Dear APWA Mid Atlantic Chapter Members and Friends:

Hello everyone. Our Chapter has been very active since our last newsletter with events taking place across the Mid Atlantic Region. You can see a full list of Chapter activities on our Chapter website at APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter. I have been able to attend several events such as PWX in Chicago, the Richmond Activities Committee Henrico Sports and Event Center Social, meeting with the City of Richmond, VA Public Works Department, Session IV of our Public Works Institute and The Roadway Management Conference.

• APWA PWX 2026

The APWA National Conference in Chicago was a fantastic experience. This was the first time I was able to attend APWA PWX and it was a great experience. I was amazed at the turnout and had the opportunity to connect with many APWA members, including several from our Mid Atlantic Chapter who are interested in joining our Chapter committees. 



Our Chapter did a great job on the National stage with everyone’s hard work that led to two awards for our Chapter. The first was an individual award presented to our Chapter Vice President, Amy Linderman who was awarded the Myron Calkins Young Leader Award and the second was the APWA Mid Atlantic Chapter’s 20^th Presidential Acknowledgment for Chapter Excellence (PACE) Award.

Chapter Vice President, Amy Linderman receiving the Myron Calkins Young Leader Award 

APWA Mid Atlantic Chapter’s receiving the 20^th Presidential Acknowledgment for Chapter Excellence (PACE) Award

I was also able to spend time in the Richmond, VA area with the Richmond Area Activities Committee social event at the Henrico Sports and Events Center. This is a great facility for Henrico County and will be an asset for this area for years to come. I was also able to meet with the City of Richmond Public Works leaders to discuss future partnerships with our Chapter to increase our Chapter resources in this area. Finally, I was able to attend the final day of Session IV of the Public Works Institute in Glen Allen. It was great to see the current participants and congratulate the new graduates of this program. I also think it was the first time we had a current Chapter President and four Chapter Past Presidents in attendance. If you have emerging leaders in your organization this is a great resource for their professional development.

• Roadway Management Conference 2025

Again this year, our Chapter was a sponsor for the regional Roadway Management Conference which provides training and professional development for public works professionals from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia and Virginia. This year our Chapter had a great presence with several members attending including, myself and Ken Eyre presenting in separate sessions, Kim Carr and Andrew Morgan with West Virginia Local Technical Assistance Program (WV LTAP) helping to plan this event as they do every year.

• Sponsorship and Leadership Opportunities:

Our Chapter is very thankful for our sponsors. Their continued support enables us to provide valuable education, professional development and networking for our members. The Annual Corporate Sponsorship Program for 2026 is now open! Opportunities are limited, so we encourage interested organizations to sign up soon. Corporate Sponsors – APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter

Several members have recently joined various committees, but we still have vacancies on the following committees: Northern Virginia Activities, Membership, Member Engagement, Solid Waste, Young Professionals, Audit, Construction Management, and Vector Control.

We will also need several hundred volunteers in 2029 as the Mid Atlantic Chapter will host PWX in Baltimore. Planning for this event will begin in 2026.



If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, you can contact me at jwilkerson@cityofmartinsburg.org.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and Stay Safe!



Jeff

2026 APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter WRX in Ocean City Again!

Amy Linderman, Chapter Vice President, Department of Public Works, Fairfax, VA

Get ready to join us for our annual WRX Conference at the Roland E Powell Convention Center in Ocean City Maryland from May 13^th -May 15^th, 2026. Our annual event is packed full of events including our ROADEO, networking opportunities, educational sessions, and vendor exhibits to include equipment this year!

More information regarding hotel reservations and educational session schedule is to come and will be posted in our APWA Chapter Works Weekly and on our website as it becomes available.



If you would like to volunteer for the conference, please reach out to Amy Linderman at amy.linderman@fairfaxcounty.gov

RVA Builds: Showcasing a Billion-Dollar Vision for Richmond’s Infrastructure

Paige Hairston, City of Richmond - OSC, Department of Public Works

The City of Richmond’s Department of Public Works (DPW) recently convened a first of-its-kind public showcase titled, RVA Builds: Infrastructure Information Initiative. The event took place last month at the historic Main Street Station. The open-house style event invited residents to “go behind the scenes” of the city’s infrastructure and capital improvements projects.

Directed by DPW’s Director, Bobby Vincent, the event emphasized transparency, connection, and community engagement with the design-build process. He stated, “by proactively sharing information and inviting public dialogue, DPW is setting a standard that other municipalities can emulate. This event gives the community a chance to speak directly with the teams who design, build, and improve our city. We want residents to understand how decisions are made, how projects are prioritized, and how they can get involved. When residents are informed and engaged, projects are stronger, and outcomes are better.”

The showcase brought together multiple departments and agencies: DPW, the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility, Richmond Public Utilities, Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, Economic Development, Planning and Development Review, the Department of General Services, among others.

The event featured displays and interactive exhibits covering the breadth of Richmond’s capital improvement portfolio – over $1 billion in transportation, utilities, parks, public facilities, and streetscape projects now underway or entering construction. These major roadway rehabilitations, bridge replacements, pedestrian and bike infrastructure, stormwater improvement, and upgrades to city buildings and community spaces are just a few types of projects discussed.

Attendees were able to engage with engineers, architects, planners, and designers staffing information tables and share in-depth dialogues about current and upcoming infrastructure projects ranging from major capital improvements to “lighter-quicker-cheaper” upgrades.

Hundreds of residents attended the three-hour open house taking the opportunity to ask questions, share feedback, and learn how ongoing projects will impact their neighborhoods. DPW staff and partner agencies discussed project schedules, funding, and design decisions, helping to demystify how public investments are prioritized and executed. By proactively engaging with the public, the event demonstrated the city’s commitment.

The success of RVA Builds has inspired plans for similar future showcases, providing residents with additional opportunities to stay informed and involved as Richmond continues to modernize its streets, bridges, utilities, and public spaces. Most likely, this event will be on DPW’s calendar next fall so make plans to attend.

Photos: Residents engage with Richmond DPW staff at RVA Builds Showcase Event at Main Street Station

Photos: Jerrold Price

Mid-Atlantic Chapter at 2025 Regional LTAP Conference

Ken Eyre, Blue Heron Leadership Group LLC

Mid-Atlantic Chapter at 2025 LTAP Roadway Management Conference, Ocean City, MD

Despite the predicted fall storm heading toward Jamaica, public works agencies from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania benefited from the many great presentations from across the region, as well as from New Hampshire.

Chapter President Jeff Wilkerson, Past-President Ken Eyre and APWA Member City of Morgantown, WV PW Director Damien Davis presented Winter Lessons Learned and Public Works Outreach. Damien and Meagan Deeley, Morgantown’s Deputy Director of Engineering and Public Works gave an excellent summary of the many programs and initiatives Morgantown offers. Ken gave an overview of the APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter’s activities, educational venues, and weaved in the internal and external outreach and awareness features offered at the Chapter and National. Jeff discussed winter operation challenges for Martinsburg, WV and the public works industry. APWA members Kim Carr and Andrew Morgan of the West Virginia LTAP were key conference members ensuring attendees and presenters were in the sessions they wanted to attend. Kim was also co-presenter in the Working Across Generations: Enhancing Communications and Collaboration session. New Hampshire’s LTAP Director Marilee Enus gave an excellent peek into the AI world, sharing numerous examples and applications of ChatGPT as a tool to augment the other many tools used in the PW toolbox. Tim Filasky, Newark, DE PW Director gave an overview of the DPW’s finance and budgeting. Ginger Olyniec of Maryland State Highway Administration (MSA) and Mike Fleming, Penna. LTAP Technical Advisor, covered their respective stormwater asset management and maintenance and MS4 permit compliance programs. The Chapter was one of the LTAP sponsors.

Photo Credit: Kim Carr, WV LTAP

Photo Credit: Ken Eyre

VHB Surveys Historic USS Wisconsin Berth in Norfolk

Innovative hydrographic survey technology supports preservation of landmark battleship

VHB recently completed a condition hydrographic survey of the berth for the USS Wisconsin, a retired battleship docked in Norfolk Harbor. Once an active ship in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War, the Wisconsin is now a popular museum where visitors can explore U.S. naval history up close.

Using advanced multibeam technology, VHB collected detailed soundings beneath and around the 887-foot vessel and extending to the federal channel. The results provide a precise view of the underwater environment that supports the ship, offering valuable insight that will enhance its continued care.

Hydrographic surveys measure and map underwater topography, identifying conditions unseen from the surface. VHB now offers this service to help clients—from ports to municipalities—better understand and manage their marine infrastructure.

For the USS Wisconsin, this survey is one more step in preserving a national treasure that continues to inspire visitors and honor those who served aboard the ship.



For more information about VHB’s hydrographic survey capabilities, contact Bob Taliaferro.

Published November 3, 2025 at 5:27 PM EST

The Southeastern Public Service Authority hired Commonwealth Sortation to use technology powered by artificial intelligence to help divert waste from the regional landfill.

Read more HERE

Session IV of the Mid-Atlantic Public Works Institute focused on executive leadership, emphasizing strategic vision, ethical decision-making, and organizational excellence. Participants explored topics such as data-driven decision making, succession planning, and APWA accreditation while strengthening their executive leadership skills. Interactive discussions and case studies provided opportunities to apply executive-level leadership principles to real-world public works challenges. By the conclusion of Session IV, attendees had a deeper understanding of how to align strategic goals with community needs and organizational resources.

In addition, at this session 15 public works professionals received their graduation certificates for completing all four sessions of the program.

Congratulations to the Richmond, VA Department of Public Works on their 6^th accreditation!

Accreditation is the mark of professionalism indicating a public works agency has made the commitment to continuous improvement in the delivery of public works operations and services in the community it serves. Accreditation recognizes an agency’s policies, procedures and practices which have been evaluated against nationally recognized management practices determined to be appropriate for that specific agency.

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter has 10 accredited agencies! You can see the list HERE

The RVA Activities committee would love to hear your ideas for potential future events! If you are in the Richmond region and have a project or site you’d like to showcase, please contact us. The committee aims to schedule fun and informative events that provide valuable networking opportunities within the region and Mid-Atlantic Chapter. If you or someone in your group would like to join the committee, we are always accepting new committee members who can help provide input and planning!

The RVA Activities Committee recently hosted a successful event at the Henrico Sports and Events Center featuring a presentation by Henrico County Public Works staff about their role in the facility’s construction. Attendees then enjoyed a guided tour of the impressive venue, followed by socializing with food, drinks, and games.

The committee has an upcoming hard hat tour on Thursday, December 18, at the new CarMax Park in Richmond, VA. The event will be a hard hat tour of what will be the new baseball stadium for the minor league baseball team, The Flying Squirrels. We are coordinating with the YP Committee to plan a YP Social after the tour. The registration for this event can be found HERE. We hope to see you there or at other future events!

The APWA Region III includes the Mid Atlantic, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee Chapters. The Region III Roadeo Planning Committee will plan annual roadeos that will rotate through each Chapter. The inaugural Roadeo will be held on March 19 and 20, 2026 in Knoxville, TN. Each Chapter will provide 4 participants for a total of 20 participants for the first event. This event will have participants competing in events operating both a mini excavator and a backhoe. On March 19th, there will be a welcome social from 7-9 pm, and the Roadeo will be on March 20^th from 8am to noon. Keep an eye out for news on how to participate!

Public works organizations face growing workforce pressures, including accelerated retirements, difficulty recruiting skilled staff, and increasing expectations for rapid knowledge transfer across roles. These challenges place essential institutional knowledge at risk and complicate efforts to maintain consistent performance and operational continuity across programs. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools offer new opportunities to support workforce development by strengthening knowledge capture, enhancing training, and improving the effectiveness of succession planning efforts. AI will never replace public works staff, but it can aid in capturing institutional knowledge from career professions, digitizing data collected by field crews, and automating report generation to help staff be more productive.

Image generated by Denise Nelson using ChatGPT



Modern AI technologies—including intelligent search, document analysis, and automated content generation—can assist agencies in training and developing staff more efficiently. AI systems can help produce training materials, summarize technical guidance for new staff, organize lessons learned from field activities, and support onboarding programs by making historical information more accessible. Results from early applications show improved staff readiness, quicker access to institutional knowledge, and greater continuity during staffing changes. These outcomes point to a future where AI-enabled tools strengthen recruitment and retention by reducing barriers to learning, shortening time-to-competency, and expanding support for mentoring and apprenticeship programs.

The Dutch Dialogues: Coastal Virginia at 10 Years conference, hosted by the APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter, brought together more than 100 leaders from government, academia, business, and nonprofit organizations at the international, national, state, and local levels. The event advanced APWA’s commitment to education, networking, advocacy, and stewardship by fostering a collaborative environment for sharing knowledge and practical solutions in public works and infrastructure resilience.

This tenth-anniversary conference marked a decade of progress since the original Dutch Dialogues in Hampton Roads and created a forum for envisioning the next ten years of coastal adaptation. Over two and a half days, participants explored how design, engineering, policy, and community engagement can align to strengthen the region’s ability to thrive while living with water.

Construction Management Committee Update

Bryan Kirk, Howard County, MD Engineering DPW

This committee meets monthly and is always welcoming new members. They are actively reaching out to neighboring public works construction managers in the Maryland area.



They are coordinating two presentations for APWA. The first one, which may occur in January, is a collaboration with the Baltimore Chapter of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). They proposes to present the benefits of developing defined skills in performing professional construction management tasks. Attendees will gain an understanding of the mission, vision, code of ethics, and standards of practice that CMAA has developed to improve the construction management industry. CMAA has established a rigorous qualification platform for developing essential skills, starting with entry-level management utilizing the CMIT certifications. Enhancement training builds on the CMIT program, allowing mid-level professionals to obtain a CACM credential.

New Time! Click on Image for Details!

Metro DC – Northern Virginia Activities Committee (Metro DCAC) Details

The Metro DCAC area includes Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Page, Prince William, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Stafford, Warren, and Washington, DC. We are beginning to plan APWA member opportunities for not only committee participation, we are also looking to develop informative outreach educational venues in the Metro DC NOVA region. Be sure to look for the upcoming member interest survey. In advance of this survey, should you have ideas for a public works-related tour or operation or a hot topic/theme for an educational venue (workshop-seminar, equipment demonstration, general membership meeting/reception, or lunch-n-learn) contact Erica and let her know of your interest. Erica can be reached at:  erica@associationbuilders.com

Public Works Experience Speaker Series is in Full Swing!

Rachel Ellis

PWE's Speaker Series continued October 29th, with Howard County's Chief of Transportation, Abdul Akbar. With delicious pizza, fine beer made with local tap water, and a great turnout of colleagues, all enjoyed learning about how integrating Complete Streets into the County's Design Manual is making their roads safer for everyone. 

We are also excited to announce an evening of fun and festivities with Baltimore City's Harbormaster, Mike McGeady. Join us to learn what it takes to keep the Harbor safe, vibrant, and accessible for all — plus hear firsthand the latest Sail 250 updates and why having these iconic tall ships in Baltimore’s Harbor is such a special moment for our city. See more information and link to the registration below!

Explore APWA’s Member Advocacy Tools:

• APWA Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Resource page
• APWA Government Affairs LinkedIn
• APWA Government Affairs on X
• 119th Congress Public Policy Priorities and Policymaker Primers
• APWA Washington Report
• Legislative Action Center
• “What is Public Works?”
• Tell Your Story
• Public Works Research

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