Top Public Works Talent Compete at APWA State Expo
St. Johns County was proud to be represented at this year’s American Public Works Association (APWA) Florida Chapter Road-eo, a highlight of the association’s annual conference – the 2025 Florida Public Works Expo. The event brings together the most skilled public works operators from across the state to compete in six challenging events that test precision, efficiency, and technical expertise. The Office of Public Affairs produced a video to capture this achievement.
This year, two standout employees from the St. Johns County Public Works Department earned their spot among Florida’s best: Chris Ingraham, a Heavy Equipment Operator in the Road and Bridge Division, and Freddie Badger, a Household Hazardous Waste Technician with the Solid Waste Division. Both individuals placed in the top five during a regional competition held in Jacksonville earlier this year, earning them the honor of competing at the state level.
“Just being here means they were recognized as two of the top operators in the Northeast Florida area,” said Ben Bright, St. Johns County Public Works Deputy Director.
For Chris and Freddie, the competition is more than just a showcase—it’s a celebration of their passion and pride in their work.
“I absolutely love operating equipment,” Badger said. “I believe that’s what I was raised for, and I enjoy every day that I get to come to work and provide services for our public.”
Ingraham echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the essential work Public Works teams perform daily.
“We’re just in the community every day helping people,” Ingraham said. “That’s our job—helping with drainage, ditches, pipes—pretty much everything that nobody really wants to deal with. And it’s nice to come here where you get to compete with people all over the state.”
As competitors take to the field, hearing “St. Johns County” over the loudspeaker resonates beyond the expo—it reflects the skill, dedication, and pride of the entire Public Works team.
“It shows that they enjoy what they do, that operating equipment is a passion of theirs,” Bright said. “We love to see that in an employee who’s energized, motivated to do the job that they’re hired to do and that they enjoy it. They bring a dedication to a craft, which is really what it is more than a profession. It’s an art more than a science. Their dedication to that translates to greater work efficiency and a higher level of operations being provided to our residents.”
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