APWA NEVADA NEWSLETTER

Summer 2019

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APWA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE GOING STRONG

YP Member Momentum UPCOMING EVENTS

APWA Membership Drive Northern Branch v. Southern Branch February 11 – Sept. 20, 2019 APWA PWX, Seattle, WA September 8-11, 2019 LTAP: Intro to Const. Mgt., Reno September 24, 9am-4pm. $30 Fall Conference Harrah’s Stateline, NV September 25-27, 2019 LTAP: Intro to Const. Mgt., LV September 26, 9am-4pm, $30 Southern YP – LV Lights Game Cashman Field Saturday, October 5, 7:30pm APWA YP/ASCE YMF VGK Watch Party, Location TBD Wednesday, November 13 Northern Branch Luncheons Third Thursday of the Month http://nevada.apwa.net/ Southern Branch Luncheons First Thursday of the Month http://nevada.apwa.net/

Check out the APWA Reporter June 2019 Article Featuring

Our Nevada Membership Drive, written by Brian Rowley

LAST TWO WEEKS!

NORTH v. SOUTH APWA NV MEMBERSHIP DRIVE NORTH added members………40 SOUTH added members……….44 NORTH increase………………..17% SOUTH increase………………...13%

Status as of August 30, 2019

THIS ISSUE • PWX Chapter Dinner • New Members • Fall Conference • Spring Conference Recap • Writing Tips

Summer 2019 Issue ● APWA Nevada Chapter ● nevada.apwa.net

MONDAY NIGHT CHAPTER DINNER Sept. 9, 7:30 pm at Dahlia Lounge Sponsored by Las Vegas Paving & CA Group RSVP to Debi at debi.bohnet@jacobs.com

IF YOU ARE GOING TO PWX – DON’T MISS THIS EVENT

APWA Nevada YPs are gaining momentum with regular social and educational activities this year. In August, the Southern Branch YPs toured the largest residential recycling facility in North America – Republic Services in North Las Vegas. Be sure to invite your young colleagues to get involved!

The City of Henderson, NV Utility Services Department recently received full accreditation by the American Public Works Association (APWA). This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that the agency is in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual. “It is an honor to be the fifth utility-only agency to receive APWA accreditation and to be recognized for the outstanding work performed every day by our team to meet rigorous national standards in 299 practice areas,” said Director of Utility Services Priscilla Howell. “APWA accreditation is a testament to the City of Henderson’s priority to provide the highest caliber of water and wastewater services while protecting the environment, health and prosperity of the community.”

Page 3 Summer 2019 Issue ● APWA Nevada Chapter ● nevada.apwa.net

*EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS SEPT. 6th !* Click here to register: http://nevada.apwa.net/EventDetails/18862

APWA Presentation at Henderson City

Council Meeting

The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence in the operation and management of a public works agency, its programs and employees. Accreditation is designed to assist the agency in 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. The Department of Utility Services becomes the 155th agency in North America to be awarded APWA Accreditation designation, and the 2nd agency in the State of Nevada. In addition to the Henderson Utility Services, the Henderson Public Works Department is also an accredited agency.

Henderson Utility Services Achieves APWA Accreditation

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS February 1 – August 27, 2018

Brian A. Byrd, City of Fallon Cassandra Coronado-Ortiz, Precision Concrete Cutting Melissa L. Murphy, PE, VTN Consulting Ellie Uribe, Precision Concrete Cutting Angie Scott, DataSight, Inc. Mackenzie S. Burns, Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. Carl C. DeBaca, Lumos & Associates, Inc. Kishora Panda, Self Employed Alyssa Rodriguez, City of Henderson Richard Robillard, Douglas County Public Works Jennifer Escobedo, Collins Engineers Joe Damiani, RTC Southern NV Tiffany Patrick, Kimley Horn Dan Reuter, RTC Southern NV Sara A. Meilandt, NDOT Louise E. Steeps, Clark County NV Michael Dishari, PE, Las Vegas Valley Water Dist Alexa Rexford, Farr West Engineering Jef R. Peake, Broadbent & Associates Inc Paul E. Simpson, Clark County NV Douglas A. Del Porto, Wood Rodgers Inc. Robert Zellers, University of Nevada, Reno Polly Boardman, PMP, Michael Baker International Sophie Laidler, Broadbent & Associates Inc Kirk Stowers, Broadbent & Associates Inc Justin George, City of Reno Kerri Lanza, City of Reno Hans Meyer, City of Reno Matt Smith, City of Reno Diego Villagrana, City of Reno Michael Jeffrey Kelley, University of Nevada, Reno Anthony T. Henderson, Sr., Civil Engineering Jacklyn Sessions, Farr West Engineering Rachel Angevine, HDR Lee Gong, Taney Engineering David Jeffrey Giacomin, PE, Kimley-Horn Ganesh Kadam, PE, Black & Veatch Oscar Chavira, University of Nevada Reno Matthew Clodfelter, University of Nevada Reno Carolyn Jones, University of Nevada Reno Mohamed Nimeri, University of Nevada Reno Carly Samuels, University of Nevada Reno Cesar A. Lopez, Wood Rodgers, Inc Michelle Gamble, Lumos & Associates

Conference was far out this year! Beginning with an exclusive YP Luncheon; a kickoff of stories of the rich and famous from Las Vegas gossip columnist, Norm Clarke; gettin’ down poolside with music by WonderBoogie; laughs and lessons that will last a lifetime from keynote Jason Hewlett, good vibe vendor booths and drawings; jivin’ POTY Awards; the banquet where Studio 54 came to life; and a far out last day of golfing or touring the new Las Vegas Stadium. Congrats Jimmy Floyd and his cool cat committee for an awesome conference! If you missed it, we’ll catch ya’ on the flip side! Or do me a solid and sign up for Fall Conference so you don’t miss out again! –Lauren Warren, CTS

SPRING CONFERENCE WAS GROOVY

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PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARDS Less than $5 Million: Transportation - SR88 / Centerville Lane Compact Roundabout – NDOT Contract #3712, NDOT Structures - Bob Baskin Park Renovation, City of Las Vegas Environmental - Brent Lane Drainage System and Trail, City of Las Vegas $5-10 Million: Transportation - Summerlin Parkway Traffic Capacity and Safety Improvements, Phase 3, City of Las Vegas Structures - Air Treatment System for the Kurt R. Segler Water Reclamation Facility, City of Henderson Disaster or Emergency Repair - Logan Shoals Slope Stabilization, NDOT

APWA Good Times Studio 54 Style

Page 5 Summer 2019 Issue ● APWA Nevada Chapter ● nevada.apwa.net

WELCOME MORE NEW MEMBERS February 1-August 27, 2019

Paul Harmon, NDOT Brent C. Moser, PE Clarissa Stevenson, Kimley-Horn Ana Alvarez, Lumos & Associates Christine M. Davis, NCE Edgar A. Nunez, HDR Inc Thomas J. Van Dam, NCE Hans Gottschaldt, Las Vegas Valley Water Dist Kamrun Ahmadi, Stantec Mike Janssen, PTOE, City of Las Vegas Les Hopper, Rick Engineering Company Kason Bulloch, City of Mesquite Dustin J. Thelen, NCE Stormi Decker, City of Henderson Kevin M. Futch, PE, PTOE, City of Henderson Eric S. Hawkins, City of Henderson Brooke Prescia, PE, City of Henderson Victoria Furutani, University of Las Vegas Greg Osendorf, Hanes Geo Components Eddie Abonce, Kleinfelder Ryan Seastrunk, URETEK USA Erwin Jeffrey Jayme Sacundo, PE, Westwood Professional Services Jack C. Scott, Rinker Materials Michael Premo, NDOT Kyle Accardy, HDR Inc Dana A. Ames, PE/ SE, Horrocks Engineers Byron Colton, Horrocks Engineers Wynn Hessler, HDR Inc Breanna Paras, HDR Inc Amir M. Soltani, Horrocks Engineers Chancy Vines, HDR Inc Stephen T. Hughey, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Stephen Pottéy, City of Carson City William Hoffman, Poggemeyer Design Group Travis Coombs, CORE Construction Kim Hazlewood, Horrocks Engineers Mark Hobaica, CORE Construction Seth Maurer, CORE Construction John Sanders, III, CORE Construction Greg Sharp, Crafco

WHY YOUR COVER LETTER SUCKS Reader-focused, succinct, correct communications will not only improve your writing skills but enhance your ability to connect with clients and build business. Technical skills are how we get the job done, and for a long time, they were enough. If we could do the work, and do it well, we could build a clientele, get work, earn profit. Not anymore. We have more competitors than ever, and most of them can get the job done too. So how, in this crowded and cutthroat industry, do we plan on differentiating ourselves from our competitors? Soft skills give us the edge: the ability to influence, motivate, and drive client behavior. Through communications, we build relationships, get the sale, and earn client loyalty. Simply put, I believe good writing makes for good relationships. Oftentimes, the cover letter is the place we differentiate ourselves and incite curiosity so that our reader continues. Or, it is the place we fail to connect with our reader and end up in the nearest trash bin. Yet, so many of us put little effort into our cover letters, recycling the same meaningless jargon and soothing our audience into a mindless slumber. To make your cover letter client-focused, stop talking about your firm. Seriously, stop. Your firm's one and only job is to solve the client's problems. The client does not care if you are pleased to submit. The client does not care if you have 30, not 28 years of experience. The client doesn't care about your twenty offices in sixteen different states. The client cares if you understand their project issues and motivators. So, you can perform the scope of work. Congratulations. So can every other firm who submitted. Understanding the scope is not enough. The ability to do the work does not differentiate you. You are the same as everyone else. Snooze. Ask yourself this question instead: what does the client lose if they choose another firm? If you can articulate how you are different, you are on your way to a win. The biggest pitfall of all is neglecting to clearly define the benefits of the solutions you offer. There is an important difference here. Even if you understand the issues and explain how you solve those issues, you can still fail to articulate the benefit to the client. Push further and eliminate uncertainty. For example, let's say a client is concerned about the complexity of their project within a tight deadline, and you plan to address that concern with an experienced project manager who has completed identical projects. Stopping there is a fatal mistake. You have communicated a solution, but not a benefit. Instead, state this in the cover letter: Your project will be completed two months early because our experienced project manager has completed identical projects, finishing more than a month ahead of schedule. Here, you've not only communicated the solution but a clear benefit with evidence. Adopt the mindset that your reader does not want to read your proposal - you must

convince them. Your cover letter is your first, and possibly only, chance to reinforce trust and clearly articulate why you're the best firm for the job. Start talking about the client. Communicate a distinction, an advantage that makes you different. And lead with the benefits. Happy writing. Happy winning. Mercedez has taught multiple writing workshops for our chapter, is an associate faculty professor at UNR, and the marketing and proposal specialist for Brycon Construction.

Writing Advice from Mercedez Thompson

Here's why your cover letter sucks: -It's not client-focused -It fails to differentiate your firm -It communicates solutions but not benefits