Rich Benevento is the 2013 Past President of the American Public Works Association New England Chapter and has served as the APWA National Delegate for New England. In August 2022, he was appointed to the APWA National Board of Directors through an affirmative vote. He will serve through 2025. In 2018 he was recognized as a Life Member of APWA with more than 30 years of continuous service. Benevento received APWA’s 2019 Distinguished Service to Public Works Award, the highest award bestowed on a member. In June 2022, he received the APWA New England Chapter 2022 Distinguished Service to Public Works Award and, in 2007, was the recipient of the Essex County Massachusetts Highway Association Distinguished Service Award.
Benevento has more than 40 years of experience in facilitating and administrating transportation infrastructure improvement projects. He has a diverse background in transportation planning, engineering, and regulatory permitting serving local, state, and federal agencies and private sector clients. He is a recognized expert on federal and state funding programs for transportation projects securing hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal funding for cities and towns. He is a Massachusetts State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) member. Working with MassDOT and FHWA, the council focuses on all aspects of accelerated project delivery. Benevento also serves on the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Public Works, Transportation and Public Utilities Policy Committee.
Benevento has enthusiasm for civic duty and believes strongly in giving back to the community. Since 2007, he has served as Chairman of the City of Beverly, Massachusetts Parking and Traffic Commission. He also serves as Chairman of the Town of Middleton, Massachusetts Zoning Board of Appeals. Prior to these roles, Benevento served on the Beverly Conservation Commission from 1995 to 2001 and was Chairman of the Town of Danvers Conservation Commission from 1989 until 1995. He has served on many other municipal boards and committees. He previously served as Secretary of the Essex County Highway Association from 2000 to 2014.