Latest News

Get to Know the APWA-MN Board

January 20, 2015

Members elected the APWA-MN Board during the 2014 Fall Conference. Learn a little more about the new members, their involvement in the chapter, and other professional and personal details.

Christopher J. Petree - Secretary/Treasurer

Employed by: City of Lakeville, 6 1/2 years.

Past employment: City of Hugo, public works director for more than 9 years; prior to that worked for the City of Apple Valley.

Years active in APWA-MN: Almost 16 years.

Activities in APWA-MN (past and current): Director-Superintendent; Education and Training Committee member currently serving as chair; Liaison for multiple other committees.

Other professional accomplishments/awards/recognitions: 2012 APWA National Award recipient for Young Leader of the Year and 2009 APWA National Award recipient for Exceptional Performance Award: Category of Adversity for response to the 2008 Hugo Tornado.

Family: Wife, Nora; Daughter, Greta (9 yrs old); and Son, Calvin (4 months old).

Hobbies/Extra-curricular activites: Coaching my daughter in youth hockey and spending time at our cabin in NW Wisconsin.

Mitchell R. Hoeft - Vendor/Contractor

Employed by: Insituform Technologies, 6 months.

Past employment: City of Golden Valley.

Years active in APWA-MN: 6 years.

Activities in APWA-MN (past and current): Membership & Events Committee; Co-founder of APWA-MN University of Minnesota Student Chapter; Young Professional Liaison for Minnesota Chapter.

Other professional accomplishments/awards/recognitions: PE, State of Minnesota; CEAM 2011 Project of Year Award winner;

Family: 3 brothers, 1 sister.

Hobbies/Extra-curricular activites: Camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, softball, and mentor to U of MN students.

Michael W. Thompson - Manager/Engineer

Employed by: City of Maplewood, 9 years.

Past employment: NorthStar Engineering and Sacramento County.

Years active in APWA-MN: 8 years.

Activities in APWA-MN (past and current): Chair of Environment and Sustainability Committee; Assisting with MN2050 Initiative; Organizing Annual Chapter Service Event.

Other professional accomplishments/awards/recognitions: City Sustainability Practices Award (Local & National Award 2013); Master of Science in Infrastructure Systems Engineering U of MN; Innovation in Government Award from RWMWD for Living Streets Model Project.

Family: Wife, Erin; and daughter, Avery.

Hobbies/Extra-curricular activites: Indoor soccer, running and working out, spending time with family and friends, traveling.

Anything else to add? I received my private pilot license in 2005 in Sacramento, CA.

Burt Tracy - Superintendent

Employed by: City of Golden Valley, 10 years.

Past employment: City of Oakdale; City of Champlin; City of Minnetonka; City of Edina.

Years active in APWA-MN: 16 years.

Activities in APWA-MN (past and current): UUCIS Committee; MN2050 Committee.

Other professional accomplishments/awards/recognitions: Past President, SUSA; Past President, MSSA; Past Chair, Minnesota Section AWWA.

Family: Married to Laura for 32 years; three sons, Anthony, Joseph, Gregory; daughter in-law, Grace; and granddaughter, April (2.5).

Hobbies/Extra-curricular activites: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources volunteer instructor snowmobile and firearms safety, 10plus years; youth sports coach for many years; baseball, basketball and wrestling; also enjoy hunting and fishing and spending time at the cabin.