APWA’s 2016 PWX
Re-Branded Conference Set for Minneapolis

KANSAS CITY, MO. – July 27, 2016 – After more than 120 years, the American Public Works
Association’s (APWA) is re-branding its annual conference as PWX, or Public Works Expo, replacing the
former conference known as the International Public Works Congress & Exposition. The PWX 2016 will
provide new inclusive learning experiences for thousands of public works professionals who will
converge at the Minneapolis Convention Center during August 28 - 31, 2016. The PWX will include new
innovations and technologies, as well as new networking opportunities as part of the learning
experience for all generations and all levels of public works professionals. This year, more than 5,000
professionals are expected to attend the event.

“APWA’s PWX will provide new learning concepts to help prepare attendees for the future in their
communities. Several of the new sessions include ‘Lightning Rounds,’ fast-paced, concise presentations
on the hottest topics; ‘Innovation Station,’ an all new multi-purpose common area, the Hub, at PWX
located in Registration, and ‘Tech Time,’ informal sessions for attendees to catch up on new tools and
resources that add to productivity in the workplace,” said APWA Executive Director, Scott D. Grayson.
Another new feature, the ‘Fleet Workshop,’ will provide a full day of challenges and solutions for public
fleet managers and includes the Monday general sessions with Jeff Havens, two hours on the Exhibit
Floor, and presentations and several discussions on Top Ten Performance Measures for 21st Century
Fleet Management, What to Look for in a Fleet Management System, Attracting Fleet Managers and
Technicians to Replace Retiring Staff, Insourcing and partnership opportunities, and Replacement
Funding. Other new concepts include the ‘APWA Connect Live!’ in the APWA presence on the Exhibit
Floor that will provide attendees with an environment to meet public works experts and network with
peers.

“Expanded technology at PWX will include WI-FI throughout the Convention Center to stay connected,
and an easy-to-use Event App that includes new features, such as social sharing via the APWA Events
Activity feed, to enhance the overall experience. Another new feature is Live Streaming for those
participants who cannot travel to the event, which will include one education experience during each
concurrent timeslot, and can be viewed at your desk in live stream sessions. Also, there will be more
than 90,000 square feet of Exhibit space to explore, so there is something for every public works
professional,” Grayson said.

The PWX 2016 Keynote speakers include:

Sunday August 28th: Captain Scott Kelly - 10:00 a.m. – 12 Noon
Back from his historic record-breaking “Year In Space,” NASA astronaut Captain Scott Kelly has laid the groundwork for the
future of space travel and exploration. From the cover of TIME magazine, features in Forbes, and appearances on TODAY and
CNN, and a Twitter following well over 1 million, the world remains in awe of the hero’s return to the planet we call home.
Attendees will hear Captain Kelly's extraordinary adventure first-hand as he keeps you on the edge of your seat during this truly
one-of-a-kind experience. Filled with life lessons and personal stories that reveal unique and valuable advice on pushing one’s
limits, insight on the leadership and teamwork required in such demanding conditions, and the challenges—such as long term
deprivation from loved ones and Planet Earth—Kelly reflects on the choices and life events that paved his journey’s path.

Monday, August 29th: Jeff Havens – 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Jeff Havens insists that education is the only way that we improve at anything and that we’ll all improve better and faster if we
enjoy the learning process. His mission is to demonstrate how small changes in our communication strategies can be the most
important (and least expensive) way to strengthen relationships, increase loyalty, and create an unbreakable culture of
teamwork and mutual respect. His presentation of “Uncrapify Your Life” is guaranteed to leave you refreshed.

Tuesday, August 30th: Mel Robbins – 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m
Three million people have learned the secret to reaching their true potential. You are meant to do extraordinary things in your
career and your life and the “5 Second Rule” will help you achieve it. Mel Robbins’ TEDx Talk on “How to Stop Screwing Yourself
Over” has over three million views. In it, she demystifies neuroscience research to explain how and why you do what you do.
Mel will teach you how to identify the mistakes you are making and how to create lasting behavior change within yourself.
Mel began her career as a criminal defense attorney and went on to launch and sell a retail and internet technology company.
From these experiences, she has gone on to be one of CNN’s most popular on-air commentators and opinion writers on human
behavior. The lessons and tools you’ll learn from Mel can be applied immediately and you will leave feeling inspired and
equipped to tackle your professional and personal dreams.

Wednesday, August 31st: Charles Marohn – 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Charles (Chuck) Marohn is founder and president of Strong Towns, which is a national media nonprofit that publishes awardwinning
daily articles by dozens of contributors, hosts events across the continent and shares insight and ideas through weekly
podcasts. The Strong Towns approach is a fundamental rethinking of how we work together to build lasting wealth and
prosperity within our communities. Its mission is “to support a model of development that allows America’s cities, towns, and
neighborhoods to become financially strong and resilient. The Strong Town Principles include that strong cities, towns, and
neighborhoods cannot happen without strong citizens (people who care); local government is a platform for strong citizens to
collaboratively build a prosperous place; financial solvency is a prerequisite for long term prosperity, and land is the base
resource from which community prosperity is built and sustained, and must not be squandered.

PWX Highlights:
Other PWX highlights include the Public Works Stormwater Summit that APWA's Water Resources
Management Committee has planned in a program featuring the latest approaches for stormwater
planning and management in North America, the Public Works Directors’ Roundtable, the C4S
Roundtable, the Self-Assessment Using the 8th edition Public Works Practices Manual workshop, and
several Wednesday Workshop/Tours that include; Full Circle Organic Facility Compost Tour and
Multimodal Transportation Systems Serving the Mall of America, St. Croix Crossing Project & 3M
Innovation Center, and Union Depot and Metro Green Line LRT Tour, and the Metropolitan Wastewater
Treatment Plant, in St. Paul, and the Minneapolis Bicycle Facilities and U.S. Bank Stadium.
Details about sessions and speakers can be found on the APWA website at: www.apwa.net.
All media are invited to register for a complimentary PWX conference press pass that includes access to all educational
program sessions, the Sunday Get Acquainted Party, the Monday Awards Ceremony, and the exposition.
For more information or to register for PWX, send a request to Laura Bynum, APWA Media Relations/Communications
Manager by email to: lbynum@apwa.net.

About APWA
The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization of
more than 29,000 members involved in the field of public works. Originally chartered in 1937, APWA serves
its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and
the exchange of knowledge. With 63 chapters throughout North America, APWA is headquartered in
Kansas City, Missouri, and has an office in Washington, D.C.

WHO: Nearly 6,000 public works professionals from over 10 countries are expected to converge in Minneapolis.

WHAT: APWA’s newly re-branded annual conference, PWX or “Public Works Expo,” will provide more than 120 education sessions on a broad array of the most current public works topics, with new inclusive learning experiences, new innovations and technologies, as well as new networking opportunities as part of the learning experience. Other new learning concepts include ‘Lighting Rounds,’ fast paced concise presentations on the hottest topics, ‘Innovation Station,’ an all new multi-purpose area, the Hub, at PWX located in Registration, and ‘Tech Time,’ informal sessions for attendees to catch up on new tools and resources that add to productivity in the workplace. The APWA PWX will also provide four dynamic keynote speakers including NASA Astronaut Captain Scott Kelly, Jeff Havens, Mel Robbins and Strong Towns Founder and President Charles Marohn.

WHERE: The APWA PWX will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center, located at 1301 Second Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55403.
WHEN: The 2016 APWA PWX will take place during August 28-31, 2016.
WHY: The APWA PWX, or Public Works Expo, will bring together public works professionals from all over the world to learn with new concepts to help prepare attendees for the future in their communities.

Another new feature, the ‘Fleet Workshop,’ will provide a full day of challenges and solutions for public fleet managers and includes the Monday general sessions with Jeff Havens, two hours on the Exhibit Floor, and presentations and several discussions on Top Ten Performance Measures for 21st Century Fleet Management, What to Look for in a Fleet Management System, Attracting Fleet Managers and Technicians to Replace Retiring Staff, Insourcing and partnership opportunities, and Replacement Funding. Other new concepts include the ‘APWA Connect Live!’ in the APWA presence on the Exhibit Floor that will provide attendees with an environment to meet public works experts and network with peers.

Expanded technology will include an easy-to-use Event App that includes new features, such as social sharing via the APWA Events Activity feed, to enhance the overall experience. Also, there will be more than 90,000 square feet of Exhibit space to explore including the Sustainability Pavilion, the Technology Pavilion and the New Product Showcase, so there is something for every public works professional.

Media Contact:

Laura Bynum, APWA Media Relations/Communications Manager, lbynum@apwa.net or
phone: 202.218.6736.