2024 Northeast Regional Award Winner
Anna Gill
Anna Gill is the Transportation Planner for the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments covering the counties of Audrain, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Pike, Ralls, Randolph and Shelby. Anna has been an unwavering advocate for educating our youngest and most vulnerable drivers, consistently demonstrating her commitment to highway safety through various initiatives.
Over the past several years, Anna has actively engaged with youth in multiple settings, including school education presentations for various ages, community and school health and safety days, athletic events, and 4-H meetings. Her dedication regularly extends beyond normal business hours, as she frequently participates in events that promote safe driving practices.
Her involvement in the Northeast Coalition for Roadway Safety (NECRS) is commendable. As an executive board member, she collaborates with other professionals within the NECRS and surrounding communities to enhance safety awareness on Missouri’s roadways. In addition, she attended the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety Strategic Advance Meeting to collaborate with other coalitions and gain further insight into coalition operations. This past year, the NECRS began an outreach program called courtside connections. The program focused on several goals educating community members of all ages on:
1) The dangers of impaired driving through simulated activities, in a safe setting, utilizing Fatal Vision Goggles (Alcohol and THC)
2) Encouraging attendees to take the BUPD pledge and assisting them with signing up
3) Fostering relationships within the school system, law enforcement agencies and communities
4) Seeking out folks where they are… supporting their local high school athletic events.
She played a pivotal role in Courtside Connection events, attending numerous events within her region, including consecutive nights at the Monroe City basketball tournament which reached multiple schools/attendees/students each night.
Through an independent grant, she has obtained her own set of Fatal Vision resources to aid in her constant outreach with our area youth. Additionally, Anna attended the in-person training session for the alcohol, THC, and distracted/drowsy driving Fatal Vision resources to conduct these activities at various events.
By routinely attending the annual Highway Safety and Traffic Conference, Anna actively seeks opportunities to improve safety within our region. Her commitment is especially crucial given the increased number of roadway fatalities in the Northeast District last year, unfortunately many of whom were young people. With an upward trend in fatalities within the Northeast District last year, a highway safety townhall meeting was held to discuss and educate the public on how safety partners are working together to promote a safer transportation system at which Anna actively engaged with community members to discuss risky driver behaviors and gather valuable community feedback. Recently, Anna collaborated with the US Army Corps of Engineers to explore innovative partnerships and outreach opportunities for our youth.
Her tireless efforts have made a significant impact in our communities on promoting a safer transportation system.