This year the USCAP President's Award goes to the staff of the USCAP Central Office in Augusta, Georgia. This award recognizes their long-standing dedication, diligence and commitment to excellence. Over the years, the members of the Academy and their officers have acknowledged the tremendous contributions of this small group of outstanding individuals. Multiple surveys have shown that one of the great strengths of the Academy is its highly efficient and effective Augusta office. It is the people in that office who have served the membership and our profession well.

Originally, the part-time staff of the USCAP was gleaned from the staff at the location of the Secretary-Treasurer of the USCAP (i.e., the office of the USCAP under Dr. Kash Mostofi was located in Washington DC at the AFIP). When Dr. Leland Stoddard was Secretary-Treasurer (1970-1979) the office moved to Augusta, Georgia and the Medical College of Georgia. After Dr. Stoddard's retirement as the USCAP Secretary-Treasurer, a USCAP Committee comprised of Drs. Murray (Gus) Abell, Jack Layton, Nate Kaufman, and Jack Strong met at the Chicago Airport in 1978 to determine a more permanent location for a full-time office; the decision was to retain the Augusta operation. Many other cities/sites were considered, but Augusta was selected because the USCAP office was already there, the costs were relatively inexpensive, there was no commute, and there was easily-available parking!

Jim Crimmins had been working with the USCAP on a part time basis and agreed to accept a full time position as Administrator, thus providing continuity to the Academy's functions. He recruited Jo Ann Johnson and Carolyn Lane, and the three of them have served the Academy for a combined 80+ years!

Jim Crimmins was born in Streator, Illinois, but lived many places, as his father was a career army officer. He settled in Illinois in high school and then attended Northern Illinois University and obtained a degree in accounting. After his own 2 year career in the army, Jim and his wife Phoebe moved to Augusta and he began work as an internal auditor at the Medical College of Georgia. It was there that he met Dr. Leland Stoddard and began a 9 year "moonlighting" career helping the Academy with accounting requirements. In 1979, Jim left his position as Assistant Dean for Business Affairs (under Dean Fairfield Goodale, a member of the Academy) to begin full time with the USCAP as Chief Financial Officer, Meeting Manager and Chief Administrator. Jim's highly efficient manner and work-ethic, as well as his tremendous support to all Academy members, is a thing of "legend". Jim has set a record for the number of finance, education, executive, and council meetings attended that may never be surpassed. And he sure plays a wicked game of golf!

Jo Ann Johnson, the Educational Coordinator of the Academy, grew up in Waynesboro, Georgia (a town named after General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, a revolutionary war hero, and "The Bird Dog Capital of the World"). She attended the University of Georgia as a Fine Arts Major, moved to Philadelphia with her husband and, through a fluke, obtained a job as a Marketing Analyst in a large Steel Company (could it have been because of her southern accent and true southern charm??). Upon her return to Georgia, she worked at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta in the Department of Pediatrics for 16 years. She attended Augusta College (now Augusta State University) at night, majoring in Business Administration, and was promoted to Departmental Manager of the Department of Pediatrics (100 personnel), a position she held for 10 years. She came to the Academy in 1981 with great insight into the inner workings, politics and challenges of a University Medical Center. As Educational Coordinator she worked closely with Nate Kaufman in developing the Academy committee structure, the initial office procedures, policies and systems, and many important behind-the-scenes endeavors. Jo Ann's remarkable insight has been pivotal to the identification and development of the young leaders of the Academy. She provides support for all aspects of the Education Committee and volunteer course faculty, she has organized documentation for the many successful ACCME inspections, she coordinated the Long-Term Strategic Planning Endeavors, and most recently she has been instrumental in preparing course materials, handouts and disclaimers for the upcoming IAP Centennial Congress in Montreal. Since 1984, when the USCAP last hosted the IAP International Congress, Jo Ann and Jim have sent large amounts of educational materials to over 26 underserved IAP Divisions/Countries throughout the world; this extraordinary altruism continues in many ways. When Jo Ann is not attending to the varied needs of her many offspring in the Academy's faculty and membership, her hobbies include reading, gardening and cooking (her friends call her the "dessert queen").

Carolyn Lane was born in Americus, Georgia, but her family moved to Augusta early in her life and, except for a three-year move to the Washington DC area, Augusta has been her home. Before coming to the Academy, Carolyn spent her time raising three sons, completing her degree in Business Administration after their births. During the time she was attending college, she served as the Director of the Child Care Center for the school, which allowed her to pay for her tuition and the needed child care for her children. Carolyn feels very fortunate that at the time she was completing her education, Jim Crimmins and Dr. Nate Kaufman were looking for an employee and approached her academic advisor for recommendations. She was hired in June 1980 and has served as Membership Services Coordinator since that time. As Membership Services Coordinator, Carolyn is in charge of all mailings to our 10,000 members, as well as a great many other communications, including membership tracking and support, maintenance of appropriate records, and records for the Society for Pediatric Pathology and the Society of Hematopathology. She is in charge of the documentation and rendering of CME credits, collection of the Academy membership dues, distribution of all meeting registration materials, maintenance of the membership directory, she serves as the liaison between our IT consultant and the office staff. She states that she is "glad to have had the opportunity to support the mission of the Academy". Dr. Silva would add that it is truly remarkable how much mail emanates from the Augusta office (hundreds of thousands of pieces of mail/year by his estimation).

With the growth of the Academy, it became evident that the Augusta office was in need of additional staff. The issue of succession planning was raised and the decision was made to hire. We are fortunate to have made three excellent choices, ensuring that the administration of the Academy will continue to be strong.

Born into a military family, Mrs. Kerry Crockett was fortunate to have experienced life inseveral places after her birth in Ft. Monmouth, N.J. Finally settling in Augusta, Georgia, Kerry graduated from the Medical College of Georgia with a Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Therapy in 1993. After crisscrossing the country as a "traveling therapist" for two years with her husband, William, she spent many years in management in that field before deciding on a career change that brought her to the USCAP in November of 2004. Currently serving as the Assistant Administrator and Meeting Planner for the USCAP, Kerry has enjoyed combining her love of travel and management experience into one fulfilling role. Kerry has been a tremendous "recruit" to the Augusta Academy office and brings excellent business administrative and organizational knowledge to our Academy.

Mrs. Linda A. Haygood was born in Athens, Georgia, and grew up in nearby Georgia, attending the University of Georgia. Her employment at the University of Georgia began in 1974 where she was Office Manager in the Anthropology Department, and later Office Manager in the Center for International Trade and Security. In April 2000 she moved to Augusta and started at the USCAP as an Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director. Over the last few years she has helped coordinate the educational materials for the USCAP Specialty Conferences, Companion Societies, Short, Long, and Special Courses, and has learned invaluable lessons on dealing with scientific abstracts from Jo Ann. She has served many roles in Membership, and acted as our receptionist for several years. She enjoys spending time with her family - husband Randy, daughter, son, grandchildren and two step-daughters. Also she enjoys bicycling, camping, playing piano, University of Georgia Football, and all sports.

Mrs. Sally Miglionico was born and raised in South Florida. She recently moved to Georgia and became a part of the USCAP Team as the Administrative Assistant. She brings 12 years of Administrative experience as an Office Manager for a South Florida Electrical Contractor, Administrative Assistant for a Ceramic Tile Distributor and a Project Administrator for a commercial and residential developer. Her present responsibilities are to provide support to the USCAP Staff and to ensure that important clerical duties are completed. She states "I am thrilled to be a part of an organization that is helping people worldwide and I strive to give quality support". In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family. Sally is another tremendous, dedicated, energetic and helpful addition to the Augusta office family.

Dr. David Hardwick, Past President of the USCAP and the IAP, and long-time leader/savant of the Academy said: "The USCAP has been favored with a wonderfully dedicated, insightful and energetic staff that has uncovered and fostered the excellence available in our Academy Membership. Through personal engagement, unique assistance, and untiring effort they have guided the emergence and continuity of determination by all that has propelled us to be the leading portal of the Pathology Hub - The United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology".

Dr. Nate Kaufman, Past Secretary-Treasurer and President of the USCAP and IAP, noted: "I have always been amazed at the productivity of these individuals and the quality of their work, with patience, even under stressful tight deadlines, while the work load has increased out of proportion to the slight increase in staff. As a former colleague at the office, I can attest to their professionalism, dedication, and competence, as well as to the courtesy they indiscriminately show to our members. Their worth and contribution has long been recognized by many of us on an individual basis. Now is the time for this public and official recognition".

Dr. Fred Silva, who practically lives with this group of people, states: "I have never worked with such a wonderful, dedicated, loyal, efficient and fun Team. They are always the highpoint of the day. The Academy has been so fortunate over the years to have such a wonderful, extraordinary staff. They make the Academy function so well".

On behalf of the members of the USCAP, the faculty, and all the Past-Presidents who have relied upon these distinguished individuals, I offer this token of thanks for a job always well done!