Page 10 - Mar-Apr24 Vol 41 No 7

TCAPWA By Nicholas Bradshaw, Ethan Skaggs and Shane Snoderly
Chapter Leaders Working for You

Earlier this year, several TCAPWA going, we must first understand where of local events and highlights our
chapter leaders traveled to St. Petersburg, we came from. professionals during NPWW.
Fla. for the Roger Clark Leadership Regional leadership retold the story Engaging the community and all
Conference (RCL) and Council of of how APWA really came about and our collective stakeholders is an
Chapters Meeting. During the biennial flourished, leading well for so many important part of this celebration.
two-day event, attendees throughout for so long. The American Society Your organizations can host a myriad
the southeastern U.S., APWA Regions of Municipal Engineers and the of events for the public, school-age
III & IV gathered to learn, strengthen International Association of Public children, elected officials and so many
knowledge, and share collective successes Works Officials joined hats in 1937, to more to showcase the important role
and organizational challenges. become the American Public Works our members play in each of our
This year’s event was hosted in Association, with our collective history communities.
Region IV, made possible by the reaching all the way back to 1894. The organization continues to
hard work of the many dedicated Our stakeholders are many. Our promote Public Works employees as
Public Works professionals serving as organization’s members serve each and first responders, and has succeeded
volunteers (as our great state knows every citizen, municipality, business in gaining acknowledgement as such
well). The Tennessee Chapter and our owner, and public works professional in some regions. As first responders,
members are thankful for the servant across the organization. That service to it is the unfortunate reality that some
leadership of the Florida Chapter: others is why the APWA Strategic Plan, Public Works professionals may pay the
Jeffrey Brown, P.E., Region III Director; beginning with the vision statement, ultimate price, surrendering their lives
Robert Garland, P.E., PWLF, Region IV means so much to so many. The serving others. APWA has started the
Director; James R. Neal, P.E., PWLF, Tennessee chapter members work every Public Works Fallen Heroes initiative to
Technical Director of Engineering day executing this vision: “Advancing honor those who sacrificed everything
& Technology, and Jared Shilhanek, the quality of life for all.” in service of others. May we rarely
APWA Chief Growth Officer. Together, APWA’s Mission experience loss in this way, but always
they created an environment of success, The organization’s mission is to remember those who sacrificed so much.
learning, and opportunity for our Other Educational Experiences
organization’s members. support those who operate, improve,
TCAPWA sent three representatives and maintain Public Works and The organization, led primarily by
to attend the two-day event: Nicholas infrastructure through advocacy, volunteers, works very hard to provide
Bradshaw, TCAPWA Past President and education, and member engagement. quality educational experiences. Events
Chapter Delegate; Ethan W. Skaggs, P.E., We as an organization deliver this range from local Branch Lunch and
mission by promoting the value of
Learns to TPWI, to joint events with
TCAPWA Vice-President, and Shane
Snoderly, P.E., RLS, TCAPWA Upper Public Works, by being the voice of partner organizations, and ultimately
East Branch Director. Public Works, by providing excellence our Chapter Annual Conference. They
offer the opportunity to share best
in education and credentialing for
Roger Clark Leadership Conference Public Works professionals, and by practices, learned experiences, and
The RCL is an effort championed by delivering outstanding membership develop professionally to serve our
Region III, which expanded through value and experience across all chapters communities well.
years of collaboration to include Region within the organization. Rotating each year to one
IV. It provides chapters the opportunity The most important goal for our of Tennessee’s amazing major
to share best practices throughout the members is to promote and provide metropolitan areas, we all are excited
regions, working with APWA to foster value, and this is accomplished in to join our friends in Chattanooga this
success at a local level. The one-day many ways. The TCAPWA and APWA year. The TCAPWA Annual Conference
intensive workshop is focused on the Awards Program is one primary way to will be held October 28 - 30 at the
alignment of our collective ambitions highlight Public Works professionals, Chattanooga Convention Center. Many
and strategies to enhance value for our projects, organizations, or chapters. other resources are available through
organization’s stakeholders. APWA has Being the best in your field and the APWA website.
worked tirelessly to develop vision, nominated as such by your peers is The Annual North American Snow
mission, strategic goals and activities to among one of the highest honors. Conference will be held April 28 - May
our membership and the communities National Public Works Week is May 1 in Kansas City, MO. Chapter members
we support. 19 - 25 this year and always creates the also should look closely at the ability to
Many of our members are unaware opportunity to highlight Public Works attend PWX 2024, to be held September
of how our organization was formed. in our communities. The Tennessee 8 - 11, just a hop and skip away, in
In order to understand where we are chapter always stresses the importance Atlanta, Ga..
10 TPW March/April 2024