Recognizing Member Excellence
The ESAA Lifetime Achievement Award is an annual awards that recognizes member excellence and awarded each year at the RemTech Symposium held in October.
Nomination Deadline August 21, 2026
2026 Winner
The ESAA Lifetime Achievement Award - 2026
2026 ESAA Lifetime Achievement Award winner
Tom Knapik
Tom Knapik is a geological engineer and professional engineer whose career has taken him across a remarkable range of environmental work. He began with environmental assessments at industrial facilities, landfills, and refineries. His experience also includes international water and sanitation initiatives in Africa.
At Plains Midstream Canada, where he spent the majority of his career, he became a trusted environmental leader – developing programs that brought environmental protection into business planning, operational decisions, and everyday work. He understood that strong environmental performance depends on people taking responsibility, asking good questions, and following through.
He has also earned deep respect for how he works with others -building strong relationships with regulators, stakeholders and Indigenous communities and bringing them together to work through complex challenges while respecting environmental and cultural values. Colleagues describe a thoughtful and principled leader who stays curious and wants to understand the why behind a decision.
For many people in this room and across our industry, his greatest contribution may be his mentorship. He shares what he knows, makes time for others, and encourages them to think more deeply and grow in their own careers.
His service extends well beyond the workplace. He has given his time to ESAA’s board, the ESAA Abstract Review Committee, PTAC, and the CLRA board, helping strengthen Alberta’s environmental community. He’s also volunteered with Trout Unlimited to protect and restore fish habitat.
A lifetime achievement award is about more than the length of a career. It is about the difference someone has made through their knowledge, their character, and the people they have helped along the way. This year we’re proud to recognize Tom Knapik who has made that difference.
Congratulations Tom!
2024 Winner
The ESAA Lifetime Achievement Award - 2024
2024 ESAA Lifetime Achievement Award winner
Stacy Thygesen
Stacy Thygesen is a mentor, a trusted advisor, a committed ESAA volunteer, and small business owner.
With nearly 25 years experience in the environmental industry, she has worked at (and is now Principal of) her family-owned decommissioning company. She is a recognized leader in decommissioning and, along with her husband, has built their company into an industry leader.
Stacy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Canadian Government and Politics from the University of Alberta and a Petroleum Land Administration Certificate from SAIT.
Stacy began her involvement with ESAA in 2004 when JSK Consulting became a member of the association. Since the very beginning, Stacy has actively supported, and participated in, ESAA events. In 2017, Stacy was elected to the ESAA Board of Directors, and in 2019, she began a three-year term as President.
Stacy served as President during a particularly challenging time for ESAA and the industry. Her leadership and support helped guide ESAA through COVID, making the organization even stronger as it emerged from the global crisis. Stacy was instrumental, along with Darren Cherniak, in securing a spot for ESAA on the Alberta Government’s SRP Advisory Committee. Her advocacy for the industry resulted in increased remediation and reclamation work.
Stacy is approachable, has time for everyone, and always has a smile on her face. In her spare time, she is an active supporter of the Project Forest initiative, a volunteer at the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, a director at Large for the Red Deer Minor Basketball Association, and the Program Committee Co-Chair for the 2025 CLRA Conference.
Congratulations Stacy!
2023 Winner
The ESAA Lifetime Achievement Award - 2023
2023 ESAA Lifetime Achievement Award winner
Rhonda Rudnitski
Rhonda Rudnitski is a mentor, a committed ESAA volunteer, and a respected professional throughout the industry.
With nearly 30 years of environmental industry experience, she has worked for industry leaders including waste management, Newalta and Tervita. She currently serves as the vice president of environment, social and governance for secure and is known industry-wide as the go-to person for hazardous, non-hazardous and oilfield waste. She has been instrumental in working with the provincial government on behalf of industry to update and develop regulations, and she has been a mentor to many young professionals entering the industry over the past few decades.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the university of Alberta, an occupational health and safety certificate from Ryerson university, and is a registered professional engineer.
Rhonda Rudnitksi began her involvement with ESAA in 2002 when she developed and taught the non-hazardous waste classification course as part of ESAA’s environment business course series.
In 2003, Rhonda joined the ESAA board of directors and in 2005, became the first female president of ESAA. she served as president until 2007, when her term expired. even though Rhonda’s time on the ESAA board was completed, she continues to show up every year at RemTech to lend a helping hand and a giant smile to all those registering.
In her spare time, you will most likely find Rhonda globetrotting, somewhere off the beaten path, exploring and learning.
Congratulations Rhonda!
2019 Winners
The ESAA Lifetime Achievement Award - 2019
In 2019, ESAA introduced a new award, ‘The ESAA Lifetime Achievement Award” . It is awarded to an individual who has made far-reaching and long-lasting contributions to both the environment industry and ESAA over their career. The award is presented at the discretion of the Board and via recommendations from ESAA Management.
Presidenta2019 ESAA Lifetime Achievement Award winner
Gord Nelson
Gord Nelson graduated from the University of Regina in 1982 with a B.Sc. in Chemistry. He started his career in the environment industry working for Environment Canada as a Project Chemist working on trace organics. In 1985, he joined the newly formed Alberta based laboratory ETL as their second employee before becoming an owner in 1990. Gord helped grow ETL to over 500 employees before it was purchased by ALS Laboratories in 2006. He worked through the transition period with ALS Laboratories before moving to Osprey Scientific to provide his expertise. In 2009, Gord joined AGAT Laboratories and held a number of leadership positions including President, COO and CEO.
During his time at AGAT, he served as a member of the ESAA Board of Directors, holding the position of treasurer for four of those years. Gord was instrumental in guiding ESAA through tough financial times ensuring the Association could remain a strong voice for the industry and its members. Gord’s significant impact on both the environment industry and ESAA is undeniable.
In his spare time – when not cheering for the Saskatchewan Roughriders or watching Marvel movies- is spent with his dog Harvey or enjoying a glass of wine with his wife Roxanne.