While much of the SCCA® National Convention revolves around education and the betterment of the SCCA experience, celebrating past success is also key to the event – and with that are SCCA’s Region Achievement Awards.

“The importance of Regions and their relationships with the National Office and our Club Members cannot be overstated,” Chris Robbins, SCCA’s Director of Region Development, explained during the awards presentation that took place on Jan. 18, 2025. “The SCCA Board of Directors sets the strategy and establishes rules of the Club, and the National Office executes those plans. But the SCCA Regions are where – and how – members and guests engage with the SCCA.

“Most participants don’t know anything about the SCCA except for what they see and hear and experience at local events, and Regions are responsible for executing those events in alignment with our Mission, driving toward our Vision, living our Values, and upholding our Welcoming Environment for Club members and guests alike,” he continued. “The very best at doing these things consistently and at a high level is who we’re here to celebrate this evening.”

The Region Awards are selected and given by the Region Development Department for performance during the previous year. But before presenting the Tom Burke and Region of the Year awards, Robbins took a moment to celebrate numerous other Regions that experienced tremendous growth through 2024. Therein:

• Jumbo: Central Florida Region gained 643 new members
• Large: Lone Star Region gained 257 new members
• Medium: Las Vegas Region gained 196 new members (this means Las Vegas is a Large Region for 2025)
• Small: South Texas Border Region gained 77 new members (and was one of the fastest growing Regions in the SCCA)

Robbins also highlighted other Regions that have seen positive growth, like Middle Georgia Region leading the charge with the largest member growth percentage over 2023; San Diego Region seeing the largest number of Weekend Memberships converted to Annual Memberships; Phoenix AZ Solo Region experiencing the largest percentage of Weekend Members converted to Annual Members; and Eastern Idaho Region heading up SCCA’s 115 Regions with the largest percentage of “achieved potential growth,” which is calculated by adding the Region’s 2024 Weekend and Annual Members and dividing that number by their 2023 Membership, regardless of size.

Then began the awards presentation.

Tom Burke Awards

The Tom Burke Award is presented to Regions for exemplary efforts to activate and grow the SCCA. Formerly named the Chairman’s Award prior to 1987, one award is given to the RE of a Region in each Region Size category from the preceding year.

The awards are given in honor of SCCA member Tom Burke. His love of SCCA and passion for what we do not only ignited in others a desire to become SCCA members, but also served as a call to engage in SCCA activities. Mr. Burke’s ambassadorial approach to prospective and current members served as a model for the spirit of the SCCA.

Winners
Jumbo: Oregon Region – James Coshow, Regional Executive
Large: Lone Star Region – Nadja Pollard, Regional Executive
Medium: Glen Region – Ed Zebrowski, Regional Executive
Small: Southwest Montana Region – Loren Katzenberger, Regional Executive

Region of the Year Awards

In introducing this year’s Regions of the Year, Robbins began with an explanation of the award.

“The Region of the Year Award gauges the Region’s leadership team’s performance related to SCCA’s Goals and Business Strategies, which include Positive Membership Experience through improving the effectiveness and efficiency of Region communication, increasing member value and opportunities, and activating program board plans, and Membership Growth and Activation through developing and rolling out aggressive and enthusiast recruitment campaigns, improving new member communications, and enhancing the Region’s focus on renewal,” he said. “These REs also participated regularly in quarterly Region Leader Zoom Meetings to listen and share and support each other and the Club.”

Winners
Jumbo: Washington DC Region – Charles Edmondson, Regional Executive
Large: Land O’Lakes Region – Mark Utecht, Regional Executive
Medium: Continental Divide Region – Arnie Coleman, Regional Executive
Small: Mid-South Region – Jay Park, Regional Executive

Photo by Yamu Jay