AMES, Iowa — Michael Helgerson, the executive director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) based in Omaha, Nebraska, is a recipient of the 2024 Design Achievement Award presented by the Iowa State University College of Design.

Established in 1988, this award recognizes outstanding creative and professional achievements of alumni in all the college’s disciplines.

Helgerson, of Omaha, graduated with a bachelor of science in community and regional planning from Iowa State in 2009 and a master of public administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2016.

He will be recognized as part of Iowa State’s homecoming celebration at the ISU Alumni Association’s 93rd Honors and Awards Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. CT Friday, Nov. 1, at Stephens Auditorium in Ames and streamed live online. A dessert reception will follow. Both the ceremony and reception are free and open to the public.

Beginning his career as a transportation planner and serving as MAPA’s transportation and data manager before being named executive director in 2021, Helgerson has worked to build a better future for all within the greater Omaha-Council Bluffs area.

His collaborative leadership style has spurred strategic development across MAPA’s 12 member communities and increased funding for multimodal transportation, enhancing access to critical services in Omaha, Council Bluffs and the surrounding region.

In his different roles, Helgerson has led development of the Heartland Connections Regional Bike-Ped Plan, the region’s first bicycle-pedestrian master plan of its kind; the Metro Travel Improvement Study, creating a 20-year plan of projects for the Nebraska Department of Transportation and local governments; and the ConnectGO Regional Transportation Strategy, a shared regional transportation vision between MAPA, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and Metro Transit to align decision-making around people-centered goals.

Helgerson has served on the Omaha by Design Advisory Committee; United Way of the Midlands’ Community Investment Review Team; AARP of Nebraska and City of Omaha “ADU for U” design competition jury; and the boards of directors of the Iowa Council of Governments, Nebraska Regional Officials Council, and Omaha Municipal Inland Port Authority.

He is an ISU Alumni Association life member and participates in the ISU Department of Community and Regional Planning’s Professional Mentor Program.

Contacts

Karlyn Rainey, Alumni Relations and Events Coordinator, College of Design, krainey@iastate.edu
Lauren Johnson, Communications Specialist, College of Design, laujohn2@iastate.edu

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