. And her ability to make people feel recognized and special, uplift morale, and contribute her talents towards TAPS’ success earn her the honor of first-ever Best Baker on the Line.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Joel Lindsey, Implementation Assurance Lead. In his 36 years on TAPS, there is a constant woven into Joel’s history on TAPS: leadership. His career began as a maintenance instrument technician at Pump Station 5 in June 1978, around the first anniversary of TAPS startup. By 1980 he was the station’s maintenance supervisor and Level 5 instrument tech. Thus began a string of increasing management responsibilities and work demands. Leadership. Longevity. A legacy of TAPS pride. All ingredients to a remarkable career and for Joel’s this Lifetime Achievement honor.
2022
Health & Safety
Winner: Covid Vaccination and Testing Team
Honorable Mention: Power Team Protective Relay
Integrity
Winner: Code of Conduct Refresh Team
Innovation
Winner: Valdez Mechanical Maintenance Technicians
Honorable Mention: Leak Detection Work
Environment
Winner: Rockslide at TAPS MP 781
Honorable Mention: Sag River Repair
Teamwork
Winner: Pump Station 1 DRA Ring Repair
Honorable Mention: Atigun River Heat Loss Project
President’s Choice Awards
Contractor of the Year: Northstar Terminal Stevedore Co.
Engineer of the Year: Joe Howell
Technician of the Year: Jason Werner
Professional of the Year: Hillary Schaefer
2021
Environment
Winner: MP 238 heat project
Honorable Mention: VMT Microbiology Lab
Health & Safety
Winner: COVID response
Innovation
Winner: Jeff Butler, Improving pipeline automation
Honorable Mention: Lost Creek slope mitigation design
Integrity
Winner: John Inglis
Honorable Mention: Kassie Andrews
Teamwork
Winner: Sag River structure improvements and repairs
Honorable Mention: IT/Cyber Security Business Continuity (remote work)
President’s Choice Awards
Professional of the Year: Tom Brady
Engineer of the Year: Sam Bailey
Lifetime Achievement: Jerry DeHaas
Lifetime Achievement: Betsy Haines
Technician of the Year: Shawn O’Rear
Technician of the Year: Diandra Amsden
Contractor of the Year: Chugach Alaska Services
2020
Environment
Winner: Enhancement of traditional fish passage design (video)
Honorable Mention: Wildlife response capabilities on TAPS (video)
Health & Safety
Winner: PIT Program Facility Inspection Team – X619 PS03 confined space entry work (video)
Honorable Mention: Wellness on TAPS (video)
Innovation
Winner: Direct weld metal deposition (video)
Honorable Mention: Evolution of contingency of ICS planning team
Integrity
Winner: Nordale PFAS mitigation
Honorable Mention: PS 10 facility removal
Teamwork
Winner: Triconex replacement
Honorable Mention: Operation Blue Whale project
President’s Choice Awards
Contractor of the Year: Central Environment, Inc.
Engineer of the Year: Dave Roberts (video) (story)
Technician of the Year: Sailor Williams (video) (story)
Lifetime Achievement: Rod Hanson
2019
Environment
Winner: Mainline Valve Integrity Solutions
Honorable Mention: Pipeline Waste SPOCs for Large Quantity Generator Facilities – PS4, PS9, and Fairbanks Shop
Health and Safety
Winner: Unmanned Survey Vessels (USVs) for TAPS Waterway Crossing Survey
Honorable Mention: Out of the Danger Zone.
Innovation
Honorable Mention: LiDAR survey of TAPS Aboveground Pipeline System
Honorable Mention: TAPS Changer VFD Transformer Repair
Integrity
Winner: Cindy Keuler
Honorable Mention: Jennifer Hillman
Teamwork
Winner: Marine Services Transition
Honorable Mention: HR Team, Employee Support
President’s Choice Awards
Professional of the Year: Peter Nagel, Land Manager
TAPS Engineer of the Year: Norbert Chowaniec, Operations Engineer
TAPS Contractor of the Year: North Coast Electric
TAPS Technician of the Year: Chris Watson, OM&S SPOC
2018
Environment
Winner: Alyeska’s TAPS-wide Recycling Initiatives
Honorable Mention: Spill Prevention and Reduction – Fleet Department
Health and Safety
Winner: Heat Tube Crew Improves and Innovates to Reduce Ammonia Exposure
Honorable Mention: TAPS Safety Shout Outs, Katie Pesznecker
Innovation
Winner: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Other Technology
Honorable Mention: VMT Power Vapor Fuel Savings – Enhanced Recycle Process
Integrity
Winner: Janine Boyette
Teamwork
Winner: Project W556 – VMT Comm Building and Equipment Replacement
Honorable Mention: G029 Workpad Mitigation at PLMP 652.5
Honorable Mention: TAPS 40th Anniversary Celebration
President’s Choice Awards
TAPS Professional of the Year: Verne Griffis, PS05/07 Project Team Lead
TAPS Engineer of the Year: Dave Heimke, Engineering Standards and Programs Manager
Lifetime Achievement Award: Reva Paulsen, Assistant Chief of Staff
Contractor-Partner of the Year: NANA Management Services
2017
Environment
Winner: Milepost 18 mainline investigation team
Honorable Mention: Right of Way Baseline team
Health and Safety
Winner: Pump Station 1 gas leak repair team
Honorable Mention: Tanker mooring line handling improvements
Innovation
Winner: Winter operating temperature team
Honorable Mention: Temporal and spatial 3D modeling of TAPS aboveground pipe
Integrity
Winner: Rachel Baker-Sears, Project Compliance and Admin Lead
Teamwork
Winner: Pump Station 1 flare tip replacement project (G014)
Honorable Mention: Electrical power maintenance and testing team (POWER Team)
President’s Choice Awards
TAPS Professional of the Year: Geneva Walters, Development Manager
TAPS Engineer of the Year: Alan Beckett, Mechanical Integrity Manager
Lifetime Achievement Award: Don Duke, Measurement Technician
Contractor-Partner of the Year: GLM Corporation
2016
Environment
Winner: Frac-tank redesign. A redesign of the tanks, conducted through a multi-department effort, reduced the risk of spills.
Honorable Mention: Pump Station 1 pig launcher valve replacements
Health and Safety
Winner: Bus rescue at Pump Station 1
Honorable Mention: Terry Andersen, Pipefitter Foreman, HCC
Innovation
Winner: Powerhouse trench design and execution
Honorable Mention: Check Valve Bypass Crew
Integrity
Winner: Cyndy Strickland, Sourcing Manager
Honorable Mention: Philip Hoffman, Aboveground Program Support Engineer
Teamwork
Winner: SAG River flooding initial response/ immediate action team
Honorable Mention: Replace RGV-40
President’s Choice Awards
Professional of the Year: Jim Lawlor, Environment Coordinator Supervisor
Professional of the Year: Eliza Tiulana, Training/MOC Lead Controller
Engineer of the Year: Vinnie Szymkowiak, Sr. Civil Engineer
Lifetime Achievement Award: John Baldridge, Senior Director of Pipeline Operations
2015
Environment
Winner: Flood Response at Sag River and Beaver Brook
Honorable Mention: Third Party Tanker Rollover Response
Health and Safety
Winner: Scott Smith, VMT Utility Supervisor
Honorable Mention: Rodney Jones, Director, Marine Operations, Crowley Marine Services
Innovation
Winner: Robotic In-Line Inspection tool team
Honorable Mention: Enhancing Cyber Security posture, IT
Honorable Mention: Post-65 retiree health insurance enhancements
Integrity
Winner: Julia Redington, Area Project Manager
Honorable Mention: Marvin Stewart, Laborer, HCC
Honorable Mention: Bradley Bailey, Technician
Honorable Mention: Lori Burroughs, Management System Specialist
Teamwork
Winner: Hal Eppley, Material Coordinator
Honorable Mention: Check Valve 5 bypass sleeve team
Honorable Mention: IT Baseline Contract team
President’s Choice Awards
Professional of the Year: Jerry DeHaas, Senior Discipline Engineer Advisor
Professional of the Year: Kim Kortenhof, Senior Pipeline Compliance Coordinator
Lifetime Achievement Award: Bill Frichtl, Senior Discipline Engineering Advisor
2014
Environment
Winner: Eric Hoffman (HCC), Ron Baxter (HCC) and Fairbanks Fabrication Team
Honorable Mention: Pump Station 1 Integrated Project Team, Tank 111 heat exchanger
Health and Safety
Winner: Pump Station 9 Pig Launcher and Receiver Project
Honorable Mention: Dan Ottenbreit, Senior Project Engineer, Pump Station 9 septic system repair
Honorable Mention: TAPS Warehouse Team, 18 years without a DAFWC or OSHA recordable
Innovation
Winner: In-Line Inspection Pig Run Team, 2013 magnetic flux inspection
Honorable Mention: VMT Equipment Shop Team, scraper pig cleaning system
Honorable Mention: David Heimke, Alyeska Senior Project Engineer, scraper pig detection system
Honorable Mention: Russ Bonar, O&M Mechanical Support Engineer, Dana DeGraffenried, Valve Engineer, mainline valve testing
Integrity
Winner: Barbara Harmon, Compliance Program Lead
Honorable Mention: Nichole Gentz-Wilkins, Purchasing Supervisor
Teamwork
Winner: Leland Bowden, Houston Contracting Company Project Manager
Honorable Mention: John Draper and Tim Rupp, Pump Station 1 Lead Technicians
President’s Choice Awards
Professional of the Year: Tim Rupp, Pump Station 1 Lead Technician
Professional of the Year: Kathy LaForest, Human Resources Generalist
Professional of the Year: Lloyd Street, Power Vapor Supervisor
Professional of the Year: Ann Marie White, Pipeline Advisor