Steering Committee

Matt Adams

Greta Bonaparte is a Learning and Development Specialist for the Department of Public Works in the District of Columbia. She has over twenty years of experience in education administration and has held several positions in both public and private industries to include Academic Dean and Campus President. As a strong proponent of the tenets of adult education theory, in her current position, she researches, develops, and delivers Leadership and Management, and Professional Development workshops to Public Works employees that address all levels of learning style.

Rick Childs started with the City of Newport News Department of Public Works in 2010 as a Senior Equipment Operator than moved up in 2014 to Inflow / Infiltration Technician than to Training Specialist in 2015. I am certified as a VDOT Work Zone Safety, Confined Space and HAZWOPER, Red Cross and American Heart Association First aid and CPR Instructor.

Demetria Harris joined the District of Columbia Department of Public Works (DPW) Safety and Security Administration (SSA) in July 2022. Demetria has been employed by the District Government for 18 years. She began her career in the District with the Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services. Prior to coming to SSA, Demetria worked at the Department of Public Works Fleet Management Administration as the Special Events Coordinator. Ms. Harris comes to her position in SSA with a background in Facilities Management as a former Facilities Specialist with Fannie Mae Corporation prior to joining the District Government. Ms. Harris has managed and assisted all DPW agency moves, Capital Improvement Projects, responded to all facility requests and provided support for Safety and Security. She continues to manage the entire portfolio of assets for DPW including budgetary responsibilities. She will also continue to be involved with the Contract Plow Snow Program and all other agency and stakeholder requests. She manages the Annual APWA Rodeo and Annual DC City Wide Truck Touch & EV Grand Prix with DOEE. Ms. Harris is a Certified Public Manager and Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt from George Washington University.

Judi Hines retired as the Assistant Director of Public Works for Administration for the City of Newport News, Virginia, after 46 years of service. She was a key management team participant in achieving APWA National Accreditation for the Newport News Public Works Department in 2003, and was also instrumental in re-accreditation in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. She is a graduate of Christopher Newport University with a degree in business management. She is a past president of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of APWA and served as the Chapter Delegate to APWA’s Council of Chapters for six years. She is a charter member of the Steering Committee for the Mid-Atlantic Public Works Institute.

Renée Lafollette, PE, is currently the Public Works and Capital Projects Director for the Town of Leesburg, Virginia. The department consists of eight divisions: Streets, Fleets, Buildings & Grounds, Stormwater, Transportation, Inspections, Trash & Recycling, and Capital Projects, with an annual operating budget of $22.5 million and an average annual capital budget of $38.5 million. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering from The Ohio State University. She started her career as a resident engineer with the Ohio Department of Transportation where she gained field experience on heavy highway construction projects. She moved to Virginia in late 1999 and worked for a geotechnical company prior to beginning her career with the Town of Leesburg in November of 2000 as a senior engineer in the Capital Projects division of Public Works. Since starting with the Town, she has gained field and leadership experience at the local government level and rose through the ranks to become the Director of Public Works and Capital Projects in July 2015.

Samantha McNeil is Outreach Coordinator for the York County Department of Public Works. In this role, Samantha works closely with divisions such as Waste Management, Engineering, Stormwater Management and Grounds Maintenance (among others) to communicate important information to the public. She is also the County liaison to the Beautification Committee, and is responsible for environmental education and improvement practices. Previously, Samantha has worked in both the public and private sector, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She graduated from Christopher Newport University with a degree in Psychology, with an emphasis on Experimental Studies.

Larado Robinson is a seasoned professional engineer with over 30 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. In addition to his engineering background, he serves as a corporate development leader as the founder and owner of Global Purposes (www.globalpurposes.com). He holds a master's degree in Organizational Leadership, focusing on leadership training, speaking, and coaching. While much of his career has been dedicated to consulting engineering, he currently serves as the Director of Water and Sewer for the City of Salem.

As the founder and owner of Global Purposes, Larado is dedicated to cultivating strong leaders and cohesive teams. His passion lies in inspiring individuals to grow both personally and professionally, empowering them to enhance their leadership abilities. He holds certifications in Working Genius Facilitation and DISC, and is a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team member. Committed to enhancing team productivity and morale, Larado thrives on helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential.

Scott Smith, PE, LS - Coastal Resilience Engineer, is currently licensed as a Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor in Virginia and is Certified Public Works Professional and has over 38 years of experience in civil engineering, public works leadership, and infrastructure resilience. He currently serves as the Coastal Resilience Engineer for the City of Hampton, Virginia, where he leads implementation of the Resilient Hampton Initiative. In this role, Scott manages complex, multi-disciplinary projects focused on stormwater management, flood protection, and climate adaptation.

Scott is a member of APWA and ASCE and is a Past President of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the APWA and is Chairman of the Public Works Institute Steering Committee.