Page 17 - JF25 TPW web

Frank Kirk Meritorious Service Award
Kenny Wiggins, retired Alcoa Public Services Director, Part-Time
Consultant with UT-MTAS and Consor Engineers, and Chapter Treasurer

The Frank Kirk Meritorious Service Award is based on the quality, efficiency and cost
effectiveness of services provided to the chapter.
This year’s award is presented to Kenny Wiggins, TCAPWA member since 1989, who
has served as the Chapter’s Treasurer since 2013. His commitment to excellence is
apparent in how he has handled the finances for the chapter, encouraging the leadership
to make monetary decisions wisely and effectively. As he is preparing to step down as
Treasurer in 2025, he is helping make the transition a smooth one.
Charles Walter Nichols Award Wiggins

Nelson Breeden, Knoxville Public Services Department, Transfer Station
Through the Charles Walter Nichols Award, we yearly recognize one of our members
for their outstanding achievements in the Public Works arena serving either in street
sanitation, refuse collection and disposal, or sewer treatment for water supply.
This year’s award is presented to Nelson Breeden who started with the City of Knoxville
in spring of 2006 as a Public Service Worker. He was promoted within his first 6 months
to a Knuckleboom Operator and collected brush for 2.5 years before promoting to
Garbage Truck driver for downtown trash collection. This is one of the hardest and most
demanding jobs in the department, and Nelson stayed in it for over 4 years. Nelson has
been an Equipment Operator at the City’s Transfer Station since 2013 and is responsible
for maintaining the lower section of the complex. His duties are varied: cleaning out the
sweeper wash pit to prevent sediment from entering the storm drain system, shoveling
trash out of trailers, loading scrap metal into recycling trailers, picking up litter along
the entrance and perimeter of the complex, and much more to keep the Transfer Station Breeden
neat, clean, and safe. In addition to supporting the efficient movement of waste in and
out of the facility, he is certified in EPA 608 Refrigerant Recovery and drains refrigerant
units of Freon safely. Nelson always has a positive attitude regardless of what task he
is completing. He has been a true asset to the City’s sanitation and waste management
activities, and we are lucky to have him!

Tennessee Chapter – Award of Merit

Justin Wilburn, Collierville, Assistant Division Manager Streets and
Drainage Division
Our Award of Merit recognizes an individual who provides dedicated service at the
operations level, performing their responsibilities in an exceptional, efficient, and
courteous manner.
This year’s award is presented to Justin Wilburn who began his 17-year career with the
Town of Collierville in 2007 as a meter reader in the Utilities Division. After Wilburn’s Wilburn
hard work and dedication to the department, he was moved to a maintenance crew.
In 2013 he obtained his Commercial Driver’s License and transferred to the Streets
and Drainage Division and in 2015, he was promoted to Heavy Equipment Operator.
Wilburn’s natural abilities as an operator quickly made him stand apart from the rest. Coverage of the Mark Miller
In June of 2022, the leadership abilities that he showed allowed him to be promoted Tennessee Public Works Project
to Crew Leader over the Utilities Wastewater Collection crew. The skillsets he
possessed made him the perfect fit for the Assistant Division Manager in the Streets of the Year Award winner and
and Drainage Division and he was promoted in November of 2022. He manages 28 the Bob Freudenthal Public
employees consisting of five maintenance crews, a sweeper operator, a sign technician,
and a litter crew. Wilburn has assisted in CDL training for Town employees, which has Utility Project of the Year Award
helped several obtain their CDL licenses. He is a member of the Town’s special events Winner can be found on pages
committee and safety committee and conducts quarterly safety meetings for Public
Works staff. His dedication and knowledge have made him a very valuable asset to the 18 and 19.
Town of Collierville and he will be ready for any opportunity for advancement in the
future.

View online at tnpublicworks.com 17