Centennial Public Works Earns APWA Accreditation for Third Time
Published on June 03, 2025
Centennial Continues to Set the Bar for Excellence in Colorado
The Centennial Public Works Department recently received full accreditation by the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the third time. This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes the agency is in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual.
Open to all governmental agencies with responsibilities for public works functions, initial accreditation from APWA is for a four-year period, during which time semi-annual updates will be required to demonstrate continuing compliance. After that time, the re-accreditation process builds on the original achievement, encouraging continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified practices
“Centennial is dedicated to delivering high-quality, efficient services to our community. Earning this accreditation for a third time is a significant achievement, and I’m grateful for the dedication shown by our Public Works team. This recognition highlights our ongoing efforts to improve and adapt to meet the needs of our City,” said Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko.
The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence in the operation and management of a public works agency, its programs and employees. Accreditation is designed to assist the agency in continuous improvement of operations and management, and in providing a valid and objective evaluation of agency programs as a service to the public and the profession.
“Centennial’s Public Works Department continues to be a strong example of the successful collaboration between the City and Jacobs,” said Jeff Dankenbring, Centennial Public Works Director. “Since forming this public-private partnership in 2008, the team has consistently provided outstanding service to the traveling public and residents within Centennial. I want to recognize our exceptional Public Works team and City staff for their daily commitment to delivering the programs and services that help make Centennial a great place to live and work.”
APWA’s accreditation process includes five major steps:
- Self-Assessment: Using the Public Works Management Practices Manual, an internal review of an agency’s practices combined with a comparison of the recommended practices contained in the manual;
- Application: Once the decision has been made to commit to the Accreditation Program, the agency submits a formal application;
- Improvement: After the agency has completed the self-assessment and identified areas needing improvement, the agency will work to bring all practices into an acceptable level of compliance with the recommended practices;
- Evaluation: Following the completion of the improvement phase, the agency will request a site visit. The site visit will consist of a review and evaluation of the agency to determine the level of compliance with all applicable practices.
- Accreditation: The Accreditation Council will review the site visit results and recommendation from the team, voting to award or deny accreditation.
Centennial Public Works was first awarded APWA Accreditation in 2016, becoming the sixth accredited agency in Colorado. This most recent recognition marks the department’s third accreditation from APWA’s Accreditation Council. Accredited agencies in Colorado include Arapahoe County, the City and County of Denver, and the cities of Arvada, Aurora, Cherry Hills Village, Golden, Greeley Northglenn, and the Town of Castle Rock.
“Congratulations to the City of Centennial on earning APWA Reaccreditation,” said Mike Nelson, Jacobs Program Director. “For the past 17 years, our public-private partnership with the City has allowed us to work together in delivering high-quality public works services to the community.”
For more information about APWA Accreditation, please contact APWA Associate Director of Credentialing, Jeanette Klamm, at jklamm@apwa.org, or (816) 595-5295.
About APWA
The American Public Works Association is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 30,000 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, MO, has an office in Washington, DC, and 62 chapters in North America.