Tulalip, Wash.- Brad Hawkins received the William T. Elmgren Public Service Award at the Washington Public Utility Districts Association Annual Meeting. This award recognizes a PUD employee who has made outstanding contributions to his or her utility and community. The award is named after the former Clark County PUD commissioner who gave more than 50 years of public service.
Brad has volunteered his time to serve on many boards in the Wenatchee community. In 2002, Brad was elected by regional school directors to serve on the Board of the North Central Educational Service District, which serves 29 school districts in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties. Brad helped oversee a $12.8 million annual budget. In 2004, Brad was asked to serve on the Wenatchee Valley YMCA Board where he was responsible for approving a $1.7 million annual budget for adult and youth programs.
Since being appointed in 2004 to fill a vacancy on the Eastmont School Board, Brad has served two terms as President. With his leadership, he helped the school district replenish cash reserves, establish a community advisory group, find a superintendent, and advocated for key legislation. At the end of his two years as Board President, Eastmont School District was recognized as the School Board of the Year for the region and was a finalist for Washington State School Board of the Year. Brad still serves on the Eastmont School Board and continues to volunteer additional time on school levy and bond campaigns.
Hawkins has been with Douglas PUD for almost 10 years and is the Policy Analyst.
The Washington Public Utility Districts Association represents 27 nonprofit, community-owned utilities that provide electricity, water and wastewater services, and wholesale telecommunications to more than 1.7 million people in Washington. www.wpuda.org
