Latest News

Jupe Hale, PE - WSB
2024 APWA-MN President

Greetings to all of you, proud members of the vibrant and active Minnesota Chapter!  Hope your summer hasn’t been too watered down with all the precipitation early in the construction season.  From drought conditions to flooding in a matter of weeks!

What’s not watered down is the great work of our Chapter over the first half of 2024.   In my role as President, I get a front row seat to see our committees in action.  And without fail I find myself humbled by the opportunity to lead these groups, and impressed by the energy and passion that each of these groups pours into their respective initiatives and programs.  My main job is to just offer support and stay the heck out of their way!

At the December Executive Committee meeting (our de facto yearly strategic planning effort), I asked each committee to affirm their goals for 2024, and to identify any opportunities to leverage our Chapter’s financial and human resources into new initiatives or higher goals.  They did not disappoint!   Both their activities year-to-date and the recently approved FY 24-25 budget reflect their strengthened commitment to advance the Chapter’s strategic plan.

One example is the Outstate Committee, who leads our charge in increasing membership and engagement from our members beyond the Twin Cities Metro area.  They have been actively engaged with sister organizations whose footprint and gatherings are strong across the state.  Our committee has arranged for APWA to have a presence at their gatherings, where we can engage their members on the benefits of APWA membership.

In a parallel and supporting effort, our Communications Committee is completing an update of our banners that we use for exhibit space or other outreach activities.  The new banners will be targeted toward the value of APWA membership, and recruitment to public works careers – both strategic goals for the Chapter and for APWA national.  I’m looking forward to our new “branding!”

By the time you read this, many of you will have already experienced one of our Chapter’s signature events – the Summer Golf Outing.  We are full again with 192 golfers, and overfull with Chapter sponsors populating the 27 holes of the course, along with the practice green and other in-between spots.  The Membership & Special Events Committee puts together this annual gathering for the Chapter, and it never fails to bring us together, both literally and figuratively - forming and strengthening our networks.  Congratulations to the committee on another job well done.

Next on the horizon for us is PWX in Atlanta in September.  We anticipate another strong showing from the Minnesota Chapter, and another valuable PWX experience for all.  We’ve got several gathering points planned during the event, including a celebration for all our award winners and of course the Chapter Dinner.  This year, the Chapter Dinner will be held at White Oak Kitchen and Cocktails - a great venue in the downtown area.  Special thanks to your Vice President, Mitchell Hoeft, for coordinating that on our behalf.  Look for the registration announcement in your inbox soon.  I hope to see a great turnout both at PWX and at our Chapter events while we are there!

Last (at least for this missive), our Conference Planning Committee is hard at work putting together our Fall Conference at Mystic Lake.  Our local version of PWX, we routinely draw more than 500 chapter members to that event to both learn about issues and new ideas that affect our industry, but also to reinforce our Chapter’s true strength – our connection and commitment to each other and our industry.

Thank you all for your trust in me to lead our Chapter for the year.  We are blessed with so many dedicated members who believe in what we do and pour their energy and enthusiasm into making us great.  If you are reading this and are thinking you want to be engaged with one of our many committees, take the plunge!  Reach out to Michael Kirsch, our volunteer coordinator (Michael.Kirsch@kimley-horn.com), who can get you plugged in.  You won’t regret it – great people, and a great network to lean on when you need it.

Enjoy the rest of our great summer season, and we will see you in Atlanta!