SANTA ANA, CA – Orange County Public Works (OCPW) was recently awarded re-accreditation from the American Public Works Association (APWA), which recognizes public works agencies that go beyond the requirements of the management practices established nationally in the public works industry.
The purpose of the accreditation program is to provide a means of formally verifying and recognizing public works agencies for compliance with the recommended practices set forth in the Public Works Management Practices Manual. OCPW’s re-accreditation indicates the department continues to successfully enact concepts of improvement and in-depth self-assessment of department policies, procedures and practices.
The achievement marks OCPW as one of only five counties in California to have received APWA accreditation, joining others such as Alameda County, San Francisco County, San Luis Obispo County and Contra Costa County. OCPW’s Engineering service area was first accredited in 2012 and the overall department earned APWA accreditation in May 2016.
“This re-accreditation is really a testament to the everyday efforts of OCPW’s men and women,” said James Treadaway, Director of OCPW, Professional Engineer (P.E.). “Our department delivers a wide range of major projects and innovative services for Orange County communities, all while meeting the high industry standards set by the APWA. It would not be possible without the expertise, hard work and innovation demonstrated by our teams.”
As part of the accreditation review, a team of third-party public works professionals through APWA completed a thorough evaluation of OCPW operations in early 2021. The evaluation of OCPW operations included an extensive assessment to ensure high standards are met through the department’s policies and procedures, including such areas as safety, strategic planning, finance, communications, facilities management, human resources and other operational areas.
OCPW’s mission is to protect and enrich the community through efficient delivery and maintenance of public works infrastructure, planning, and development services. The department has 10 service areas, including Administrative Services, Development Services, Facilities Design & Construction, Facilities Maintenance & Central Utility Facility, Fleet Services, Construction, Environmental Resources, Infrastructure Programs, Operations & Maintenance and Survey.
When first accredited by the APWA in 2016, OCPW became only the 80th accredited agency in all of North America. Other accredited California agencies include Contra Costa County, City/County of San Francisco Berkeley, Alameda County, San Luis Obispo County, Oakland, Ventura, Palmdale, Thousand Oaks and Encinitas.
About OCPW
OC Public Works (OCPW), a County of Orange department with nearly 900 employees, provides innovative services and infrastructure projects on a regional basis to unincorporated areas, to cities and to other County agencies and departments. The department protects and enriches communities through efficient delivery and maintenance of public works facilities, planning and development services, and environmental resources and consumer protection programs.
For more information about OCPW, visit www.OCPublicWorks.com or follow us on social media using #OCPublicWorks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About APWA
The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 29,000 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, has an office in Washington, D.C. and 63 chapters in North America.
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