APWA Announces 2026 Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KANSAS CITY, MO—Today, the American Public Works Association (APWA) announced its 2026 Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year. In its 67th year, this award is one of APWA’s highest honors and is based on continuous, proven dedication to professional excellence in the field of public works. Recipients of the awards are chosen by past Top Ten recipients and embody professionalism, expertise, and personal dedication to improving the quality of life in their communities through the advancement of public works services and technology.

The Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year award recognizes individual public works professionals and officials from both the public and private sectors in North America. Each award recipient is honored for accomplishments at the federal, state, provincial, county, or municipal level. Achievements span a broad spectrum of public works priorities, including administration, engineering, career advancement, and contributions to technology or job knowledge. Criteria also include commitment to the profession through education, training, certification, continuing education, professional excellence, and service to the community.

Shining a light on these dedicated leaders who empower the core services their communities need to maintain a high quality of life is of utmost importance to APWA. Public works departments and their private-sector partners are able to provide essential municipal services thanks to the planning, foresight, technical contributions, and leadership of these individuals.

APWA’s 2026 Top Ten Public Works Leaders are:

• Mike Busch, PE, PTOE, Principal, Oates Associates Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
• Regina Marie Cave, General Services Director, City of Citrus Heights, California
• Hesha Gamble, PE, PTOE, Assistant County Administrator for Public Works, Planning and Development, Greenville County, South Carolina
• Kevin Hensley, CPM, MPA, Director of Public Works, City of Grimes, Iowa
• Kirk Holmes, Director of Central Washington and Emergency Management Services, Perteet, Inc., Ellensburg, Washington
• Anne Lamitola, PE, Senior Director of Public Services, City of Ladue, Missouri
• Philip Mann, PE, Special Projects Administrator, City of Gainesville, Florida
• Mark Ray, CPWP, PE, Public Works Director, City of Burnsville, Minnesota
• William R. Riccio Jr., PE, PWLF, Director, Department of Public Services, City of Newport, Rhode Island
• Tony Roos, PE, FACEC, F.SAME, Senior Principal Engineer, Kittelson & Associates, Inc., Portland, Oregon

“APWA’s Top Ten Public Works Leaders are people who have dedicated their lives to achieving excellence in public works. It’s their presence that makes our communities more efficient, resilient, and sustainable. All of us at APWA applaud them for their tireless commitment to the communities they serve,” said APWA President Vic Bianes, PE.

For more information about the APWA awards program, please contact APWA Chapter Services Manager Cameron Harmeyer at charmeyer@apwa.org, or by phone at (816) 595-5259.

For additional information about APWA, please contact Jared Shilhanek, APWA Chief Growth Officer, at jshilhanek@apwa.org or by phone at (816) 595-5257.

To read profiles of this year’s honorees, see the May issue of the APWA Reporter and follow APWA on LinkedIn and @APWAGovAffairs on X to watch for more APWA news.