2023 APGA Award Winners

Each year APGA presents awards to recognize individuals within our organization who have gone above and beyond to represent the interests of APGA and public gas. 


Our 2023 APGA Award Winners will be announced during the 2023 APGA Annual Conference:

  • J. Hardie Johnston Service Award
  • Harry M. Cooke Personal Service Award
  • Personal Achievement Award
  • Next Generation Employee Achievement Award
  • Community Service Award
  • Excellence In Environmental Stewardship Award
  • Distinguished Service Award
  • APGA Research Foundation (RF) Distinguished Service Award
  • Communications & Marketing Awards
  • Safety Management Excellence Award
  • System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award Winners
  • Safety Contest Winners

J. HARDIE JOHNSTON SERVICE AWARD

This recognition is given to individuals who are retiring after serving at least 25 years in the natural gas industry and have been active as an APGA public gas system member representative.

Congratulations to... Tommy Bible, Jefferson-Cocke County Utility District, Newport, TN; Sam Davis, Lake Apopka Natural Gas District, Winter Garden, FL; Mike Frey, Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia, Kennesaw, GA; Kelly Lady, Austin Utilities, MN; and, Rich Worsinger, City of Wilson – Wilson Energy, NC
.

HARRY M. COOKE PERSONAL SERVICE AWARD


This award is given to individuals who have made substantial contributions toward the goals of APGA and the natural gas industry, and who are employees of an APGA associate or joint action agency member.

Congratulations to... Jon Beam, Equipment Controls Company, Norcross, GA
.

PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD


This award is given to individuals who have made substantial contributions toward the goals of APGA and the natural gas industry, and who are employees of an APGA public gas system member.

Congratulations to... Steve Squibb, City Utilities of Springfield, MO
.

NEXT GENERATION EMPLOYEE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD


This award recognizes an individual under 35 years or younger and has made substantial contributions toward the goals of their utility, APGA, and the natural gas industry.  

Congratulations to... Amanda Gallagher, York County Natural Gas Authority, Rock Hill, SC

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD


The award recognizes is an APGA public gas system member on an annual basis in recognition of the accomplishments of the gas system and its employees to improving and enhancing the quality of life of the community it serves.

Congratulations to... Austin Utilities, MN

EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD


This award recognizes an APGA public gas system member that demonstrates excellence in their commitment to environmental stewardship.

Congratulations to... City of Ellensburg, WA

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD


This award is given to individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty for APGA, their community and the natural gas industry, and have a long record of such commitment.

Congratulations to... John Olshefski, Huntsville Utilities, AL

.

APGA RESEARCH FOUNDATION DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD


This award is in recognition of outstanding public service, devotion to duty, contribution to the natural gas industry, and exemplifying the highest ideals in the promotion and administration of natural gas research, development, and commercialization among and for publicly owned natural gas systems

Congratulations to... Steve Squibb, City Utilities of Springfield, MO

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING AWARD


This award recognizes APGA public gas system members who have worked hard over the past year to 
communicate to their customers and market natural gas in their communities. Congratulations to... 

  • 1st Place: York County Natural Gas Authority, Rock Hill, SC for Safe Digging Month Campaign & Contest 
  • 2nd Place: York County Natural Gas Authority, Rock Hill, SC for Natural Gas Home Realtor Ad
  • 3rd Place: Knoxville Utilities Board, TN for KUB Natural Gas Growth

.

SAFETY MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE AWARD


This award is given to an APGA member system that consistently operates at the highest safety levels, clearly establishing the system as an achiever of excellence in the field of Safety Management.

Congratulations to...
York County Natural Gas Authority, Rock Hill, SC 

2023 SOAR WINNERS

SOAR applicants are awarded a rating based on a total cumulative score of points achieved from criteria in the areas of system integrity, system improvement, employee safety, and workforce development. There are three SOAR recognition levels: Bronze (80-89% of possible points), Silver (90-96% of possible points), and Gold (97-100% of possible points). SOAR status continues for three years. Congratulations to…

Gold

  • Wilson Energy, NC
  • Huntsville Utilities, AL
  • Chambersburg Gas Department, PA
  • City of Tallahassee, FL
  • Powell Clinch Utility District (PCUD), TN

Silver

  • City of Ellensburg, WA
  • City of Covington, GA
  • Gibson County Utility District, TN
  • Greer Commission of Public Works, SC
  • Philadelphia Gas Works, PA
  • Westfield Gas & Electric, MA
  • Watertown Municipal Utilities, SD
  • Pensacola Energy, FL
  • Norwich Public Utilities, CT
  • City of Hamilton, OH
  • Richmond Gas Works, VA

Bronze

  • Okaloosa Gas District, FL
  • Scottsboro Water, Sewer & Gas Board, AL
  • City of Kings Mountain, NC
  • Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light, MA
  • Middleborough Gas & Electric Department, MA
  • Fayette Gas Board, AL
  • Easton Utilities, MD
  • Holyoke Gas & Electric Department, MA
  • Smyrna Natural Gas, TN

SAFETY CONTEST AWARD WINNERS


Congratulations to all 32 winners of the 2023 APGA Safety Contest! These gas systems highlight the dedication of APGA members in maintaining the highest safety standards within their system, their communities, and in the natural gas industry. Among the winning systems, Scottsboro Water, Sewer & Gas Board, AL and the City of Hamilton, OH will be receiving an award for meeting the criteria to win the safety contest five years in a row. In addition, the Borough of Chambersburg, PA will be receiving an award for meeting the criteria 10 years in a row. And the City of Americus Natural Gas Department, GA will receive an award for meeting the criteria 30 years in a row! These are remarkable achievements and serve the entire industry by exemplifying what it means to set and maintain high performance and safety standards. Congratulations to…

2023 GROUP A WINNING SYSTEMS  (≤8,001 HOURS)
• Town of Rangely Gas, CO
 
2023 GROUP B WINNING SYSTEMS  (8,001 – 18,000 HOURS)
• City of Vernon Public Utilities, CA
• City of Fort Morgan, CO
• City of Americus Natural Gas Department, GA (30 Year Award Winner)
• Fort Valley Utility Commission, GA
• City of Orange City, IA
• City of Ellensburg, WA
 
2023 GROUP C WINNING SYSTEMS (18,001 – 38,000 HOURS)
• Scottsboro Water, Sewer & Gas  Board, AL (5 Year Award Winner)
• City of Covington, GA
• Winder Natural Gas Department, GA
• Coon Rapids Municipal Utilities, IA
• Owatonna Public Utilities, MN
• Borough of Chambersburg, PA (10 Year Award Winner)
 
2023 GROUP D WINNING SYSTEMS (38,001 – 70,000 HOURS)
• Decatur Utilities, AL
• Riviera Utilities, AL
• City of Tallahassee Gas Utility, FL
• City of Wilson - Wilson Energy, NC
• Chester County Natural Gas Authority, SC
• Laurens Commission of Public Works, SC
• Paris-Henry County Public Utility District, TN
• City of Boerne Utilities, TX
 
2023 GROUP E WINNING SYSTEMS (OVER 70,001 HOURS)
• City of Mesa, AZ
• Lake Apopka Natural Gas District, FL
• Lawrenceville Natural Gas, GA
• Midwest Energy Inc., KS
• City Utilities of Springfield, MO
• City of Hamilton, OH (5 Year Award Winner)
• York County Natural Gas Authority, SC
• Jackson Energy Authority, TN
• Jefferson-Cocke County Utility District, TN
• Knoxville Utilities Board, TN
• CPS Energy, TX

Questions?

If you have any questions on this event, please contact us!

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