Congratulations to Heidi Steed, Local Government Records Specialist at the Utah State Archives, for receiving the prestigious Spotlight Award from the Society of American Archivists (SAA) in 2024! Founded in 1936, SAA is North America’s oldest and largest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of archives. This award celebrates individuals whose behind-the-scenes efforts may not often receive public recognition, yet whose innovative thinking, dedication, and passion have made significant contributions to the profession.

A proud graduate of the University of Utah, Heidi Steed joined the Utah State Archives in 2017. Renowned for her exceptional organization, graphic design expertise, and process optimization skills, Heidi has continually served her community with distinction. Among her many contributions, she has researched and written local history stories drawn from Utah’s government records, particularly focusing on underrepresented communities. In her role as liaison between the State Archives and local governments, she spearheaded the General Records Retention Schedule Improvement project, which simplifies record classification and provides a more user-friendly approach for records managers across the state.

“The State Archives is incredibly proud of Heidi for this well-deserved honor,” said Division Director and State Archivist Kenneth Williams. “Heidi is a passionate advocate for practical, iterative improvement. She consistently takes on the meticulous, often unseen policy projects that ultimately make life easier for records officers throughout Utah.”

Heidi Steed, along with this year’s other award recipients, was honored at the SAA’s hybrid conference, ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2024, held in Chicago from August 15 to 17.