Twenty-four Individuals, Nine Utilities Win National Public Power Awards

New Orleans, Louisiana, June 10, 2025 — Twenty-four individuals and nine utilities were recognized for service to the American Public Power Association and the public power industry during APPA’s National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The individuals and utilities recognized at the ceremony were:

Alex Radin Distinguished Service Award
This award is the highest award granted by the American Public Power Association. The award recognizes exceptional leadership and dedication to public power.

Anthony (Tony) Cannon, General Manager/CEO, Greenville Utilities Commission, North Carolina

James D. Donovan Individual Achievement Award
This award recognizes people who have made substantial contributions to the electric utility industry, with a special commitment to public power.

David C. Carroll, CEO, Paducah Power System, Kentucky
Tom Kent, President & CEO, Nebraska Public Power District, Nebraska
Gary D. Miller, General Manager, Bryan Texas Utilities, Texas
Barry Moline, Executive Director – Retired, California Municipal Utilities Association, California
Rick Rigel, General Manager, Arkansas River Power Authority, Colorado

Alan H. Richardson Statesmanship Award
This award recognizes public power leaders who work to achieve consensus on national issues important to public power utilities.

Nicki Fuller, Former Executive Director, Southwestern Power Resources Association
Beatrice "Tricee" Limtiaco, Assistant General Manager – Administration, Guam Power Authority, Guam

Larry Hobart Seven Hats Award
This award recognizes managers of small utilities serving fewer than 2,500 meters. These managers have a very small staff and must assume multiple roles.

Kirk Behrman, Utilities Superintendent, Village of Deshler, Ohio
Chris Komarek, City Administrator, City of Ellinwood, Kansas
Troy Murphy, Director of Public Works, Village of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
Amie Vasichek, City Auditor, Lakota Municipal Utilities, North Dakota
Jason Worwood, Utilities Supervisor, Town of Levan, Utah

Harold Kramer-John Preston Personal Service Award
This award recognizes individuals for their service to the American Public Power Association.

Palma Lough, Member Relations & Training Manager, Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, Oklahoma
Kimberly Schlichting, President & CEO, Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, Delaware
Jacob Williams, General Manager and CEO, Florida Municipal Power Agency, Florida

Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award
This award recognizes elected or appointed local officials who have contributed to the goals of the American Public Power Association.

Todd Barton, Mayor of Crawfordsville, Indiana, Crawfordsville Electric Light & Power, Indiana
Jim Brooks, Municipal Services Committee Chair and City Council Member, Evansville Light & Water Utility and City of Evansville, Wisconsin
Brett Hales, Mayor, Murray City, Utah

Robert E. Roundtree Rising Star Award
This award is a scholarship presented to future leaders in public power. The recipient receives a stipend to travel to an APPA conference or training program to advance their education and development in public power.

Mariana Greene, Public Communication Specialist, New River Light and Power, North Carolina

Mark Crisson Leadership and Managerial Excellence Award
This award recognizes managers at a utility, joint action agency, or state or regional association who steer their organizations to new levels of excellence, lead by example, and inspire staff to do better.

Jennifer Freeman, Electric Director, City of Griffin, Georgia
Roger Kline, General Manager & CEO, Northern Wasco County People's Utility District, Oregon
Ed Liberty, Electric Utility Director, City of Lake Worth Beach, Florida
Edwin Porter, PE, Executive Director of Infrastructure, City of Hamilton, Ohio

E.F. Scattergood System Achievement Award
This award honors American Public Power Association member systems with outstanding accomplishments.

Burbank Water & Power, California
Kissimmee Utility Authority, Florida
Lowell Light & Power, Michigan
City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri

Sue Kelly Community Service Award
This award recognizes utilities for their "good neighbor" activities that demonstrate commitment to the local community.

Conway Corp, Arkansas
Guam Power Authority, Guam
Littleton Electric Light and Water Departments, Massachusetts
Marshfield Utilities, Wisconsin
Tillamook PUD, Oregon

Leadership Essentials Certificate Program Graduates
Debuting in the fall of 2024, this certificate program is held once a year in conjunction with APPA's Education Institute. The curriculum is focused on three key areas: 1) proactive performance coaching, 2) problem identification and decision making, and 3) developing high-performing teams. After completing the in-person coursework, attendees are asked to submit a plan for applying the knowledge they learned to a real issue, challenge, or opportunity at their organization.

Amy Adamy, Public Relations & Marketing Manager, Lansing Board of Water & Light, Michigan
Michael Bixler, Lead Accountant, Snohomish County PUD, Washington
Francisco Matsunaga, Human Resources Manager, Commonwealth Utilities Commission, Northern Mariana Islands
Kristi Northcutt, City Administrator, City of Lindsborg, Kansas
Jackie Randazzo, Communications Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, California
Janelle Rockett, Marketing Manager, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, North Carolina
Halley Roberson, City Manager, City of Beloit, Kansas
Deanna Sparks, Customer Operations Manager, Lansing Board of Water & Light, Michigan
Jacob Swink, Electric Distribution Engineer, Greenville Utilities Commission, North Carolina

Energy Innovator Award
APPA’s research program, Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments (DEED), nurtures innovation in public power. Each year, the program recognizes innovative utility projects with this award.