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Published date: August 7, 2025

Are you looking for a meaningful way to grow your public works career, give back to the profession, and connect with peers across Oregon? Serving on an APWA Oregon Chapter committee is a great way to get involved!

With more than 800 members — including engineers, technicians, operators, public works directors, vendors, and consultants — the Oregon Chapter thrives because of our dedicated volunteers. Committees help plan events, shape training programs, develop resources, and advance the Chapter’s mission to support strong, resilient, and community-centered public works across the state.

How to Get Started

Step 1 – Become a Member
Not yet a member? Visit the APWA Oregon Chapter website to learn more and sign up.

Step 2 – Find Your Fit
Check out our Committee Central webpage to explore all of the Chapter’s committees and contact a committee chair directly to get plugged in.

Current APWA Oregon Chapter Committees

  • Awards – Nominates candidates for APWA National and Chapter awards; prepares the PACE application.

  • Conferences – Plans and coordinates Chapter conferences with the conference manager and planning committee.

  • Communications – Shares information about public works services; provides publicity through the newsletter, website, and social media; resource for public information and involvement training.

  • Education – Arranges educational courses and technical sessions for members and employees.

  • Emergency Management – Promotes coordination between public works and emergency management groups.

  • Leadership & Management – Encourages leadership development and diversity within the public works community.

  • Membership – Tracks membership and works to maintain and grow Chapter membership.

  • Operations and Engineering (NEW!) – Bridges operations and engineering professionals to improve design-to-delivery collaboration (added earlier).

  • Public Works Luncheons – Organizes luncheon events with speakers in Portland, Eugene, and other locations.

  • Scholastic – Promotes and manages APWA Oregon scholastic scholarships.

  • Standard Specifications – Works with ODOT to develop and update public works construction specifications.

  • Street Maintenance & Collection Systems Schools – Coordinates twice-yearly technical schools and ROADeo events.

  • Technology – Shares knowledge about advancements in public works-related technology.

  • Transportation – Liaison to National APWA Transportation Committee; shares transportation design, construction, and maintenance information.

  • Utility & Public ROW – Acts as liaison to OUCC and Oregon Utility Notification Center Board.

  • Water Resources – Provides water resource–related technical and regulatory information; comments on legislation/regulation.

  • Young Professionals – Supports development, networking, and success of young professionals and students in public works.

Spotlight: NEW Operations and Engineering Committee — Why You Should Join!

The Operations and Engineering Committee is the newest addition to the APWA Oregon Chapter and was created to close the gap between engineering design and operations & maintenance (O&M). This committee brings together professionals from both sides of the aisle to improve communication, share lessons learned, and ensure public infrastructure projects are not only well-conceived — but also practical, resilient, and responsive to community needs.

What the Committee Does:

  • Creates space for engineers and O&M professionals to learn from each other

  • Develops tools and best practices for integrating operational insight into design

  • Connects agencies statewide to strengthen infrastructure delivery

  • Hosts meetings, peer discussions, and collaboration opportunities

Who Should Join:

Engineers, operations supervisors, technicians, project managers, consultants, and anyone passionate about improving infrastructure from concept to completion. For more information about the Operations and Engineering Committee, visit it’s page under the Committees drop-down menu.

Questions About Committees?

Reach out to Leslie Finnigan at lfinnigan@ufsrw.com to learn more about becoming a member, selecting a committee, or finding the right volunteer opportunity for you.

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