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The Barbara Mason Award is presented to the Keep America Beautiful Executive Director of the Year at the annual Keep Georgia Beautiful Awards Luncheon. The Award is named in honor of Barbara Mason who dedicated her life to preserving the environment and committed herself to the Keep America Beautiful program on both the local and national level. The winner receives a plaque along with a check for $1,000. |
John McNally 2006 Executive Director of the Year |
Under John McNally's leadership and dedication his county has seen significant improvements. As a community volunteer and, for the past 15 years, as the Executive Director of his KAB program John has: served as Executive Director of his Chamber of Commerce; conceived, designed, and supervised the construction of a new Chamber building; chaired the Heart Fund Drive; chaired the County Fall Festival for several years; assisted in setting up a county-wide Pay As You Throw solid waste management program; designed and overseen the construction of St. Stevens Church; and written and directed an environmental education video for school children, K through 12.
As the Director of Keep Oconee County Beautiful, John McNally is committed to the Keep America Beautiful mission, ideals and process and is continually involved in developing positive litter reduction and waste management practices through citizen education. |
Connie Wiggins 2005 Executive Director of the Year |
Connie Wiggins of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful demonstrates the attitude of an eternal optimist, leading by example in all areas of the environment. She has initiated numerous programs and has been asked to direct and serve on boards locally, statewide and on the national level. Her accomplishments include: facilitation of a task force charged to update a county tree ordinance, development of the first statewide Keep Georgia Beautiful Chairman’s Institute, co-founder and graduate of KAB’s Executive Directors’ Institute for Professional Development, and chair of the task force that created the national KAB Litter Index Tool. Connie serves on or has chaired: the Rotary Club of Gwinnett; the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce; Gwinnett County’s PTA; the Governor’s Environmental Advisory Committee and Litter Abatement Task Foce; the Board of Trustees of Leadership Georgia; and the Board of Directors of Keep America Beautiful. |
Janet Liberman 2004 Executive Director of the Year
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The 2004 Barbara Mason Award was presented to someone whose entire approach to beautification and community involvement underscores the Keep America Beautiful method. Janet Liberman has used her business and personal contacts to assemble a well-rounded and apolitical Board of Directors and gave them the training they needed to provide her with direction. Now, she uses those same skills to elicit support from business and civic leaders for programs and events she knows will reap benefits for those supporters. As one of her board members described it, Janet’s ability to manage programs so well has “created a core group of raving fans.” They attend Keep Roswell Beautiful events and even ask to volunteer on the board. At their latest event, some 500 volunteers participated. Janet is active in the Crabapple Chapter of the American Business Woman’s Association, and co-founded a second chapter. She has served on Keep Georgia Beautiful’s Executive Director’s Association since 1999, and is currently its president. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Georgia Recycling Coalition. |
 Connie Waller 2003 Executive Director of the Year |
As the 2003 Barbara Mason Award winner, Connie was recognized for over 20 years of devoted service to improving the quality of life in her county and community. Connie helped to create an active, diversified board of 65 members with 8 committees. She often uses the motto, “All of us are smarter than one of us” and she lives by that. She has a gentle persuasiveness about her that makes one want to work with her. She is a wonderful public speaker and comes by it naturally as both her father and mother served in the state legislature. She realizes the value of the political process and has been responsible for two legislative resolutions recognizing Keep Georgia Beautiful and the life of Barbara Mason. Connie served as President of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Executive Directors’ Association and serves on numerous boards including: the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, Covington YMCA, Newton/Walton Habitat for Humanity, Satsuki Garden Club, and Board of Trustees for First United Methodist Church. |
Karin Zarin
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Karin Zarin, Executive Director of Keep Sandy Springs/North Fulton Beautiful was awarded the 2002 Barbara Mason Award. Karin was recognized for the high level of energy and inspiration she brings to the Keep Sandy Springs/North Fulton Beautiful program. In the early 1980's Karin directed the Keep Atlanta Clean City Commission. She took a brief hiatus from the Keep America Beautiful program to devote time to her family, only to be recruited by her friend and mentor Barbara Mason to apply for her current position. Karin is noted for her efforts to promote waste reduction through innovative programs like Race to Recycle, Style is Nothing New, and Old Cell Phones Turn Green. She has also been instrumental in establishing community beautification projects, including the Abernathy Road Beautification Project, Trees Sandy Springs, and Project Big Sweep.
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Ann Kirk, Executive Director of Keep Smyrna Beautiful, was the 2001 winner of the Barbara Mason Award. Her energy and inspiration have been the driving force behind the continued success of the Keep Smyrna Beautiful Program. As a result of Ann's efforts, Keep Smyrna Beautiful volunteers and board members have garnered four consecutive first place honors in the Keep Georgia Beautiful state awards program. |
