Two CMU geography alumni honored with Michigan’s top geospatial award

Two distinguished alumni of Central Michigan University’s Geography and GIS program, Chris Cantrell (’99) and Thomas Van Bruggen, have been recognized with the highest honor bestowed by the IMAGIN organization: the 2025 Geospatial Achievement Award. This prestigious award celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the geospatial technology field and to Michigan’s GIS community at large.

Presented annually, the IMAGIN Geospatial Achievement Award honors a member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and service to both the IMAGIN organization and the broader public. This year, for the first time, the award was presented to two recipients in recognition of their decades-long dedication to advancing geospatial technologies and fostering collaboration across Michigan.

Chris Cantrell, IT/GIS Director for Midland County, reflected on the honor, saying, “I was truly humbled, and momentarily speechless, to be recognized by my colleagues at this year’s annual conference. I’m deeply grateful to everyone I’ve had the privilege to work with across Michigan in the field of spatial technologies. This award is not just mine; it reflects the collaborative spirit of the GIS community, where we come together across organizations and committees to advance our shared goals. I hold deep respect for the past recipients of this honor, and to now be included among such inspiring leaders is nothing short of incredible. At the heart of it, I’ve simply tried to serve the GIS field with dedication and purpose.”

Thomas Van Bruggen, GIS Administrator for Muskegon County, added, “It is truly an honor to be recognized by one’s peers for an award such as this. I’ve spent the past 27 years building GIS for Muskegon County and more than 15 years in leadership of IMAGIN and the efforts to advance and support the GIS community in Michigan. I am excited about the direction of GIS with the merger of IMAGIN and MiCAMP that I have helped champion with many other wonderful GIS professionals. I want to thank the Boards of IMAGIN and MiCAMP for their efforts, and I am humbled to be a part of a small group of GIS professionals and pioneers that have received the IMAGIN Geospatial Achievement Award.”

Both Cantrell and Van Bruggen are graduates of CMU’s GIS program, which continues to produce leaders in the growing geospatial technology sector. Their careers exemplify the power of GIS to enhance public service, drive innovation, and build stronger communities.

Central Michigan University celebrates these alumni for their remarkable achievements and for upholding the university’s tradition of leadership, collaboration, and service. Their accomplishments are a point of pride for the CMU Geography program and an inspiration for future generations of geospatial professionals.