Professional of the Year (POY), 6 October 2022



The Huntsville Association of Technical Societies (HATS) has supported the Huntsville community for over 50 years and proudly hosted the 17th Annual Professional of the Year Awards Celebration. We celebrated the awards on October 6, 2022 at the Torch Freedom Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This was a virtual presentation because of continuing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope to return to an in-person event in 2023.

Ceremony Video



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Young Professional of the Year

Kevin Michael Long, HASBAT
Society of the Year

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Professional of the Year

Lisa Mitchell, AIAA


Keynote Speaker: Joseph Vick
Joseph Vick photo
Director of Education Space & Rocket Center

Mr. Joseph Vick has 15 years of veteran work experience with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. In his tenure at the Rocket Center, he has actively been involved in both Space Camp and Museum education curriculum development, staff training, and guest engagement.

Currently, Mr. Vick serves as the Director of Museum Education and Digital Education Outreach. His focus is museum education and digital learning programs. These programs include engaging museum educational workshops and digital education though 'Science Never Stops', a digital, cross curricular, educational program series.



Featured Speaker: Bill Roark
Bill Roark photo
Author, Speaker, Consultant

Bill Roark is the co-founder of Torch Technologies, Inc., and the co-founder and CEO of Starfish Holdings, parent company of Torch Technologies, with more than 30 years of Department of Defense-related experience. Under Bill’s leadership, Torch has been recognized for many national and local awards to include One of the Best Workplaces for Millennials by Great Place to Work® and Fortune. Bill’s commitment to young professionals is second to none. Bill has provided support and leadership to many local STEM and Young professional organizations.



Featured Speaker: Reggie Spivey
Author, Speaker, Consultant

Reggie Spivey has over 30 years of experience in the design, development, test, evaluation, and operation of space flight systems. As Vice President of the Space Systems business unit at Teledyne Brown Engineering, he leads a group of over 300 engineers, scientists, and technicians developing, testing, integrating, and operating hardware and software for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), and International Space Station (ISS).



Our Master of Ceremonies: Jasmyn Cornell
Jasmyn Cornell photo
WAFF 48 Anchor/Reporter

Jasmyn Cornell joined WAFF 48 News in January 2022 as a morning news anchor and reporter. Jasmyn is a native of Georgia and the product of a military mom and dad. She obtained a B.A. in Theater with a minor in Music, B.S. in Journalism, and M.A. in Social Science with a concentration in Political Science from Georgia Southern University. Her journalism career started in 2019 when she interned for Good Morning Washington. While interning in the DC area, she explored political and investigative journalism and gained invaluable lessons from award-winning journalists. She received the opportunity to serve as an escort and presenter for the 61st Capital Emmys, travel the DC area with morning and dayside reporters, and chat with public figures.

Jasmyn Cornell co-anchors Weekend Morning newscasts alongside Sean Dowling. You can also see Jasmyn on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday as a reporter on the WAFF 48 Morning News Team.



Platinum Sponsors

Teledyne Brown Engineering

Teledyne Brown Engineering

Proof is Everywhereyoulook™


Silver Sponsors

ISSAC

ISSAC

Providing Advanced AI-based Analytics for Knowledge Discovery and Engineering Expertise.
Torch Technologies

Torch Technologies

Lighting the Pathway of Freedom


Bronze Sponsors

Redstone Federal Credit Union

Redstone Federal Credit Union

Member-owned credit union.
General Atomics

General Atomics

World's leading resources for high-technology systems.





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Plaques provided by Valley Trophy Valley Trophies

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