Robert H. Garland oversees Region IV as part of his Regional Director role with APWA. This includes the following chapters: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. He also serves as the Board of Directors Liaison to the Audit Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee.
Garland has been providing engineering, management, operational, and construction services to the public works industry for 40 years. During that time, he has partnered with frontline workers, public works directors, elected officials, regulatory agencies, and residents to develop innovative solutions that provide higher levels of service while maintaining affordable rate structures and tax bases. He has been a frequent presenter at national, regional, and state conferences and has authored diverse technical papers on public works issues.
Garland joined APWA in 2006 and immediately became active at both the chapter and branch levels. He was asked to chair the Southwest Florida Branch in 2010, a role that he maintained for two consecutive terms, in order to address declining attendance at branch meetings. Attendance at the branch’s monthly meetings increased by approximately 340% during his two terms and the branch received its first Florida Chapter Presidential Award for Branch Excellence in 2011. Garland began his progression as a chapter officer in 2013, serving as Vice President, President-Elect, and then President in 2015–16. He continued his service to the chapter as an Alternate Delegate and then as a Delegate. He is currently in his second two-year term in the Director, Region IV role.