APWA Announces 2023 Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington D.C.—Today, the American Public Works Association (APWA) announced its 2023 Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year. In its 64th year, this award is one of APWA’s highest honors and is based on a lifetime of professional contributions. Recipients of the awards are chosen by past Top Ten recipients and embody professionalism, expertise, and personal dedication to improving the quality of life in their communities through the advancement of public works services and technology.

The Top Ten Public Works Leaders award focuses on outstanding career service achievements of individual public works professionals and officials from both the public and private sectors in North America. Each of the Top Ten Leaders is recognized for their accomplishments in federal, state, provincial, county, or municipal engineering or administration including career advancement, contribution to technology or job knowledge, commitment to the profession as evidenced by education, training, certification or registration, and continuing education, as well as professional excellence and service to the community in large and small municipalities.

It is important to acknowledge these dedicated leaders who make possible the core services their communities need to maintain a high quality of life. Because of their planning, foresight, technical contributions, and leadership, public works departments and their private sector partners continue to provide essential municipal services, such as solid waste management, clean drinking water, and emergency management operations.

APWA’s 2023 Top Ten Public Works Leaders are:

• Carlos Castellanos, PE, City Engineer, City of Anaheim, California
• Eric Dargan, Chief Operating Officer, City of San Diego, California
• Christopher (Chris) Evers, Technical Representative, Pavement Technology, Inc., Vero Beach, Florida
• Jimmy Floyd, PE, Manager of Construction Management, Clark County Public Works, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Jonathan Gano, PE, Director of Public Works, City of Des Moines, Iowa
• Jennifer Hughes, PE, CFM, Public Works Director, Village of Oswego, Illinois
• Russ Matthys, PE, Public Works Director, City of Eagan, Minnesota
• William “Bo” Mills, Jr., PWLF, Director of Public Works, City of Germantown, Tennessee
• Timothy “Tim” Ross, PE, Consultant, George Butler Associates, Inc., Lenexa, Kansas
• Mr. John Westerling, MPA, Director of Public Works, Town of Natick, Massachusetts

“APWA’s Top Ten Public Works Leaders are the best of the best. These professionals are selflessly dedicated to improving the quality of life for the communities they serve. To the honorees, congratulations on receiving this prestigious award, and thank you for continuously providing outstanding service,” said APWA President Keith Pugh, PE, PWLF.

For more information about the APWA awards program, please contact APWA Awards and Chapter Relations Associate Rhonda Wilhite at rwilhite@apwa.org, or by phone at (816) 595-5261.

For additional information about APWA, please contact Jared Shilhanek, APWA Chief Growth Officer at jshilhanek@apwa.org, or by phone at (816) 595-5257.

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