ICMA’s Local Government Excellence Awards honor creative contributions to professional local government management and increase public awareness of the value of professional management to the quality of life in our communities. The recipients were recognized during ICMA’s 102nd Annual Conference in Kansas City in September.

 

James R. Keene Jr., city manager, Palo Alto, California, received the Award for Career Excellence in Memory of Mark E. Keane, which recognizes an outstanding local government administrator who has enhanced the effectiveness of government officials and consistently initiated creative and successful programs. Keene is described as a thought leader, creative, responsive, natural collaborator, honest, thoughtful and fair.  He is known for his ability to thrive in diverse communities. His lifelong commitment to public service is driven by a passion for sustainability, civic engagement and inclusiveness.

 

Scott J. Bond, assistant chief administrative officer, Sandy City, Utah received the Assistant Excellence in Leadership Award in Memory of Buford M. Watson Jr., which honors a local government management professional who has made significant contributions toward excellence in leadership as an assistant to a chief local government administrator or department head. Bond supervised a wide range of functions and staff, including risk management and litigation, facilities, city recorder,  justice court, human resources, community events, and office support and interns. Chief among his attributes are his analytic and decision-making skills and ability to work with all types of individuals.

 

Brenda W. Eivens, city manager, Cedar Park, Texas, received the Award for Career Development in Memory of L.P. Cookingham, which goes to an outstanding local government administrator who has made a significant contribution to the career development of new talent in professional local government management. As more and more experienced executives retire from local government, Eivens is preparing the next generation to step into their shoes.  She teaches aspiring government professionals at the University of Texas, Austin and is especially keen on nurturing women and minorities so the professional government management profession will better reflect the community served.

 

Dr. Chester A. Newland, senior professor of public administration, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, California, received the Academic Award in Memory of Stephen B. Sweeney. This award is presented to an academic leader or institution that has made a significant contribution to the formal education of students pursuing careers in local government. During his career, Newland has helped to establish MPA/MPP programs at three universities. He is described as a teacher of teachers, mentor, advocate, and thought leader on the role of the professional public administrator in advancing democratic principles and good governance.

 

Monica S. Irelan, city manager, Napoleon, Ohio, received the Award for Early Career Leadership in Memory of William H. Hansell Jr.  The award recognizes an outstanding early-career local government professional who has demonstrated leadership, competency and commitment to local government as a profession.  In the two years since she has become Napoleon’s manager, she has built trust and healed relations between appointed officials and the city council, as well as improved morale among employees and strengthened the city’s organizational structure.  She is a fair and consistent boss and communicates with employees through appropriate channels.

More information is available on all five of the Professional Award recipients in the ICMA 2016 Awards Booklet. 

Each year, ICMA confers awards in four program and five professional excellence categories. Nominations will be accepted beginning in early January for the 2017 program, and awards will be conferred during ICMA’s 103rd Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas; October 22-25, 2017. Questions should be directed to Felicia Littky, awards program manager, to flittky@icma.org or 202/962-3656.