Page 5 - Nov-Dec18

TCAPWA Executive
Committee
tennessee.apwa.net
PRESIDENT: Ryan McReynolds
Assistant City Manager, Kingsport
mcreynolds@kingsporttn.gov
(423) 229-9470
PRESIDENT ELECT: Phillip Jones
Operations Manager, Metro Nashville
phillip.jones@nashville.gov
(615) 533-2377
VICE-PRESIDENT: Justin Holland
Administrator of Public Works, Chattanooga
holland_j@chattanooga.gov
(423) 643-6000
SECRETARY: Sharon Rollins
Consulting Program Manager, MTAS
sharon.rollins@tennessee.edu
(865) 974-0411
TREASURER: Kenny Wiggins
Director, Public Works & Engineering, Alcoa
kwiggins@cityofalcoa-tn.gov
(865) 380-4800
WEST DIR: John Fox
Operations Assistant, Collierville
jfox@ci.collierville.tn.us
(901) 457-2800
MIDDLE DIR: Cody Osborne
Waste Superintendent, Metro Public Works
cody.osborne@nashville.gov
615-862-4070
UPPER EAST DIR: Nicholas Bradshaw
Fleet Services Deputy Director
nbradshaw@knoxvilletn.gov
(865) 215-6194
LOWER EAST DIR: Eric Sines
Director of Public Works, Collegedale
esines@collegedaletn.gov
(423) 468-1983
COUNCIL OF CHAPTERS DELEGATE:
Ronnie Hammonds
Streets & Sanitation Manager, Kingsport
ronniehammonds@kingsporttn.gov
(423) 229-9397
PAST PRESIDENT: Manny Belen
City Engineer, Memphis
manny.belen@memphistn.gov
(901) 576-6700
CHAPTER ADMINISTRATOR: Mark Miller
Public Works Director, Pigeon Forge
mmiller@cityofpigeonforge.com
(865) 429-7312
WEBSITE COMM. CHAIR: Rocky Robinson
Technical Specialist, Metro Public Works
william.robinson@nashville.gov
(615) 880-1680; (615) 416-5014 cell
TPW PUBLISHER: Klair Kimmey
P.O. Box 52503, Knoxville, TN 37950
klair@tnpublicworks.com
(865) 288-0815
By Bo Mills, APWA Past President
What an Experience!
In Kansas City, on Aug. 26, my term as President of the American Public Works
Association ended. I passed the gavel on to Dave Lawry, Director of Municipal
Operations - Chastain and Associates, out of Schaumburg, Illinois. The year
went really fast. It seems only days since receiving the honor of becoming APWA
President in Orlando last August. I grew so much over this past year. Being
exposed to various Public Works professionals, other APWA Chapters, various
agencies and departments at the local and national level, and even being exposed to
international Public Works was such an outstanding experience. I certainly could
not have experienced this without the support of my Mayor, Mike Palazzolo; the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen; my City Administrator, Patrick Lawton; my fellow
department heads and most importantly my staff. I was away a good bit of the year.
My staff ran the Germantown Public Works Department. In true Public Works
fashion, the citizens received their services, never missing a beat. I am so grateful
to the City of Germantown for allowing me this opportunity.
My home APWA Chapter, the Tennessee Chapter, was certainly supportive of
me during this year. I learned much of what I know about APWA through folks
I’ve been exposed to at the Tennessee Chapter level. Mentors like A.C. Lock, Judy
Keller, Ed and Joye Archer, Bob Freudenthal, Jack Marcellis, Mickey Sullivan, Phil
Pindzola, John Calvert, Sharon Rollins and Mark Miller shaped my background in
APWA. I couldn’t have had better mentors or a better home chapter.
APWA is such an outstanding organization because of the people. Everyone was
so nice to me during my visits. I enjoyed going on numerous project tours, listened
to probably 100 education sessions and attended probably 30 chapter banquets.
It never got old. In Quebec, they all spoke French. I don’t speak French, but the
international language of Public Works kept me clued in enough to enjoy their
presentations and people. No way can I remember all of the people I met, but I
always enjoyed their conversations and fellowship.
Working with the APWA Board of Directors (17 members) and APWA’s staff in
Kansas City and Washington, D.C., was such a positive experience. Our Board of
Directors is as diverse geographically, professionally (retirees, public and private
sector backgrounds) and culturally as imaginable. But the bottom line for each
one of them is what is best for APWA as a whole. Scott Grayson, our Executive
Director, is just plain fantastic. He and I would text, talk on the phone or email just
about every day. Over the past year, nearly every day there was something APWA
related to see to. He and his staff do such a great job with this huge organization.
I was appreciative that he never came to me with anything that he didn’t provide
options to consider. I learned a lot from him. Our APWA November 2016 Strategic
Plan is our guide. The board, our staff and now many of the chapters are following
it. This plan is strengthening our organization.
So, now I have the grand designation of Past APWA President, which I will have
forever. I’m on the Board of Directors for one last year as Past President and will
make a few chapter visits through this year. So, I’m still engaged and contributing.
At PWX in Seattle next September, they will give me a nice glass plaque, thank me
for my service, and I’ll finish a tremendous run of eight years on the APWA Board
of Directors.
Fellow Tennessee chapter member and great friend Bob Freudenthal, APWA
president 2007-2008, gave me some solid advice. He said, “Never forget who you
are, and sometime each day and every day when you travel or work for APWA –
STOP, look around, and say to yourself - How Cool Is This!” That was good advice.
It was truly a special year. I’ve said that it was a career pinnacle for sure and ranks
way up there as a life pinnacle.
Thanks for your support….Bo
View online at tnpublicworks.com 5