ASPA and NAPA Recognize Public Service Leadership

By PA TIMES
March 6, 2015

The head of the State of Florida’s economic development program and the executive director of the Mid-America Regional Council are the 2015 recipients of the National Public Service Awards. Secretary Bill Johnson and Executive Director David Warm will join a distinguished list of city managers, federal labor commissioners and county administrators who have received the award during its 30 plus year history.

Sponsored by the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and National Academy of Public Administration, the National Public Service Awards is the most prestigious one to honor the contributions of public servants across all government sectors. Both Johnson and Warm will be recognized for extraordinary leadership in economic development and inter-governmental relations on Monday, March 9, during ASPA’s annual conference in Chicago.

Bill Johnson is Florida’s secretary of commerce, recently appointed by Governor Rick Scott. He also serves as director of Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development program. The appointment caps a distinguished three-decade career in local government. Johnson is regarded in Florida and Miami-Dade County as a problem solver, tapped twice by the Miami-Dade mayor to reinvigorate stalled projects.

Before his current post, Johnson served as director of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, where he oversaw a billion-dollar upgrade. He is credited with turning around discussions on a downtown Miami cultural center and enhancing the city’s image as one of the nation’s busiest and top cargo ports as its head. Johnson began his public service career as an intern in 1980, rising to lead many of the county’s politically complex and economically significant agencies.

David Warm is executive director of the Mid-America Regional Council. For the past 24 years, he has been instrumental in promoting regional collaboration and intergovernmental relations. He leads a broad range of regional initiatives and has been widely recognized for innovation in transportation, environmental protection, emergency management, community development, aging services, early education and local government cooperative services.

Warm’s management style has emphasized creating effective systems that enable diverse interests to achieve common goals. A former city administrator with Liberty, Missouri, he also served in administrative positions with the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

To see a list of previous National Public Service Award winners, click here.

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