ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA – The City of Arroyo Grande is proud to announce that Public Works Manager Ron Simpson has earned the Certified Public Works Professional – Management (CPWP-M) designation from the American Public Works Association (APWA). The CPWP-M designation is to recognize individuals in the public works field who have the knowledge and experience to effectively manage departments within a public works agency.
Simpson has a horticulture degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo along with many other licenses and certifications including a C-27 contractor’s license, ISA certified arborist, Pest Control Advisor, Qualified Applicators License, NRPA Certified Playground Safety Inspector, D3 & T2 CA State Water Operator certificates and an ABPA Backflow Tester certification to go along with his new CPWP- M certificate. Ron has been with the City of Arroyo Grande for nearly 15 years.
To obtain the CPWP-M designation, candidates must have three years of public works supervisory experience and prove their ability to manage a public works department. Candidates must prove competence in the areas of communication, budget and finance, human resource management, administrative operations, procurement and contract administration, project management, asset management, and emergency management, all while displaying an overall understanding of basic public works operations.
“Obtaining the Certified Public Works Professional-Management Designation is an impressive achievement. I, along with our Executive Team, congratulate Ron on earning this certification which benefits our organization in enhanced management of projects and employees,” stated Bill Robeson, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director.
The Certified Public Works Professional program was launched by APWA in August 2018, and Simpson is among some of the first candidates to earn the designation.
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CONTACT INFORMATION:
Bill Robeson, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
brobeson@arroyogrande.org