2008 Annual Meeting
Turning Knowledge into Action
Scottsdale, Ariz., September 7 - 10
General Info | Agenda | Presentations | Photos | Exhibit | Sponsors/Partners
Photos
For many more photos of the GHSA 2008 Annual Meeting, visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/ghsaDC/GHSA2008AnnualMeeting.
Special thanks to Jim Jertson, Publications Editor for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, for all his help taking photos throughout the meeting.
Opening Reception at Taliesin West
![]() The Opening Reception at Frank Lloyd Wright's former home, Taliesin West, provided a casual atmosphere for meeting attendees to network. |
![]() Guests were also able to explore the grounds and even peek into the private living quarters. |
![]() The desert vistas were spectacular. |
![]() Russ Rader of IIHS and Susanne Hill of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. |
Opening General Session
![]() A view of the ballroom. |
![]() Victor Mendez, Director, Arizona Department of Transportation, welcomes GHSA to Arizona. |
![]() Outgoing GHSA Chairman Chris Murphy. |
![]() Jack Lane, Chief, Highway Patrol Division, Arizona Department of Public Safety. |
![]() NHTSA Deputy Administrator James Ports delivers the keynote address. |
![]() GHSA Chairman Chris Murphy received an award from NHTSA for his leadership in furthering federal/state collaboration to improve highway safety. Left to right: NHTSA Senior Associate Administrator Brian McLaughlin, Chris Murphy, Jim Ports. |
Exhibit Hall
![]() The Exhibit Hall, where most lunches and breaks were held, was a popular place to network. |
![]() LeeAnn Dixon chats with meeting attendees about the Federal Railroad Administration's safety programs. |
![]() Exhibit Hall. |
![]() The NHTSA booth is always popular. |
Workshops
![]() Dan Costello of the Phoenix Suns, and Michael Hegarty, Deputy Director of the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety present on non-traditional communications strategies. |
![]() Richard Compton Director of NHTSA's Office of Behavioral Safety Research shares the latest knowledge about impaired driving countermeasures. |
![]() Leanna Depue moderates a workshop on SHSP implementation. |
![]() Jim Hedlund discusses national guidelines on state information systems. |
Tuesday General Session
![]() Newly elected GHSA Chairman Vernon Betkey introduces the speakers. |
![]() Adrian Lund, President, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, discusses a new IIHS report that suggests raising the driving age would reduce the number of teens dying in car crashes. This topic received a lot of press throughout the meeting. |
![]() Robyn Robertson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Traffic Injury Research Foundation. |
![]() Susan Ferguson, Principal, Ferguson International LLC. |
Awards Luncheon
![]() Oregon's Troy Costales was master of ceremonies for the 2008 GHSA Awards Luncheon. |
![]() Jim Champagne of Louisiana received the James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award. Left to right: Troy Costales, Chris Murphy (accepting on behalf of Jim Champagne), special guest Kate Voegele. |
![]() Champagne received a standing ovation. |
![]() Left to right: Troy Costales, Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Award California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joseph A. Farrow, Kate Voegele, and Chris Murphy. |
![]() Safe Kids Buckle Up won a Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Award. Left to right: Troy Costales, Safe Kids Worldwide President Mitchell Stoller, Kate Voegele. |
![]() Gary Modi, accepting the Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Award on behalf of the Pennsylvania Occupant Protection Program. |
![]() West Virginia Lifesavers Program Peter K. O'Rourke Award winners Bobby Tipton and Roland Jones, and NHTSA Region 3 Administrator Elizabeth Baker. |
![]() Left to right: Troy Costales, E.A.S.Y. Program Coordinator Art Brown, Kate Voegele, and Utah Highway Safety Deputy Director Mark Panos. Utah's E.A.S.Y. – ParentsEmpowered.org won a Peter K. O'Rourke Award. |
![]() Winner of the first ever Kathryn J.R. Swanson Award, Phil Haseltine. |
![]() Left to right: Troy Costales, Phil Haseltine, Kate Voegele, and Earl Rook, husband of Kathryn J.R. Swanson. |
State Night Dinner
![]() A country western trio entertains guests prior to the State Night Dinner. |
![]() NHTSA Regional Administrators Phil Weiser and David Manning joke with Deputy Administrator Jim Ports. |
![]() Kate Voegele gives an impromptu concert. |
![]() Richard Fimbres announces the 2008 Treasure Hunt winners. |
Miscellaneous
GHSA Board Member Pam Fischer is interviewed by local ABC affiliate Channel 15, KNXV-TV. |
![]() Left to right: Adrian Lund of IIHS, Chuck Hurley of MADD, Janet Dewey-Kollen and Elizabeth Bency of Bency & Associates, Phil Haseltine, and Ginnie Hurley. |
![]() Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety Director Bob Dallas introduces AASHTO Chairman and Missouri DOT Director Pete Rahn, who gave the closing address to meeting attendees. |
![]() The Fairmont Scottsdale Hotel, site of the 2008 GHSA Annual Meeting. |







































