On June 4, 2025, STAR Awards were awarded to stakeholders who demonstrated exceptional commitment to the UL mission in 2024.
In 2024, UL Standards & Engagement published nearly 100 first and new edition safety standards that help to make established and new technologies — from carbon monoxide alarms to service and communication robots — safer for consumers.
Behind each of these documents is an incredibly skilled technical committee of experts who volunteer their time and expertise to submitting, reviewing, and commenting on proposals to develop and improve these safety standards. Seasoned engineers, public safety officials, manufacturers, and others, bring what they’ve encountered in the field to our standards development process, to help ensure we are taking every available perspective into consideration when developing safety standards.
On June 4, I had the privilege of meeting and celebrating many of these experts at ULSE’s second annual Stakeholder Awards & Recognition Ceremony. Through these STAR Awards, we highlight and celebrate the critically important contributions they make through our standards development process each year.
Nominations for 2024 were received from ULSE staff and award winners were selected by a panel of leadership team members. The panel carefully reviewed more than 40 impressive nominations and selected eight award winners from this group who demonstrated exceptional commitment in advancing safety through ULSE standards.
We at ULSE would like to congratulate the eight award winners, and also want to thank all of our technical committee members and stakeholders for sharing your expertise, and we look forward to recognizing more of your contributions in the years ahead.
Please join us in celebrating the 2024 STAR Award winners.
2024 ULSE STAR Awards Categories and Winners
Dedicated Service Award
The Dedicated Service Award recognizes technical committee members for their voluntary service to standards development through outstanding performance, committed service length, advancement of the UL mission, and enthusiasm when participating.
Winner — Chuck Kurten: Chuck was selected for his participation across 10 TCs over more than 20 years, including his recent contributions advancing the 15th Edition of UL 20, General-Use Snap Switches. Beyond his technical contributions, Chuck is admired for his patience and positivity across his many years of TC membership. We look forward to the ways in which his perspective and leadership will continue to help guide our safety initiatives in the future.
Winner — John Dutton: John was selected for his participation on many TCs over more than 20 years. His insights during standards development not only focus on addressing technical issues but also on promoting alignment across related codes and other standards. He is an engaged and reliable contributor in committee and task group meetings and his support helps ULSE produce high-quality binational Canada-U.S. standards.
Impactful Member of the Year Award
The Impactful Member of the Year Award recognizes TC members who have displayed leadership and advocacy within technical committees, impacting the development of ULSE standards over the past year.
Winner — Ron Shughart: Ronwas selected for his commitment to advancing standards development in the refrigeration industry. Ron’s ability to unite a large working group, facilitate task teams, and push forward a standard that will directly impact products used in everyday settings is incredibly valuable.
Winner — LaTanya Schwalb: LaTanya was selected for her contributions as the principal engineer for several technical committees, including TC 9540, Energy Storage Systems and Equipment, which won the 2023 Collaborative Committee Impact Award. LaTanya plays a central role on these committees in advancing some very complex safety standards, and also supports national and international alignment through coordination with NFPA, CSA, IEC, and others. LaTanya is widely respected not only for her depth of knowledge, but also for her professionalism and unwavering commitment to the safety mission.
Impactful New Contributor Award
The Impactful New Contributor Award recognizes a TC member active for five years or less, whose early level of engagement and enthusiasm demonstrates strong promise as a continuing contributor to ULSE standards development.
Winner — Heather Darrah: Heatherwas selected because of how quickly she has made an impact across multiple TCs, including her work as secretary for THC 2595 as it works on developing the third edition of UL 2595, General Requirements for Battery-Powered Appliances. Heather’s technical insights and diplomatic approach to working with committee members have earned her the respect of her peers already. We have no doubt that she will continue to shape the future of the committees she serves.
Winner — Genevieve Bures: As a fire investigator, Genevieve’s dedication to public safety was evident when in 2021 she brought attention to a critical issue with the improper use of solid-fuel type room heaters covered by UL 1482. Shortly after flagging this safety concern, she joined TC 127 for Factory-Built Fireplaces, where she has played a pivotal role in the development of two standards for fireplace inserts. Genevieve’s role as a leader in this committee is even more significant given her position as one of the few women in fire investigation and the only woman on TC 127. In her short tenure as a TC member thus far, she has shown the utmost dedication to public safety and exemplifies model membership.
Global Impact Award
The Global Impact Award award recognizes a partner whose contributions have positioned ULSE to further its mission through advocacy, which includes increasing organizational awareness and building or maintaining a positive reputation globally.
Winner — The Singapore Battery Consortium (SBC): As a well-respected battery expert in Singapore and beyond, SBC’s endorsement of ULSE standards has encouraged wider adoption especially in Singapore’s battery and energy sectors. Its advocacy for ULSE standards has encouraged adoption not only in Singapore but also in other countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. ULSE values the collaborative partnership with SBC and the global impact of its advocacy.
Collaborative Committee Impact Award
The Collaborative Committee Impact Award highlights an exemplary ULSE technical committee whose consistent collaboration, thought leadership, and expertise, has made distinctive and impactful contributions to ULSE standards.
Winner — TC 1487, Battery Containment Enclosures: TC 1487 was selected for its collaborative work in the development of UL 1487, Battery Containment Enclosures, which addresses the critical issue of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries. Since its formation in late 2022, TC 1487 has grown to 50 members, including representatives from the United States, Canada, China, Germany, India, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The TC benefits from participation by the fire service , including representatives from FDNY, Toronto Fire Services, and the International Association of Fire Fighters. TC 1487’s work in developing UL 1487, alongside the members’ dedication to resolving over 400 complex comments and bringing in additional perspectives during development, has been instrumental in advancing safety.
