(Canyonville, OR) — Communications Coordinator Emmanuel Goicochea was awarded the 2023 Communication (Bulldog) Award by the Oregon chapter of the American Public Works Association at their annual Fall Banquet.
“I am humbled to receive this award,” said Goicochea. “This honor couldn’t have been possible without the great leadership and support fostered in Independence.” 
Goicochea was nominated and awarded due to his contributions to highlighting Independence’s public works department, particularly with video. His distinguished work has helped educate our community on a multitude of projects, including the “How Are Biosolids Removed from City Lagoons?” video, as well as the “Meet Our Street Sweeper” video. Through this innovative use of video production, and distributed through the city’s integrated communications channels, these videos garnered a total of 2,805 views as of August 2023, as well as a wealth of community support.
“The public does not always understand the work we do in public works and the more we communicate about what we do and who we are, the better they understand the service we provide to the public,” said Public Works Director Gerald Fisher. “Not only has Emmanuel’s work shed light on the important contribution we make to our city’s infrastructure, but it has also showcased the stories of the people serving in these capacities.”
The Oregon Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) is an organization of more than 800 professional engineers, technicians, operations staff, public works directors, businesspeople, contractors, consultants, and many others who join together to exchange ideas and information, promote education and training, and work as a team to meet professional and community needs. Nationally, APWA represents almost 30,000 public works professionals and offers excellent professional development programs and member services.
