The Chair’s Award of Excellence and Achievement is a special honor given at the discretion of the AAMVA Chair of the International Board of Directors to an individual or organization whose contributions and service have left a lasting impact on the AAMVA community. The award is presented each year at AAMVA’s Annual International Conference.
2023 Award Recipient
Anne S. Ferro
Outgoing President & CEO
AAMVA
On September 26, 2023, during AAMVA's Annual International Conference, Kristina Boardman, outgoing chair of the Board, presented the prestigious Chair’s Award of Excellence and Achievement to Anne S. Ferro, Outgoing President and CEO of AAMVA.
Anne was named President and CEO of AAMVA in September 2014 after a 5-year assignment as the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). In her AAMVA role, Ferro led the North American association that provides solutions and services to government agencies in the United States and Canada who are responsible for driver licensing, vehicle registration and title services, and traffic law enforcement.
In addition to having led the continued improvement of core member services, Ferro provided strategic direction to AAMVA’s key initiatives, including creating a technology solution for driver licensing authorities in the United States to ensure every driver can only have one license and driving record; developing a mechanism for government partners and businesses to validate a driver license when they accept it for identity purposes; and expanding public access to the national title car title system that protects consumers and fights fraud in the used-vehicle market.
Before joining AAMVA, Ferro was the longest serving Administrator of FMCSA after being appointed by President Obama in 2009. As Administrator, Ferro led the agency’s aggressive efforts to strengthen motor carrier safety and is credited with raising the safety bar for the industry’s operations across the country.
Prior to her appointment to FMCSA, Ferro led the Maryland Motor Truck Association as its President and Chief Executive Officer from 2003 to 2009; served as the State of Maryland's Motor Vehicle Associate Administrator and Administrator from 1992 to 2003; and served as fiscal counsel to the Maryland General Assembly from 1986-1992.
Past Recipients
2022: Kurt Myers, Pennsylvania
2021: Rick Holcomb, Virginia
2020: Dianne Graham, AAMVA
2019: Philippe Guiot, AAMVA
2018: Chrissy Nizer, Maryland
2017: Cathie Curtis, Director, AAMVA
2016: Betty Serian, TML Information Services, Inc.
2015: Brad Simpson, Utah
2014: Pat & Velva Crahan, U-Haul International
2013: Dennis A. Kamimura, Hawaii
2012: Jerry Dike, Texas (retired)
2011: Debra Hilmer, South Dakota
2010: Berta Phelps, Manheim Auctions
2009: Judy Brown, Texas
2008: Julie Allen, Missouri
2007: Michael R. Calvin, Interim President & CEO, AAMVA
2006: Anne Witt, Director, Department of Motor Vehicles, District of Columbia
2005: Texas Department of Transportation, Vehicle Titles and Registration Division Staff
2004: AAMVA Staff
2003: Dan Gill, The Gill Group