Keith Garbrick, PE, Receives 2025 Professional Manager of the Year Award from APWA North Carolina Chapter!

Leadership and Management Conference Awards Ceremony Celebrates Keith’s Contributions to the Public Works Field

On May 8, 2025, Keith Garbrick, PE, LaBella’s Southeast Regional Vice President, was honored with the Keith Pugh Professional Manager of the Year Award by the North Carolina Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA NC) at their Leadership and Management Conference in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

The Keith Pugh Professional Manager of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievements in public works administration and celebrates those who inspire excellence, leadership, and dedication to the public good.

Keith, who has been with LaBella for nearly 20 years, serves on the Board of Directors and, as Southeast Regional Vice President, focuses on supporting the growth of LaBella’s 15 Southeast offices. His experience spans a wide range of public and private projects, including water resources, data centers, and educational, commercial, industrial, and utility construction projects. With experience on both sides of a project – both as the designer and as the contractor – Keith has a unique ability to manage complex projects, such as the City of Gastonia’s Water Treatment Plant Upgrade and Expansion.

The timely announcement came just ahead of National Public Works Week 2025 (NPWW), which runs May 18-24. Sponsored by APWA, NPWW is an annual campaign to raise awareness about the importance and criticality of public works in our daily lives.

Please join us in congratulating Keith on this well-earned recognition!