The American Public Works Association has several standing committees of the board to assist in the governance and internal affairs of the association. Members of these committees serve by virtue of their positions on the APWA Board of Directors or by appointment by the President-Elect. The people on APWA committees and councils are current association members, unless otherwise noted.
Accreditation Council
The council reviews results of the site accreditation team's findings of public works agencies' applications for accreditation and determines accreditation status. It is comprised of public works professionals and members of allied professions such as city/county management, government finance, law, public administration, human resource management, planning, and others involved in administration of local, regional, state, provincial and federal government agencies. A minimum of four voting members shall be from an Accredited Agency. The Council meets face-to-face at PWX each year, other meetings may be held by conference call. Balloting is conducted by email with a short-turn-around time. View the Accreditation Council Roster.
Audit Committee
The committee is responsible for the selection, compensation, and oversight of the APWA auditing firm as well as review of the annual audit reports. The Audit Committee holds up to three conference call meetings per year, depending on requests of the audit firm prior to, during or post audit fieldwork; whether any management letter comments and/or findings are noted by the audit firm which require corrective action, and the audit firm selection cycle.
Awards Committee
The committee is responsible for reviewing nominations for all awards other than Top Ten Leaders of the Year, Project of the Year, Manager of the Year, PWHS, Excellence in Snow and Ice Control and PACE awards, and selects recipients according to established criteria. The Awards Committee holds one conference call meeting of approximately two hours in length in the spring, and may require 12 to 14 hours of reviewing documents prior to the call.
Awards Committee - Project of the Year Awards
The committee reviews nominations for the Public Works Project of the Year Awards and selects recipients according to established criteria. The committee is divided into four groups of five members. Each group contributes fifteen to twenty hours for reviewing their section of the submitted projects, plus participates in one conference call meeting lasting approximately one hour.
Awards Committee - Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year Award
The President-Elect appoints five members who are Top Ten Public Works Leader of the Year recipients from previous years to serve on this committee. The Committee reviews nominations for the Top Ten Leaders of the Year award and selects recipients according to established criteria. The Committee holds one conference call meeting, of approximately one hour duration, in the spring and members contribute eight to ten hours time for review of documents prior to the call.
Center for Sustainability Leadership Group
The Center’s Leadership Group oversees and leads the APWA Center for Sustainability (C4S) as it develops programs and activities to support sustainability in public works. Center leaders meet monthly by conference call and are also asked to serve as liaison to another APWA technical or standing committee. Two face-to-face meetings are held annually- a 1 1/2 day meeting in winter/spring, and an afternoon meeting held at PWX. Center leaders are involved in Center projects, with most work being accomplished by conference calls and online document review. Learn more about the C4S Leadership Group.
Certification Council
Voting members of the Council include a CPFP representative, a CPII representative, a CSM representative, a CPWP representative, a Fleet Services Committee member, an Engineering & Technology Committee member, a Water Resource Management Committee member, a Leadership & Management Committee member, and three APWA members. The council governs and oversees the delivery of APWA’s certification programs and is responsible for establishing overall policies that will govern all APWA certifications, as well as having oversight of all of the APWA certification programs. The Council works with task forces to update content outlines, exam questions and conduct outreach efforts. The Council typically conducts one face-to-face meeting at PWX plus quarterly conference call meetings.
Committee for Diversity and Inclusion
The Committee advances diversity and inclusiveness issues throughout the association, placing value on all individuals and the different perspectives of those individuals, and promoting the process for all to feel included as part of the whole. The Committee holds one annual face-to-face meeting at PWX, of approximately two hour duration, and one-hour monthly conference calls. Learn more about the Committee for Diversity and Inclusion.
Government Affairs Committee
The Government Affairs Committee (GAC) has responsibility for identifying, drafting, and leading the promotion of APWA’s public policy priorities to the US Congress and federal agencies. The GAC drafts public policy priorities representative of APWA’s broad membership and obtains approval from APWA’s Board of Directors on the identified priorities per each Congressional cycle. GAC members are expected to have direct experience and interest in at least one of the public policy priority areas of transportation, water, emergency preparedness and response, and to actively contribute to public policy drafting, review, and the advocacy of adopted policies. Further, GAC members consistently participate in monthly conference calls and attend the committee’s two annual face-to-face meetings—the spring meeting in Washington, DC and the meeting at PWX. During the DC meeting, GAC members meet with key members/offices of the US House of Representatives, the US Senate, and federal agencies. GAC members also work within their chapters/branches to promote advocacy as an organizational priority and APWA’s public policy priorities. Additionally, GAC members contribute the monthly “GAC Insight” column for the APWA Reporter. Learn more about the Government Affairs Committee.
Institute Review Committee
The Committee reviews applications for APWA Public Works Institute template, makes recommendations about changes to institute policies and assists chapters that are interested in starting an institute. The Institute Review Committee holds periodic conference call meetings of approximately one hour duration, and may also contribute time for review of documents prior to the call.
International Affairs Committee
The IAC works to enhance the quality and efficiency with which public works infrastructure and services are provided around the world by facilitating the development and exchange of members, ideas, information and technology among persons professionally involved in the delivery of such facilities and services. The IAC holds one monthly conference call meeting and an annual face-to-face meeting at PWX. Each IAC member is also asked to participate in a subcommittee; subcommittees meet via conference call as needed. Additional contribution of time is based upon commitment of committee members to various assignments. Learn more about the IAC.
Professional Development Committee
The PDC provides oversight, guidance, support and coordination for all APWA’s professional development, education and training programs. The Committee holds monthly conference call meetings.
PWX Program Review Committee
The Committee guides the topic selection for the annual PWX, judges proposals, provides vision for new educational areas, suggests different training formats and provides contacts with speakers nationally. Committee members are required to attend a two-day meeting in January in Kansas City, Missouri. Additional time commitments include availability for a six-week period in mid-November through January to read and rank approximately 375 proposals prior to the January meeting.
Small Cities/Rural Communities Committee
The Committee's mission is to support small cities and rural communities that operate, improve and maintain public works and infrastructure through advocacy, education and member engagement. The SC/RC committee holds monthly conference call meetings, an annual face-to-face meeting at PWX and one spring meeting during even numbered years. Learn more about this committee .
Snow Conference Program Review Committee
Comprised of members from the snow-belt region, the Committee guides the topic selection for the annual North American Snow Conference, judges proposals and provides contacts with speakers nationally. Previous attendance at a North American Snow Conference is preferred and should be noted when submitting a nomination biography. The Committee holds an annual one-day face-to-face meeting in the fall and members contribute three to four hours of review of proposals prior to the meeting.
Young Professionals Committee
The Young Professionals Committee supports the APWA strategic priority to "create opportunities for engagement of students, young professionals and emerging leaders through new and positive experiences." Principal objectives of the Young Professionals Committee are to provide more educational and professional development opportunities for younger members of APWA (age 35 and younger) and to enhance the opportunities for younger members to have interaction with other members and to participate in chapter and national events. The committee is made up of nine individuals, one from each of APWA’s nine regions, and meets monthly by conference call and face-to-face each year at PWX. View the Young Professionals Committee Roster.