President’s Message

LEAVE THINGS BETTER THAN YOU FOUND THEM

KEITH PUGH, PE, PWLF, APWA PRESIDENT

My father always said: “Leave things better than you found them,” and that is how he lived his entire life.

He and my mother modeled this way of life through their involvement and service in our community. They instilled this servant leadership philosophy in our household by always getting involved and actively participating in various organizations. And they did not just volunteer a few hours here and there, they committed their time and sweat equity to making our community better. From providing meals to senior citizens through Meals on Wheels, to working concession stands for booster clubs at our schools, to working with patients and their families in Hospice care, or to volunteering with the Lions Club, they dedicated their lives to serving others.

Bennie Pugh (right) receiving the Lions Club Presidential Award from International President Bill Woolard in 1990.

Dad not only volunteered his time with the Lions Club, but he also served in various leadership positions within the organization, including the position of District Governor. Throughout his volunteerism within this international organization, he was recognized with one of the highest honors by receiving the prestigious Presidential Award, not once, but three times! Check out the photo of my dad receiving one of his Presidential Awards from International President Bill Woolard in 1990. Being a Lion is about leading by example, building relationships and improving the world through kindness. It’s 1.4 million caring men and women serving together so they can make a lasting impact and change more lives.

When caring people join together, roll up their sleeves and take action to make their community better, that is what being a servant leader is all about, and I was overly blessed to have both of my parents model this way of life.

When caring people join together, roll up their sleeves and take action to make their community better, that is what being a servant leader is all about.

Roll Up Your Sleeves and Get to Know Your People Have you heard the expression “I won’t ask you to do something I won’t do”? Well, roll up your sleeves and put that into action. Servant leaders lead by example, so if there is something hard to do, jump in there with your team and do it with them.

When I worked at the City of Greensboro, we had a city program where, on a periodic basis, upper and middle management were assigned to a front-line job for the day. On several occasions, the department heads were assigned a crew in their own department and the people they worked with for the day did not have a clue who they were, even though they were the director of the same department!

Don’t be that person. If you are a leader within your organization, get to know your people. Meet with them regularly, roll up your sleeves and work with them for the day or visit them on their turf, whether it is in their office or out in the field. During my time as the Engineering Services Director at the City of High Point, I could have had the large back corner office with big windows and a beautiful view, but I chose to sit up front to catch the people coming in that had questions or concerns. I wanted to be seen and I wanted to be accessible to my team.

Take Action, Leave Things Better Than You Found Them Have you ever done things and said there has to be a better way? Well, if you are thinking that, then there probably is, and you should explore ways to make it better. But sometimes that may not be the popular choice, and that is where being a leader means making difficult decisions and knowing that, in the end, it will leave things better than you found them.

Here at APWA, we are always looking for ways to make our service to you as members better and to ensure that what we do brings you value. We are currently looking at processes and committees and asking questions to see if some things we do are still relevant. For example, part of APWA’s strategic plan

is to look at our committees and review the goal and purpose of the committees, then to ask the difficult questions as to whether it is still relevant and fits within the strategic plan, or if it is time to sunset due to its completion of the goals and purpose. This can be hard for some people to let go and move on; however, sometimes those things need to happen to make it better than before.

In Summary As exemplified above, my parents have deeply influenced me in the way I am today. Growing up in that household meant that I witnessed what it means to serve other people on a daily basis. That is how my passion for public works and helping others started.

Serving in public and non-profit organizations is my way of life. Not only have I served in several roles within APWA, but I am also heavily involved in other organizations such as Make-a-Wish, which helps kids with life-threatening conditions. I spend a lot of my time volunteering for the Trailblaze challenge (wish.org/nc/ trailblaze-challenge), where I join others to help train hikers to do the 28.3-mile hike. This fundraiser is a life-changing mental and physical challenge that mirrors the journeys that the wish kids go through from their diagnosis through their treatment. This event leaves me with such gratitude for volunteering and knowing that my service makes a difference.

Servant leadership is about being an example to others, it is about creating value for others, and it is about finding ways to do things better. That is the epitome of public works and you all as public works professionals. Thank you for your services, and for the servant leadership you have provided across the world to make our communities better!

As my dad always said, let us leave things better than we found them.

President Pugh (right) with fellow Make-a-Wish volunteers Ray Matteson and Sasha Lay on-trail during the Trailblaze Challenge.