Page 5 - NovDec2023 Vol41 No5

TCAPWA Executive
Committee Remembering A Leader
tennessee.apwa.org
by Mickey Sullivan
PRESIDENT: Nicholas Bradshaw
Fleet Services Director, Knoxville The late Bob Freudenthal was a leader in every
nbradshaw@knoxvilletn.gov sense of the word.
(865) 215-2150 The United States military produces fantastic
leaders. A hallmark of the best of those men and
PRESIDENT ELECT: Regina Santana women is that at chow time, they “eat last.” They
Utilities Director, Lebanon consistently put their people first.
rsantana@lebanontn.org Freudenthal was someone who would “eat last.”
(615) 444-3647
He routinely empowered and inspired others. He
VICE-PRESIDENT: Kimberly Strong put their needs first, and he nurtured them as they
Constituent Services Coordinator grew professionally and personally. As a result, if you
City of Chattanooga were in his sphere, you quickly grew to trust him
kstrong@chattanooga.gov and you wanted to help him realize the vision he was
(423) 643-7814 advocating.
He was great at helping people discover what A good friend to many of us, Bob
SECRETARY: John Chlarson matters most to them, and then inspiring them to Freudenthal, 62, Executive Director
Public Works Consultant, MTAS reach their highest potential. He was one of those of Tennessee Association of Utility
john.chlarson@tennessee.edu transformational leaders who didn’t rely on his job Districts, passed away Oct. 5 at his
(731) 695-2472 title, position, or authority. home in Hendersonville.

TREASURER: Kenny Wiggins Freudenthal realized that if you care about the
Retired, City of Alcoa people you lead and help them to believe that they are leaders as well, they will ascend. Several
tcapwa.treasurer@gmail.com have observed that he was an encourager who was great at showing you the path and setting
(865) 679-9724 you up for success.
He was a strategist. In his leadership of APWA both at the state and national level, he saw
WEST DIRECTOR: Ethan Skaggs opportunity that others could not. That capability continued during his time leading the
City Engineer, Germantown Tennessee Association of Utility Districts.
eskaggs@germantown-tn.gov Freudenthal was savvy, playing chess while the rest of us were playing checkers. And, he
(901) 568-1929 came at this chess-playing with a terrific passion. His vison and his ability to also execute on
that vision was remarkable.
MIDDLE DIRECTOR: Lee Clark
General Services Administrator, Lebanon He valued culture. He recognized and embraced his stewardship of the culture of each
lee.clark@lebanontn.org organization he led. That stewardship motivated him to advocate for those things that
(615) 444-0825 ext. 5101 characterize what a good culture should be about: authenticity, collaboration, consensus
building, openness, trust, acceptance of all people, and unselfishness.
UPPER EAST DIRECTOR: Shane Snoderly To him, every person was important whether they were a Public Works Director, water
Director of Public Works & Eng., Alcoa treatment plant operator, or they handled a knuckle boom every day. They were important.
ssnoderly@cityofalcoa-tn.gov No account of Freudenthal would be complete without acknowledging his devotion to
(865) 380-4812 family and his faith. He loved his family, always being there for them when times were rough
and beaming with pride over their accomplishments. His faith was apparent because it drove
LOWER EAST DIRECTOR: Loretta Hopper his actions every single day.
Public Work Director, Signal Mountain He knew his values, lived those values and was a powerful example by the way he lived
lhopper@signalmountaintn.gov his life. He didn’t need to tell us about his faith or his love of his wife and children; he just
(423) 886-2177 demonstrated them by his actions.
PAST PRESIDENT: John Fox Mahatma Gandhi said, “A sign of a good leader is not how many followers you have, but
Public Utilities Manager, Collierville how many leaders you create.” Freudenthal created many leaders during his career. He did
jfox@colliervilletn.gov so by modeling the way good leaders act. He was a communicator who could challenge
(901) 457-2810 individuals to achieve and then celebrate their victories. You always felt the confidence he
had in you.
CHAPTER ADMINISTRATOR: Mark Miller He communicated openly and honestly and listening to hear. His was a style that led with
Public Works Director, Pigeon Forge empathy. We all felt it and we all chose to follow him willingly, because he was someone who
P.O. Box 1350, Pigeon Forge, TN 37868 always did the right thing. Without a doubt, he created many leaders!
markmillertcapwa@gmail.com “Legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people.” - Peter
(865) 429-7312 Strople CEO, Crisis Strategy Expert.
If you knew Freudenthal, you have a personal anecdote that illustrates what an amazing
TPW PUBLISHER: Klair Kimmey
P.O. Box 22491, Knoxville, TN 37933 leader and person he was. Let’s tell those stories often and extend the inspirational legacy that
klair@tnpublicworks.com he has gifted us, so that it never ever fades away.
(865) 288-0815 (o); (865) 924-4956 (c) Bob Freudenthal loved APWA and APWA loved him very much! We will miss him dearly.
View online at tnpublicworks.com 5