LocalGov250 and National Academy of Public Administration Honor 250 Public Service Champions

In the midst of America’s 250^th birthday celebration, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and LocalGov250 recently celebrated the honorees of their 250 Public Service Champions initiative. PSHRA member Kelli Bentley, director of human resources at Anniston Water Works & Sewer Board (AWWSB) in Anniston, Ala., was among the recipients.

L to R: Wally Bobkiewicz, city administrator with the City of Issaquah, Wash., and selection committee member of Local Gov 250; PSHRA member and 250 Public Service Champion honoree Kelli Bentley, director of human resources at Anniston Water Works & Sewer Board in Anniston, Ala.; James Christian-Blockwood, president and CEO, National Academy of Public Administration. Photo courtesy of Matt Hampton, National Academy of Public Administration

Local Gov 250 is a national initiative designed to “honor and elevate the role of local government as the United States approaches its 250^th anniversary,” according to the Local Gov 250 website.

The 250 Champions honor is meant to highlight government workers across the country who exemplify the highest standards of public service. Eligible recipients must be currently working as a government employee or recently retired within the last 10 years.

The 250 Champions were announced in March 2026, and feted at a reception held May 12 at the Philadelphia Sheraton Downtown, preceding the ICMA National Conference.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker was among the nearly 200 attendees gathered in the hotel’s Horizon’s Rooftop Ballroom for the event.

“Energy matters,” Parker said in her opening remarks, noting that workplace teams tend to mirror the energy of their leaders, and praising the 250 Champions in the room for the positive energy and contributions they bring to their agencies and communities.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker was among the nearly 200 attendees on hand to honor this year’s 250 Champions. Photo courtesy of Matt Hampton, National Academy of Public Administration

Throughout the two-hour event, the 250 Champions were brought to the stage, grouped by state, to receive individual recognition for their efforts.

Speaking to PSHRA, Bentley described being named to the 250 Champions list as “something I truly never expected.

“I am incredibly honored and grateful,” Bentley added. “I have been fortunate to work alongside many dedicated people who care deeply about what they do every day, and this recognition is just as much theirs as it is mine.

“I am proud to represent AWWSB and the work we are doing to invest in our employees, develop future leaders and strengthen the water and wastewater industry for the future.”

The individuals who were named 250 Champions were nominated by a peer in public administration. The Local Gov 250 Coalition and the National Academy of Public Administration reviewed hundreds of submissions from all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C. and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, according to a recent press release, which also includes a complete list of the honorees.

Wally Bobkiewicz, city administrator with the City of Issaquah, Wash., and selection committee member of Local Gov 250, served as the emcee for the May 12 reception. In a recent conversation with PSHRA, he commended 250 Champions for the vital part they play in providing essential services to their communities.

“Local Gov 250 is proud to recognize human resource professionals throughout America,” Bobkiewicz told PSHRA, “who play such a critical role in ensuring that key positions are staffed with qualified experts in all disciplines to best serve our communities.”