APWA Celebrates Public Works Champions: Unveiling the 2024 Top Ten Leaders

Kansas City, MO—The American Public Works Association (APWA) proudly unveils its 2024 Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year. This prestigious award, bestowed for the 65th consecutive year, recognizes individuals who have dedicated their careers to excellence within the public works domain.

The Top Ten Public Works Leaders represent the pinnacle of achievement within the industry.  Selected by a distinguished panel of past awardees, these individuals embody professionalism, exceptional expertise, and an unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of their communities.  Through their leadership and dedication to advancing public works services and technology, they have demonstrably improved the built environment and fostered a higher quality of life for all.

This esteemed award transcends mere recognition of accomplishments; it celebrates a lifetime of service.  The selection process meticulously considers outstanding career achievements across both the public and private sectors. From federal to municipal levels, the Top Ten Leaders hail from diverse backgrounds in engineering and public works administration.  

Their individual stories showcase remarkable career advancement, invaluable contributions to technological advancements and industry knowledge sharing, and a steadfast dedication to continuous learning and professional development.  Their commitment extends beyond their own expertise, as they actively engage in mentorship, education, and training, ensuring a vibrant future for the public works profession.

The 2024 Top Ten Public Works Leaders represent the very soul of public works excellence.  Their dedication and leadership serve as an inspiration to all, paving the way for a more sustainable, resilient, and thriving future for our communities.

APWA’s 2024 Top Ten Public Works Leaders are:

• Keith Bryant, PE, PTOE, Chief Infrastructure Officer Bay County, Florida
• Daniel J. Dinges, PE, Director of Public Works, Village of Bartlett, Illinois
• Tod J. Fagan, Director, Right of Way and Land Management Spire, St. Louis, Missouri
• Jay J. Fink, PE, Commissioner of Public Works & Parks, City of Worcester, Massachusetts
• Joseph “Joe” Fornaro, CPWP-M, Public Works Director, City of Kirtland, Ohio
• Ronald “Ron” Knoche, PE, ENV SP, Public Works Director City of Iowa City, Iowa
• Jeffrey “Jeff” Kramer, PE, PWLF, CCM, CJP, CPM, Director Program & Project Management Division, Consultant Engineering Inc., Phoenix, Arizona
• Marie Marston, PE, QSD/QSP, Sr. Project Manager/Transportation, David Evans and Associates, Inc., Tustin, California
• Ryan Thomas Moore, PE, TE, Assistant City Manager, City of Sacramento, California
• Russ Thomas, Public Works Director, City of Newberg, Oregon

Shining a spotlight on these exceptional leaders is paramount to APWA.  These individuals are the unsung heroes who make the vital services we rely upon possible. Through foresight, meticulous planning, technical prowess, and inspirational leadership, they empower public works departments and forge strong partnerships with the private sector.  Together, they ensure the reliable delivery of essential municipal services – from the bedrock of clean drinking water to efficient solid waste management and resilient emergency response systems.