Individual Leadership and Utility Services Awards

APPA member utilities with outstanding achievements are honored through this award, initiated in 1959. The award is a tribute to E.F. Scattergood of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, who played an important part in the association’s formation and served as president in 1947.

Eligibility

A public power utility that is a member of the American Public Power Association and that has not received APPA’s system achievement award in the past five years is eligible.

Criteria

The nominated utility should be able to demonstrate achievements or sustained performance that made a difference in the community, improved service to the customers, and enhanced the profile of public power.

This award is named after the longtime public power advocate and APPA president & CEO from 2014 to 2019. It was established in 1990 and recognizes a public power utility for good neighbor activities that demonstrate the utility’s commitment to the community.

Eligibility

A public power utility that is a member of the American Public Power Association and that has not received APPA’s community service award in the past five years is eligible.

Criteria

The nominated utility should be able to demonstrate its commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the community through activities that address a community need; improve the community’s social, cultural, educational, or economic environment; and provide opportunities for utility employees to be involved.

This award, initiated in 1953, was the first major award given by APPA. It was renamed in 1986 for Alex Radin, who was APPA's executive director from 1951 to 1986. It is the highest award granted by the Association and is bestowed in recognition of exceptional leadership in and dedication to public power.

Eligibility

Any official of a public power utility that is a member of the American Public Power Association and has been active in APPA for at least ten years. Current officers of APPA's Board of Directors are not eligible until their terms have expired. Officers are defined as chair, immediate past chair, chair-elect, vice chair, and treasurer.

Criteria

Nominees should

• Have demonstrated leadership and made contributions to public power locally and nationally.
• Be recognized as leaders among their peers.
• Exemplify the highest ideals and finest traditions in management.
• Have made contributions to the betterment of their community, region, and the nation.

This award honors James D. Donovan of Kansas City, Kan., one of the founders of APPA and its first president. It was initiated in 1959 and recognizes those who have made great individual contributions to the electric utility industry and to public power.

Eligibility

An employee at any level of a public power utility, joint action agency, or state or regional association — that is a member of the American Public Power Association — who has actively contributed to the industry for at least five years.

Criteria

Nominees should have contributed to the electric utility industry and especially to public power through their achievements or sustained performance.

This award was named for Alan H. Richardson, who served APPA for 30 years, 12 as President & CEO. It recognizes public power leaders who work successfully and tirelessly on APPA’s behalf, forging consensus on national issues that achieve public power’s goals

Eligibility

An employee at any level of a public power utility, joint action agency, or state or regional association — that is a member of the American Public Power Association — who has actively participated in APPA activities for at least five years.

Criteria

Nominees should have

• Demonstrated leadership.
• Played a major role in developing consensus on public power’s policy positions and goals (legislative or regulatory).
• Earned recognition from their peers for strengthening APPA’s identity and credibility.
• Made substantial contributions to the policy process on behalf of public power and APPA.

This award was initiated in 1966 to recognize utility managers who serve in the nation’s smaller communities and whose variety of management responsibilities extends well beyond those of a manager at a larger utility with a larger staff. It was renamed in 1995 to honor Larry Hobart, who worked for APPA for 35 years and was executive director from 1986 to 1995.

Eligibility

A superintendent or manager (who has been in the position for at least five years) of a public power utility that serves 2,500 or fewer electric meters and that is a member of the American Public Power Association.

Criteria

Nominees have contributed in the following seven areas of utility operations and management

• Planning and design
• Administration
• Public relations
• Field supervision
• Accounting
• Human resources
• Community leadership

In 1959, APPA initiated this award in honor of Harold Kramer of Loup River Public Power District, Columbus, Neb., who played a leading role in the formation of APPA and served as its first executive secretary and general manager from 1941 to mid-1942. In 1969, the APPA Board of Directors changed this award to also honor John Preston of Loup River Public Power District, first vice president of APPA. This award recognizes service to APPA.

Eligibility

An employee at any level of a public power utility, joint action agency, or state or regional association — that is a member of the American Public Power Association — who has actively participated in APPA for at least five years.

Criteria

Nominees should have made a substantial contribution toward:

• Advancing APPA’s goals and priorities, or
• Enhancing APPA’s national prestige.

This award was initiated in 1984 to recognize personal service to APPA by elected and appointed officials. It honors Spence Vanderlinden of Harlan, Iowa, first chair of the APPA Policymakers Council.

Eligibility

Any elected or appointed member of a public power utility policy board or commission — where the utility is a member of the American Public Power Association — or the mayor of a public power community, who has actively participated in APPA for at least five years.

Criteria

Nominees should have made substantial contributions

• Toward advancing APPA's goals.
• Toward enhancing APPA’s national prestige.
• To their public power communities.

This award honors retired City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., CEO Robert E. Roundtree for his more than 50 years of service to public power. This award was established in 2003 and 
includes a $2,000 scholarship, covering tuition and expenses for the winner to attend any APPA-sponsored program.

Eligibility

Any employee of an APPA member public power utility that is a subdivision of state or local government who has been employed for five or fewer years in his/her current position is eligible.

Criteria

Nominees should

• Be recognized within their utility as future leaders.
• Have demonstrated a dedication to the goals and principles of public power.
• Be problem solvers, known for creativity, job knowledge, and leadership.
• Have performed all job responsibilities in an outstanding manner.
• Achieved significant results.
• Have demonstrated interest in improving management and operational skills through continuing education.

This award is named after the longtime public power leader who served as APPA president & CEO from 2007 to 2014. It recognizes managers at any level of an APPA member utility, joint action agency, or state or regional association who bring their organizations to new levels of excellence, lead by example, and inspire their employees and staff to improve processes, services, and operations.

Eligibility

A manager at any level of a public power utility, joint action agency, or state or regional association – that is a member of the American Public Power Association – who has been with their organization for at least five years.

Criteria

Nominees should

• Have demonstrated the capacity to empower and inspire employees to achieve common goals.
• Be recognized as an innovative leader who guides employees and organizations to demonstrated success.
• Have raised the performance of the employees and organizations to a higher standard.