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APWA’s Emerging Leaders Academy provides intensive leadership and management training within the context of public works, encouraging professional growth through a strong network of peers, and offering an in-depth introduction to APWA at the national, chapter, and branch levels. 

The academy is a year-long program, starting in September and concludes the following August. Activities include monthly one-hour conference calls, a two-day retreat in Kansas City, MO, and attendance at the PWX conference. It is expected that participants will also complete reading assignments and other class projects as requested by the Academy Coordinator. 

To support the development of our Young Professionals, APWA-Minnesota would like to sponsor one of our emerging leaders to attend the academy. 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be eligible for APWA’s Emerging Leaders Academy, candidates must be:

• Individuals who have been working in the field of public works or performing public works-related functions for no more than 10 years or have been working for longer than 10 years but have been promoted into their first career supervisory role within the past three years. (Note: the total number of years includes public works-related employment at both public and private agencies.)
• Interested in advancing their careers within the public works profession.
• Committed to full participation in all Emerging Leader Academy assignments and activities, with the full support of their agency’s executive leadership.

Selection into the program is competitive, with approximately 30 applicants accepted per year. As such, the Minnesota Chapter will also be looking for:

• Membership in APWA-MN.
• Involvement in and making contributions to chapter activities through participating in a committee or other chapter work.
• Have supervisory oversight of staff.

COMMITMENT

• Participation in monthly Emerging Leaders Academy homework assignments and class conference calls.
• Timely submission of program-related homework assignments.
• Attendance at the Emerging Leaders Academy Retreat in Kansas City, MO (Nov. 5-7, 2026)
• Attendance at APWA PWX in Phoenix, AZ (August 22-25, 2027).
• Financial support from designated sponsor for attendance at PWX. NOTE: this includes PWX registration fee; round-trip travel costs (to and from the airport); hotel accommodations (for the duration of the conference); meals not included with PWX registration; and registration for the MN Chapter Dinner. In addition, financial support does NOT include baggage fees; ground transportation while onsite; optional registration items including workshops, technical tours, etc. and alcohol as part of meals. 
• Completion of class project.
• Member of APWA (if not a current member). Non-members will be given 10 days after acceptance to the program to become a member. Failure to do so will result in being removed from the program.

APPLICATION PROCESS
APWA-MN members wishing to be considered should prepare a letter (maximum of one page) addressing the criteria above. Letters of interest must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., June 5, 2026. Please be sure to include your APWA membership number. Email the letter in PDF format to: Mark Hansen, APWA-MN President, at mhansen@coonrapidsmn.gov and Chapter Admin Mary Detloff at admin@apwa-mn.org.

Selection of the potential candidates will be made by chapter officers and candidates will be notified of the selection shortly thereafter. The complete application packet must be submitted by the selected candidate to APWA by Monday, July 6, 2026. APWA will notify selected applicants by Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026.

If you have questions, please contact me at mhansen@coonrapidsmn.gov or 763.767.6465.

Thank you for your interest!

Mark Hansen, APWA-MN President