Utilities Department Earns Full Accreditation

Published on March 06, 2025

County staff with accreditation plaque

The Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities (DPU) was recognized Wednesday by the American Public Works Association (APWA) at the monthly Board of Public Utilities work session. The presentation formally recognized DPU’s recent achievement of full accreditation from APWA, a process that verified and recognized that DPU is in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual.

Open to all governmental agencies with responsibilities for public works functions, initial accreditation from APWA is for a four-year period, during which time semi-annual updates will be required to demonstrate continuing compliance. After that time, there is a re-accreditation process that builds on the original accreditation, encouraging continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified practices.

The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence in the operation and management of a public works agency, its programs, and its employees. Accreditation is designed to assist the agency in the continuous improvement of operations and management, and in providing a valid and objective evaluation of agency programs as a service to the public and the profession.

According to DPU’s Charter, “at least every five years thereafter, the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) shall employ a qualified consultant to review, comment, and make recommendations as to the operation and condition of the County Utilities.”  In January 2021, BPU directed staff to seek APWA Accreditation as part of a peer review of department operations. 

“We are proud to be recognized by the APWA,” said DPU Utilities Manager Philo Shelton. “It reflects our team’s hard work and commitment in reliably and efficiently delivering the highest quality of utility services to the Los Alamos and White Rock communities.”

APWA’s accreditation process includes five major steps:

  • Self-Assessment: Using the Public Works Management Practices Manual, an internal review of an agency’s practices combined with a comparison of the recommended practices contained in the manual;
  • Application: Once the decision has been made to commit to the Accreditation Program, the agency submits a formal application;
  • Improvement: After the agency has completed the self-assessment and identified areas needing improvement, the agency will work to bring all practices into an acceptable level of compliance with the recommended practices;
  • Evaluation: Following the completion of the improvement phase, the agency will request a site visit. The site visit will consist of a review and evaluation of the agency to determine the level of compliance with all applicable practices.
  • Accreditation: The Accreditation Council will review the site visit results and recommendations from the team, voting to award or deny accreditation.

DPU is the second agency in the state of New Mexico to be formally awarded the prestigious accreditation by APWA’s Accreditation Council. In addition to Los Alamos County, the other accredited agency in New Mexico is the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

For more information about APWA Accreditation, please contact APWA Associate Director of Credentialing, Jeanette Klamm at jklamm@apwa.net, or (816) 595-5295.

About APWA

The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization with more than 30,000 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, MO, has an office in Washington, DC, and 63 chapters in North America.

 

APWA presentation of accreditation

The accreditation was presented to DPU at the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) work session by Kristina Ramirez, APWA Region VII Director. Ramirez is pictured holding the award on the left with Philo Shelton, Utilities Manager, on the right. Also pictured from left to right are: Dennis Astley (DPU), Stephen Marez (DPU), Abbey Hayward (DPU), Joann Gentry (DPU), Beverly Neal-Clinton (County Council), Karen Kendall (DPU), Clay Moseley (DPU), Thomas Wyman (County Attorney’s Office), Ben Olbrich (DPU), Cathy D’Anna (DPU), Robert Gibson (BPU), Kathy Casados (DPU), James Alarid (DPU), Matt Heavner (BPU), Jennifer Hollingsworth (BPU).

Photo at top of page: Achieving accreditation took the help of staff throughout Los Alamos County. Among the dozens who contributed are the following pictured people: Kathy Casados (DPU), Abbey Hayward (DPU, accreditation lead), Charles Bear (Information Management), Cathy D’Anna (DPU), Philo Shelton (DPU), Richard Valerio (DPU), Sonya Ortiz (Human Resources), Tracey Alarid (DPU), James Alarid (DPU), Karen Kendall (DPU), Joann Gentry (DPU)

 

 

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