Celebrating a Career of Service: Joe Schepers Honored by APWA and RWRA
Commonwealth Engineers is proud to celebrate Project Manager Joseph “Joe” Schepers, P.E., S.E., whose decades of service to Kentucky communities have recently been recognized in two especially meaningful ways: a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Public Works Association (APWA) and the naming of a Regional Water Resource Agency (RWRA) facility in Joe’s honor.
A Lifetime of Achievement in Public Works
Joe recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from APWA. This distinction is awarded only once every five to 10 years, making the recognition particularly meaningful.
The honor reflects a career spanning more than three decades in engineering, municipal leadership, infrastructure planning, and public service. Joe earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Kentucky and began a career in structural bridge design before serving the City of Owensboro as Assistant City Engineer and City Engineer. In those roles, Joe helped guide roadway improvements, stormwater upgrades, and major downtown revitalization efforts.
Joe’s commitment to the public works profession also extends beyond day-to-day project work. Joe has served the Kentucky Chapter of APWA, including as a chapter board President and an APWA delegate, helping support the organization’s mission of advancing public works and the people who serve their communities.
A Building Named in Recognition of Lasting Service
Joe’s legacy in Owensboro and the surrounding region was also commemorated by the Regional Water Resource Agency (RWRA), which dedicated its new office building as the Joseph Schepers Environmental Compliance Office Building.
The dedication carries special significance given Joe’s long tenure with RWRA. Before joining Commonwealth Engineers in 2026, Joe served 11 years as RWRA Executive Director as part of more than three decades of public service. As Executive Director, Joe led approximately 85 employees, managed an annual budget of more than $60 million, and oversaw two wastewater treatment plants along with numerous capital projects.
That leadership came during an important period for RWRA’s infrastructure. Major improvements at the David W. Hawes and Max N. Rhoads water reclamation facilities helped bring both plants into compliance with the Kentucky Division of Water and positioned the facilities to accommodate future community growth. The upgrades were also designed with emerging nutrient requirements and long-term operational efficiency in mind.
Naming the Environmental Compliance Office Building for Joe is a fitting tribute to a career centered on responsible infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and service to the communities of western Kentucky.
Continuing a Commitment to Kentucky Communities
Today, Joe brings that depth of public-sector experience to Commonwealth Engineers’ Bowling Green office as a Project Manager, supporting communities with water, wastewater, and other critical infrastructure needs throughout Kentucky and the region.
Joe also continues to serve the broader community through professional, civic, and faith-based organizations, including the Kentucky League of Cities, the Diocese of Owensboro, and the Green River Area Federal Credit Union.
These two honors recognize more than professional longevity. They reflect the trust Joe has built, the infrastructure improvements made under Joe’s leadership, and a sustained commitment to improving the communities that depend on reliable public works and water resources.
Congratulations to Joe on these well-deserved recognitions and on a remarkable legacy of service to Kentucky’s communities.
