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Sandy Springs, GA - Proclaiming her the "road warrior," American City & County magazine has selected Sandy Springs, Ga., Public Works Director Angelia Parham as its 2008 "Public Works Director of the Year."

The magazine presents the award annually to recognize outstanding leadership in public works.

The 2008 award recognizes Parham's efforts in leading the physical transformations that the new city's elected officials and residents have sought for decades. Transportation, including infrastructure maintenance and traffic management, has been her No. 1 priority. Through long-term projects supported by state and federal agencies, as well as minor changes like road striping and signal timing, she and her team have reduced congestion and improved traffic flow through the city.

"Angelia Parham is a trailblazer," says Bill Wolpin, editorial director of American City & County. "She has created out of whole cloth a well-oiled machine that has tackled a series of problems that have been festering for decades."

Parham has been responsible for establishing the public works operations for Sandy Springs, which incorporated in 2005 and contracts with CH2M HILL OMI for public works and other general government services. Georgia's sixth-largest city, Sandy Springs is located just north of Atlanta and is home to nearly 98,000 residents.

"The activity of the Public Works Department under Director Parham's leadership has been amazing. Ms. Parham has managed to improve our traffic problems by common sense changes that do not cost millions. She is certainly deserving of this important award," says Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos.

"We couldn't be prouder of Angelia and our team in Sandy Springs," says Elisa Speranza, president of CH2M HILL OMI. "Public works is a noble, unsung profession, and Angelia is helping redefine what it means to deliver vital public services with excellence every day."

The subscribers of American City & County submit nominations for the Public Works Director of the Year Award. The editorial staff selects the recipient. The August issue profiles Parham and her award-winning contributions, and it also features the public-private partnership between the city and CH2M HILL OMI in the cover story, "Private Works."

Parham earned bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee. She is a registered Professional Engineer. Prior to joining CH2M HILL OMI in April 2006, she served as deputy director of the City of Roswell, Ga., transportation department for three years. From 1995 to 2003, Parham worked at the Texas Transportation Institute, where she conducted research for the Texas Department of Transportation and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program.

Parham is a member of the Transportation Research Board Committee AHB65, Operational Effects of Geometrics. She also has been an active member of associations including the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the American Public Works Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers, in which she served as president of the Knoxville, Tenn., chapter in the early 1990s.

SOURCE: CH2M HILL