Recognizing I.C.E.’s 2023 Award Winners

Credentialing professionals understand the value of recognition, and their commitment to honoring fellow industry stars shows every year at I.C.E.’s Awards Ceremony, held during the I.C.E. Exchange annual conference. Read on to meet 2023’s winners and get inspired for a successful 2024.

Ben Shimberg Public Service Award: Tara Montgomery, MS, Civic Health Partners

This award recognizes an individual who has spent their career advancing public interest in professional licensure and certification.

“Tara has devoted her career to advancing transparency and accountability in health care, including health care professional credentialing.” — Becky LeBuhn

Next Gen Professional Award: Jessica Dangles, MBA, MS, PMP, Certification Board of Infection Control Epidemiology, and Pamela Ing Stemmer, PhD, ICE-CCP, PSI Services

This award recognizes individuals who are committed to creating a career path in credentialing and mentoring others within their organization.

“Industry-wide, Jessica is and has been an advocate in the credentialing space. She has also stepped up for the community by volunteering her time and expertise.” — Maria Incrocci

“Pamela helps clients think about the evolution of their certification programs, discusses the importance of accreditation and promotes new approaches or considerations such as micro-credentialing or specialty certification.” — Isabelle Gonthier

Innovator Award: Executive Residency in Association and Certification Management, Board of Pharmacy Specialties, and Longitudinal Assessments Project, The National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)

This award recognizes an organization that has created an innovative approach to a product, policy, process or system that transforms or achieves a new level of success in a unique and innovative way and is also transformative and replicable for other individuals and organizations.

“The BPS Executive Residency in Association and Certification Management is a program that could help create the next generation of certification leaders.” — Bill Ellis

“The work that NBCRNA has undertaken can serve as a roadmap for other certification industry partners as they contemplate the best, most efficient and most reliable ways to support continue lifelong learning and the maintenance of competency for the certificants they serve.” — John Preston

Mary Macomber Service Award: Tracy Lofty, MSA, CAE, International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners

This award recognizes an individual who has displayed exemplary service and commitment to the community of I.C.E. The award honors the volunteer service of Mary F. Macomber, who passed away in 2019.

“With more than 25 years of credentialing experience, my leadership of the I.C.E. DE&I Task Force is my professional legacy.” — Tracy Lofty

Credentialing Industry Leadership Award: Chad Buckendahl, PhD, ICE-CCP, ACS Ventures

This award recognizes an individual who demonstrated innovative leadership in the credentialing and/or licensure industry by developing, implementing and researching programs or practices.

“Chad’s prodigious and remarkable body of work has clearly impacted many professions, fields, industries and segments of society, and most importantly, the public at large.” — Sara Blair Lake, J.D. CAE

The yearly I.C.E. Awards recognize individuals and organizations that demonstrate innovative leadership in the field of professional credentialing and outstanding commitment or service to I.C.E. These award winners are pushing our industry forward, and it’s the least we can do to provide them with much-deserved recognition. I.C.E. hopes all members will join in celebrating their accomplishments.