Page 7 - JanFeb2022 Vol 39 No 6

guitar duo featuring Bill Yearwood, the former
Public Works Director of Bartlett. Rodeo winners
are spotlighted on pages 10-11.
Later Tuesday afternoon, scores of exhibitors
and vendors kicked off the Exhibit Hall opening
in the Renasant Convention Center, manning
the informative booths and displays. Collierville
Mayor Stan Joyner was on hand to welcome
attendees during the Host Branch Reception and
Rodeo Awards Ceremony. The top three winners
in all categories went home with small cash prizes,
cowboy-style hard hats, impressive belt buckles
and bragging rights for the next year. The City
of Alcoa took home the trophy for the Team
Competition.
Later that night, a lively bowling event was
hosted by the Young Professionals, who gathered
at the underwater-themed Fish Bowl housed
inside the massive neon Bass Pro Shops’ Memphis
Pyramid. Networking between Young and some
Not-So-Young Professionals occurred over a tasty
buffet, good-natured celebrations of strikes (and
gutterballs), and laughter as ball return machines
shaped like Jaws (or other undersea creatures)
were put to the test.
Wednesday: Vendor Breakfast and Business
Meeting, Technical Sessions, Awards and Almost
Elton John & the Rocketmen
Wednesday kicked off with the Vendor Breakfast
and TCAPWA business meeting during which the
incoming 2022 Executive Committee was voted
on. See page 28 for the 2022 Leadership Directory.
Wednesday’s Joint Session began with a
fascinating talk about the Tennessee Department
of Transportation’s situation involving the
Memphis Bridge shutdown and repair, followed
by nine technical sessions covering a wide variety
of topics. TCAPWA sessions included Nashville’s
Sidewalk Master Plan, Chattanooga’s Disaster
Preparedness Playbook and neighborhood
traffic solutions such as mini-roundabouts.
SWANA topics included a talk on Utilizing New
Technologies for Landfill Management, Debris
Management Plans and safety and waste screening.
The Awards Luncheon opened with
introductions by Justin Holland, TCAPWA
President, who recognized this year’s scholarship
winners: Shelia White and Tarel McClurkin.
A number of speakers took this opportunity
to address the crowd: Keith Pugh, Region III
Director; Mark Miller, TCAPWA Executive
Director and Richard Yarbrough with Water
For People. Yarbrough revealed that they raised
$1,175 this year – the most they have ever raised
at our conference. Holland, John Fox, President-
Elect and Nicholas Bradshaw, Vice President,
then presented the TCAPWA Awards (see awards
story on pages 16-19).
Continued on page 8

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