Community Heroes: APPA Honors Utilities and Individuals for Service

Nineteen individuals and 10 utilities were recognized for service to the American Public Power Association and the public power industry during the American Public Power Association’s Public Power Connect: Virtual Summit & Business Meeting.

The individuals and utilities recognized at the ceremony were:

Alex Radin Distinguished Service Award

This award is the highest award granted by the American Public Power Association. The award recognizes exceptional leadership and dedication to public power.

Walter W. Haase, General Manager, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, Fort Defiance, Arizona
Arlen Orchard, CEO & General Manager, SMUD, Sacramento, California

James D. Donovan Individual Achievement Award

This award recognizes people who have made substantial contributions to the electric utility industry, with a special commitment to public power.

George Caan, Executive Director, Washington Public Utility Districts Association, Olympia, Washington
Bryan Cope, Program Development Manager, Southern California Public Power Authority, Glendora, California
Brian D. Taylor, General Manager, CDE Lightband, Clarksville, Tennessee

Alan H. Richardson Statesmanship Award

This award recognizes public power leaders who work to achieve consensus on national issues important to public power utilities.

Steve Wright, General Manager, Chelan County PUD, Wenatchee, Washington

Larry Hobart Seven Hats Award

This award recognizes managers of small utilities serving fewer than 2,500 meters. These managers have a very small staff and must assume multiple roles.

Mike DeFinis, Borough Manager, Borough of Hatfield, Pennsylvania
Bob Lockmon, Village Superintendent, Stuart Municipal Power, Stuart, Nebraska
Jason McPherson, City Administrator, Marlow Electric, Marlow, Oklahoma
Jeff Peterson, Superintendent, Brodhead Water & Light, Brodhead, Wisconsin
Stuart T. Smith, Superintendent, Spring Valley Public Utilities, Spring Valley, Minnesota
Brad Zellers, Town Manager, Town of Winamac, Indiana

Harold Kramer-John Preston Personal Service Award

This award recognizes individuals for their service to the American Public Power Association.

Julio Torrado, Director of Human Resources and Communications, Keys Energy Services, Key West, Florida

Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award

This award recognizes elected or appointed local officials who have contributed to the goals of the American Public Power Association.

Ronald W. Boles, Chairman of Electric Board, Huntsville Utilities, Huntsville, Alabama
Rebecca Casper, Mayor, City of Idaho Falls, Idaho
Kathleen Thacker, Board of Directors Chair, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Kissimmee, Florida

Robert E. Roundtree Rising Star Award

This award is a scholarship presented to future leaders in public power. The recipient receives a stipend to travel to an Association conference or training program to advance their education and development in public power.

James R. Logan, Executive Director of Infrastructure, City of Hamilton, Ohio

Mark Crisson Leadership and Managerial Excellence Award

This award recognizes managers at a utility, joint action agency, or state or regional association who steer their organizations to new levels of excellence, lead by example, and inspire staff to do better.

Thomas J. Heller, President & CEO, Missouri River Energy Services, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
David Leathers, General Manager, Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, Jamestown, New York

E.F. Scattergood System Achievement Award

This award honors American Public Power Association member systems with outstanding accomplishments.

Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, Fort Defiance, Arizona
Pasadena Water & Power, Pasadena, California

Energy Innovator Award

The Association’s research program, Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments (DEED), nurtures innovation in public power. Each year, the program recognizes innovative utility projects with this award.

American Municipal Power, Inc., Columbus, Ohio
Heartland Consumers Power District, Madison, South Dakota
Lakeland Electric, Lakeland, Florida

Sue Kelly Community Service Award

This award recognizes utilities for their "good neighbor" activities that demonstrate commitment to the local community.

CPS Energy, San Antonio, Texas
Crawfordsville Electric Light & Power, Crawfordsville, Indiana
Easton Utilities, Easton, Maryland
Glendale Water & Power, Glendale, California
Knoxville Utilities Board, Knoxville, Tennessee

Glendale Water & Power (GWP) in Glendale, California, received an American Public Power Association Sue Kelly Community Service Award. GWP employees selflessly helped others in need last year by participating in a variety of volunteering opportunities through their employee volunteer D.E.V.O.T.E. program, which stands for “Dedicated Employees Volunteering Our Time & Energy.”

GWP’s volunteer efforts include volunteering at a local homeless shelter—preparing and serving multiple morning hot meals to those in need; organizing and cleaning the Glendale Salvation Army's food pantry; sponsoring jerseys for local after-school program students in need; donating several bags of school supplies to local foster care and homeless students; and donating money to sponsor families through the YWCA Glendale's Adopt-A-Family program.

Aside from volunteering in the community, GWP employees also dedicate their time to represent GWP and promote the utility's various programs at local events including Cruise Night, health festivals, One Glendale tournaments, and Tech Week. GWP employees believe the power of human connection can help foster a more productive, innovative, and inclusive society; and that by harnessing our collective power we help achieve lasting social impact for the greater good.