Post Date: March 16, 2026

National Academy of Public Administration, LocalGov250 Announce 250 Champions Honorees

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Academy of Public Administration and LocalGov250 are pleased to announce the honorees for their 250 Champions Initiative.

“There are many leaders working in government across the country who are deserving of recognition, and this year marks an especially important time for our country to honor them. These 250 Champions are truly special and make a difference in our everyday lives,” said James-Christian Blockwood, President & CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration. “We look forward to celebrating all of them, and hope this inspires future public servants and the American people.”

The 250 Champions include a diverse range of public servants. From the Fire Chief of Ithaca, New York to a meter reader in Illinois, to a sustainability coordinator in Wisconsin, our 250 Champions represent government at its best. Each person listed has earned recognition by going above and beyond, showing excellence in public service, and inspiring those around them. They have each been nominated by a peer or fellow in public administration.

“250 Champions is an outstanding opportunity to recognize the important role of local government in implementing democracy every day,” said Wally Bobkiewicz, city administrator of Issaquah, WA and selection committee member of Local Gov 250. “A key element of the initiative has been to recognize all the professions that make local government work, from librarians to police officers, engineers to recreation leaders. Local Gov 250 has brought together all these professions to celebrate the impacts of our collective work.”

The Local Gov 250 Coalition and the National Academy of Public Administration reviewed hundreds of submissions from all 50 states as well as Washington D.C. and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This honor highlights government workers across the country, from mayor’s offices to public works departments, parks and recreation, public health, libraries, and so much more. The 250 Champions were selected and notified of their awards in early March.

To be eligible for the award, honorees must be currently working as a government employee or recently retired within the last ten years and exemplify the highest standards of service to the public.

The 250 Champions will be honored at an event preceding the ICMA National Conference in Philadelphia May 12, 2026.

About the National Academy of Public Administration

Established in 1967 and chartered by Congress, the National Academy of Public Administration is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that helps government leaders solve the nation’s most critical management challenges. With more than 1,000 Fellows—including former cabinet officials, governors, mayors, and scholars—the Academy advances excellence in public administration through research, advisory services, and thought leadership.

Learn more at www.napawash.org

250 Champions Honorees:

Alabama

David L. Albright, PhD, DCH Board Member, DCH Health System, AL

Kelli Bentley, Human Resource Director, Anniston Water Works and Sewer Board, AL

Laura Hall, Representative, Alabama House of Representatives, AL

Lee Perryman, Former Sylacauga City Councilman, Sylacauga City Council, AL

Alaska

Neil Stichert, Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Program Manager, Alaska Region 10, U.S. Forest Service, AK

Arizona

Bobby Yu, Supervising Deputy County Attorney, Business Transactions and Land Use Unit, Pima County Attorney's Office, AZ

Brian Johnson, Pima County Treasurer, Pima County Government, AZ

George Flores, Retired, City of Buckeye, AZ

Jan Lesher, Pima County Administrator, Pima County, AZ

Joseph David Young, City Attorney, City of Prescott, AZ

Kate Gallego, Mayor, City of Phoenix, AZ

Lisa Garcia, Deputy Town Manager/Town Clerk, Town of Florence, AZ

Mary Cameli, Chief, City of Mesa Fire and Medical Department, AZ

Sara Rinfret, Professor and Director of Public Administration, Northern Arizona University, AZ

Scott Somers, Vice Mayor, Mesa City Council, AZ

Shannon Portillo, Director and Coor Presidential Chair School of Public Affairs Watts College of Public Service Arizona State University, ASU, AZ

Arkansas

Dr. Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, Dean of the Clinton School of Public Service, University of Arkansas, AR

California

Alexander Fung, Economic Development Manager, City of Eastvale, CA

Bina Lefkovitz, Trustee, Sacramento County Board of Education and President, Association of the California County Boards of Education, CA

Brian Mohan, City Manager, City of Moreno Valley, CA

Clement Lau, FAICP, Policy Advisor, County of Los Angeles Chief Sustainability Office, CA

Dennis Kauffman, Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer, City of Roseville, CA

Eric Palmer, Senior Communications Coordinator, ReGen Monterey (Monterey Regional Waste Management District), CA

Jaime Moore, Fire Chief, Los Angeles Fire Department, CA

Jennifer Contini, Chief Assistant City Attorney, City of Anaheim, CA

John Gioia, County Supervisor, Contra Costa County, CA

Jon Givner, Chief Assistant City Attorney, City and County of San Francisco, CA

Juliana Lucchesi, Assistant City Manager, City of Yreka, CA

Magda Gonzalez, Retired, City of Half Moon Bay, CA

Mercy Santoro, Deputy Director, Parks and Recreation, County of Los Angeles, CA

Patrice Chamberlain, Health Equity and Emergency Planning Specialist, CA Dept. of Public Health, CA

Patricia Martel, West Coast Regional Director, ICMA, CA

Rivkah Sass, CEO Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento Public Library, CA

Stephen W. Griswold III, Assistant General Manager, Town of Discovery Bay, CA

Colorado

Brandy Reitter, Executive Director, Colorado Broadband Office, Governor’s Office of Information Technology, CO

Brooke Spain, Community Events Manager, Town of Parker, CO

Casey Brown, Lead Workforce Specialist, City and County of Broomfield, CO

Jim Golden, Chief Financial Officer, City of Longmont, CO

Jordan Reif, Assistant City Attorney III, City of Loveland, CO

Kathleen E. Hodgson, City Manager, City of Lakewood, CO

Yvonne Fischbach, Executive Director, Hyland Hills Parks & Recreation District, CO

Connecticut

Dr. Mohamad Alkadry, Professor & School Director of the School of Public Policy, University of Connecticut, CT

Delaware

Amy Marasco, Mayor, City of Lewes, DE

Paul Baumbach, Former Delaware State Representative, State of Delaware General Assembly, DE

District of Columbia

Clarence E. Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities, DC

Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, U.S. Government Accounting Office, DC

Jehan Pitt, Congressional Fellow, United States House of Representatives Democratic Leader, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, DC

John A. Donnelly, Sr., Fire and EMS Chief, Washington DC Fire and EMS Department, DC

Nina Albert, Deputy Mayor, Planning and Economic Development, DC Government, DC

Shenita McConis, PE, PMP, AICP, Master Planner, PPAID, Installation Readiness Branch, USACE Headquarters, DC

Vince Micone, Former Acting Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations, U.S. Department of Labor, DC

Florida

Alexander Diaz, Town Manager, Town of Golden Beach, FL

Aneisha Daniel, Ph.D., Director/CEO of Department of Solid Waste Management, Miami Dade County, FL

Bryce Fehringer, Urban Planner, Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency, FL

Byron W. Brooks, County Administrator, Orange County Government - Orange County, FL

Carlos Baia, City Manager, City of Temple Terrace, FL

Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor, Miami-Dade County, FL

Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manager, Bal Harbour Village, FL

Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Pinellas County Government, FL

Leon Pinder, Director of Public Works & Support Services, City of West Palm Beach, City of West Palm Beach, FL

Otto Drozd III, Executive Secretary, Fire Chief (Ret.), Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association NFPA, FL

Dr. Philip C. Harris, D.B.A., MEDP, Director of Economic Development, City of Greenacres, FL

Tarik Rahmani, CFO/Interim Deputy City Manager, City of North Miami Beach, FL

Georgia

Amy Martin, Senior Planner, City of Valdosta, GA

Angela Bowers, Director of Disability Access and ADA Compliance, City of Atlanta- Mayor’s Office, GA

Bill Bruton, Jr., City Manager, City of Marietta, GA

Cheryl R. Small, EdD, Deputy Director of the Fulton County Library System with focus on Youth Services and Community Engagement, Fulton County, GA

Dr. Joe Pennino, Deputy City Administrator, City of Roswell, GA

John Amos Ward III, County Manager, Walton County, GA

Lisa Y. Benjamin, Partner, Lexicon Strategies; former Chief Operating Officer, City of Atlanta, GA

Monica Callahan, Planning & Development Director, City of Madison, GA

Sarah Huffman, Assistant Director of Human Resources and Risk Management, City of Rome, GA

Hawaii

Suzanne Vares-Lum, President, East-West Center, HI

Idaho

Debbie Geyer, City Clerk, City of Caldwell, ID

Illinois

Adam Szalkowski, Assistant Fleet Division Manager, City of St. Charles, IL

Christine Jones, Village Clerk, RMC, CMC – Village of Burlington, Illinois

Dr. Shami Goyal, Chief Medical Officer, Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, IL

Ghida S. Neukirch, City Manager, City of Highland Park, IL

Jeremy Barkei, Assistant Director of Public Works, City of Batavia, IL

Leonel B. Jaramillo, Economic Development Navigator, City of Kankakee - Economic and Community Development Agency (ECDA), IL

Molly Talkington, Director of Finance, The City of Rolling Meadows, IL

Nina Westhoff, Meter Reader, City of St. Charles, IL

Patsy Diaz, Cultural Liaison, Chicago Park District, IL

Phil Kiraly, Village Manager, Village of Glencoe, IL

Phillip Green, AICP, Transportation & Long Range Planner, Village of Hoffman Estates, IL

Richard Reinbold, Village President, Village of Richton Park, IL

Tim McMahon, Bureau Chief for Federal Affairs, Illinois Department of Transportation, IL

William (Paul) Hopkins, Retired, Public Works Manager – Electric Services, City of St. Charles, IL

Indiana

Dan Huge, Public Finance Director, State of Indiana, IN

Ernest Malone, Fire Chief, City of Indianapolis Fire Department, IN

Linda Pride Thompson, Senior Environmental Planner (Retired), City of Bloomington Planning & Transportation Department, IN

Iowa

Jeffrey Pomeranz, City Manager, Cedar Rapids, IA

Sara Kurovski, Mayor, City of Pleasant Hill, IA

Kansas

Maddy Campbell, Supervisor of the Office of Community Engagement, City of Wichita, KS

Robert Layton, Retired, City Manager, City of Wichita, KS

Taylor Eubanks, CEO, BlendHQ (Blend Systems Inc.), KS

Kentucky

Jonathan Joseph, Teacher and Councilman, Jefferson County Public Schools & Louisville Metro Council, KY

Tyler Morton, Council Member, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, KY

Louisiana

Kate Hoadley, Chief of Staff, Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice Coordination, City of New Orleans, LA

Maryland

Ericka Rohrbaugh, Manager of Opportunity and Transformation, City of Frederick, MD

Gayon Sampson, Chief of Staff, City of Frederick, MD

James R. Benjamin, Jr. Esquire, County Attorney, Baltimore County Government, MD

Michael Ettlinger, Senior Fellow, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, MD

Sara Gross, Chief, Affirmative Litigation Division, Baltimore City Law Department, MD

Shamiah Kerney, Deputy City Administrator, City of Baltimore, MD

Stacy L. Rodgers, Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor, University of Baltimore College of Public Affairs, Schaefer Center for Public Policy, MD

Tanisha Briley, City Manager, City of Gaithersburg, MD

Tiffany Davis, Director of Emerging Initiatives & Alumni Programs, Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University, MD

Trisha L. Wolford, Fire Chief, Anne Arundel County Fire Department; President, International Association of Fire Chiefs, MD

Zeke Cohen, Baltimore City Council President, Baltimore City Council, MD

Massachusetts

Bran Shim, Senior Advisor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, MA

Linda Dunlavy, Executive Director, Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), MA

Melissa Termine Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Town of Lexington, MA

Michael Herbert, Town Manager, Town of Ashland, MA

Michelle Wu, Mayor, City of Boston, MA

Michigan

Courtney Pendleton, Chief Operating Officer, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, MI

Danielle Mahoney, Assistant City Manager, City of Novi, MI

Dr. Ladel Lewis, 2nd Ward Flint City Councilwoman, City of Flint, MI

Jane Bais DiSessa, Retired, City of Lansing, MI

Mark Wollenweber, Retired, Various, MI

Marlon Brown, Director, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, MI

Rhonda I. Ricketts, Finance Officer and Treasurer (Retired), Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, MI

Minnesota

Cory Kampf, Chief Financial Officer, Anoka County, MN

Daniel R. Buchholtz, Administrator, Clerk/Treasurer, City of Spring Lake Park, MN

Zach Walker, City Manager, City of Bloomington, MN

Missouri

Brooklyn Wasser, Director of Business Opportunities, Missouri Department of Economic Development, MO

David Warm, Executive Director, Mid-America Regional Council, MO

Josh Henges, Chief Impact Officer: Unhoused Solutions, City of Kansas City, MO

Kim Nakahodo, Deputy City Administrator, City of North Kansas City, MO

Marlene Nagel, Director of the Office of Resource Development, Mid-America Regional Council, MO

Matthew Gigliotti, City Attorney, City of Kansas City, MO

Tammy Queen, Assistant City Manager, City of Kansas City, MO

Mississippi

Toby Barker, Mayor, City of Hattiesburg, MS

Montana

Donna Gaukler, Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Missoula, MT

Nebraska

Chris Anderson, City Administrator, City of Central City, NE

Heather Buller, Recreation Director, City of La Vista, NE

Nevada

Jeff Dorocak, City Attorney, City of Las Vegas, NV

Kelvin Watson, Executive Director, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, NV

Michon R. Eben, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, NV

Stephanie Garcia-Vause, City Manager/CEO, City of Henderson, NV

New Jersey

David G. Brown, II, Town Manager, Township of Ocean, NJ

Justin A. Riggs, Deputy City Manager, City of Cape May, NJ

Kerry-Anne Henry, Assistant Director, New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ Office of Housing, NJ

LaKeesha Eure, Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, City of Newark, NJ

Matt von der Hayden, Township Administrator, Stafford Township, NJ

Sivaraman Anbarasan, Council At-Large, Township of Franklin, Somerset County, NJ

Stacey Flanagan, Director of Health and Human Service, City of Jersey City, NJ

New Mexico

Pamela S. Hyde, Ret (2021), SAMHSA, State of New Mexico, State of Ohio, NM

New York

Carol A. Sheibley, Deputy Mayor, Gowanda Recreation Commission, Gowanda Fire Department, Village of Gowanda, NY

David Galin, Chief of Staff to State Senator Erik Bottcher, NY & Former Chief of Staff to Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, NY

Dr. Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Director, Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), City of Ithaca, NY

Emily Dove, Firefighter, Ithaca Fire Department, NY

Greggory Houck, CPRP, Director, Ithaca Youth Bureau, City of Ithaca, NY

Jacob Crawford, Town Councilman, Town of Guilderland, NY

Jared M. Kraham, Mayor, City of Binghamton, NY

Joshua Webster, Senior Code Inspector, City of Ithaca, Building Division, NY

Megan Wilson, Deputy Director of Planning & Development, City of Ithaca, Planning Department, NY

Mike Moody, Fire Chief, Ithaca Fire Department, NY

Nantasha Williams, Represents the 27th district, New York City Council, NY

Sarah Potwin, Executive Library Director, City of Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls Public Library, NY

Sean Maguire, Executive Director, Albany County Land Bank Corporation, NY

Steve Noble, Mayor, City of Kingston, NY

Thomas Roach, Mayor, City of White Plains, NY

Victor Kessler, City Attorney, City of Ithaca, NY

William Brazill, Mayor, Village of Minoa, NY

William J Aiello, Mayor, City of Olean, NY

North Carolina

Anca Grozav, Chief Deputy State Budget Director, North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, NC

Anna Snyder, Assistant Director, Wayne County Public Library, NC

Dave Cuddeback, EMS Director, County of Wayne, NC

E.B. Borden Parker, County Attorney (Retired and now named County Attorney Emeritus), Wayne County, NC

Jennifer Bryson Robinson, Former Elected Official, Town of Cary, Central Pines Regional Council, NC

Kimberly McGuire, Social Services Director, County of Wayne, NC

Lee Worsley, Executive Director, Central Pines Regional Council, NC

Perry James, Senior Consultant/CFO, North Carolina League of Municipalities/City of Raleigh, NC

Sue Schwartz, FAICP, President, Board of Directors, American Planning Association and former Executive Director of Planning, City of Greensboro, NC

North Dakota

Corbin Dickerson, Assistant City Attorney, City of Minot, ND

Nancy Horst, Legal Administrative Assistant, City of Minot, ND

Northern Mariana Islands

Erlinda C. Naputi, Library Director, Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, MP

Ohio

Carla Williams-Scott, Senior Manager for Strategic Partnerships and Community Outreach, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at The Ohio State University, OH

Darnell Brown, Retired Chief Operating Officer, City of Cleveland, OH

Jeanine Hummer, First Assistant and Chief Counsel, Prosecuting Attorney, Civil Division, Franklin County, Ohio Prosecutor's Office, OH, Shayla D. Favor Prosecuting Attorney, OH

Katherine Keough-Jurs, Director, City of Cincinnati, Department of City Planning and Engagement, OH

Katie Eviston, Finance Director, City of Springfield, OH

Tom Lindsey, Worthington Law Director, The City of Worthington, OH

Oklahoma

Brenda Hall, City Clerk (Retired), City of Norman, OK

Oregon

Brian Kennedy, Chief Financial Officer, Metro, OR

Leslie Goodlow, Equity and Business Operations Manager, Portland Housing Bureau, OR

Ruth Osuna, Retired, Deputy County Administrator, Washington County, OR

Sarah Medary, City Manager (Retired), City of Eugene (1996 - 2025), OR

Tanya Ange, County Administrator, Washington County, OR

Pennsylvania

Adam K. Thiel, Managing Director, City of Philadelphia, PA

Amrinder Singh, Director of Licenses & Inspections / Chief Building Official, Upper Darby Township, PA

Danene Sorace, Mayor, City of Lancaster, PA

Dwight Boddorf, Borough Manager, Tarentum Borough, PA

Jeffrey Stonehill, Manager/Dir of Utilities, Chambersburg Borough, PA

Matthew Popek, Transportation Planning Manager and Planning Commission Chairperson, Montgomery County Planning Commission (MCPC) and Upper Merion Township, PA

Milzy Carrasco, Director of Neighborhood Engagement, City of Lancaster, PA

Tom Stanuikynas, DVRPC Board Chair and Burlington County, NJ, Supervising Planner, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, PA

South Carolina

John David Gilreath, Jr., PE, Assistant County Administrator, Infrastructure and Regulation Division, Horry County Government, SC

Shannon Todd, Assistant County Administrator - Administration Division, Horry County Government, SC

Steven Gibson, Deputy City Manager, City of Rock Hill, SC

Tennessee

Kelley Blevins Baker, Deputy City Attorney, City of Murfreesboro, TN

Micah Wood, Town Administrator and Town Planner, Town of Thompson's Station, TN

Texas

Alan Bojorquez, City Attorney of the City of Buda / Managing Attorney, Bojorquez Law Firm, PC, TX

Andrea Bottiglieri, Mayor’s Fitness Council Coordinator, City of San Antonio, TX

Anna Mesa-Zendt, Transportation Planning Administrator, City of El Paso, TX

Austin Bleess, City Manager, City of Jersey Village, TX

Bassil Ally, Assistant City Attorney V, City of Austin, City Attorney's Office, TX

Chuck Wemple, Executive Director, Houston-Galveston Area Council, TX

David Fields, FAICP, Deputy Director, Capital Planning, Harris County Precinct One, Harris County, TX

David Gray, Director, City of Austin, TX

Dawn Steil, City Secretary, City of Terrell, TX

Demi Engman, Director of Planning and Community Development, City of Beaumont, TX

Denish Simon, Director of Neighborhood Services, City of Terre, TX

Dr. Michael Evans, Mayor, City of Mansfield, TX

James Wansley, Mayor, City of Whitehouse, TX

Lashondra Holmes Stringfellow, AICP, Assistant Director, Development Services (Zoning & Design Review), City of Fort Worth, TX

Melanie Morales, Operations Strategist, Communications & Engagement, City of San Antonio, TX

Michael Garcia, Assistant to the City Manager/Grant Writer, City of Del Rio, TX

Olivera Jankovska, Director of Education & Youth Engagement, City of Houston, TX

Opal Mauldin-Jones, City Manager, City of Lancaster, TX

Rick Weise, Assistant City Manager, City of San Angelo, TX

Rolando Fernandez, Jr., Deputy Director, Austin Convention Center, City of Austin, TX

Scott Houston, Intergovernmental Relations Manager, Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool, TX

Shenequa Crockett, Community Connector - Strategic Partnerships, City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department, City of Dallas, TX

TC Broadnax, City Manager, City of Austin, TX

Veronica Briseño, Retired, City of Austin, TX

Veronica Campbell, Purchasing Agent, Canutillo Independent School District, TX

Veronica A. Carrillo, Assistant Director of Finance (Retired), City of San Antonio, TX

Utah

Dawn R. Ramsey, Mayor of South Jordan, South Jordan City, UT

Chief Levi Hughes, Unified Police Department, Kearns Precinct, UT

Mike Winder, City Manager, City of Millcreek, UT

Vermont

Justin Johnson, Partner, MMR, VT

Virginia

Brian Boucher, Deputy Director of Community Development, Town of Leesburg, VA

Christopher D. Hively, Town Manager, Town of Culpeper, VA

Dr. David Bray, Previously Executive Director for two Successful Bipartisan Commissions, now Chair of the Accelerator at the Stimson Center & Distinguished Fellow, VA

Elizabeth McDonald, Director of Public Utilities, Goochland County, VA

India Adams-Jacobs, Town Manager, Town of Bowling Green, VA

John S. Butler, Fire Chief, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, VA

Washington

David Goldman, Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director, City of Oak Harbor, WA

Yuri Hattersley, Performance and Process Analyst, City of Bellevue, WA

West Virginia

Jan Rader, Director - Mayor's Council on Public Health and Drug Control Policy, Huntington, WV

Wisconsin

Andy Pederson, Village Manager, Village of Bayside, WI

Becky McCright, Full-Time Lead Fire Science Faculty, Madison Area Technical College, WI

Gabriel Saiz, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Madison, WI

Jennifer Garrett, Deputy Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, WI

Natalie Erdman, Director of Planning, Community and Economic Development, City of Madison, WI

Stephen Nick, City Attorney, City of Eau Claire, WI

Wendy Grant, Facility Coordinator/Office Manager, City of Baraboo Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Department, WI

Wyoming

Chad Brush, Fire Chief, Camp Guernsey Fire Department, WY