Knipe and Nechamen Recognized for Distinguished Service to ASFPM

Much of the success ASFPM achieves as an association is due to the hard work of members who take on leadership roles by serving on the board, co-chair any of our 14 policy committees, or lend their time and expertise in any number of capacities.

The Louthain Award for Distinguished Service to ASFPM is for those people who go always above and beyond to support the association and this year, we’re fortunate enough to have two worthwhile candidates deserving of this honor.

We have two notable Louthain Award winners this year:

Dave Knipe, CFM served as Mapping and Engineering Standards Committee co-chair for decades. As an ASFPM representative, he closely followed and kept us informed of the evolution of Risk Mapping to newer versions, actively participated and engaged FEMA during the FEMA Operating Partners quarterly meetings, and was an anchor for ASFPM recommendations to FEMA on flood mapping. He was instrumental in supporting not just mapping but helping with other Assn initiatives like NFFA and many other elements. Knipe was heavily involved in setting up the CTP Sub-Committee under the Mapping and Engineering Standards Committee, with who he also freely shared, as an example of best practice, the Indiana DNR CTP award winning Flood Information Portal.

Bill Nechamen, CFM has a long history of service to ASFPM. He has served in a great many capacities on the Board of Directors for ASFPM including being the Chair of ASFPM in 2014 and 2015, and he is long-standing co-chair of the ASFPM Floodplain Regulations Committee. He has also helped the Flood Science Center to run Mentoring Program for ASFPM.

In this past year, Nechamen was instrumental in gathering comments on FEMA Request for Information during the public comment period on the National Flood Insurance Program’s Minimum National Floodplain Management Standards. He also worked on the Elevation Certificate Working Group for ASFPM to coordinate with FEMA on updates to the elevation certificate form. Lastly, his Regulations Committee worked on a higher standards document and he personally headed up a Risk Rating 2.0 working group for ASFPM.