Congratulations to Francesca Fuentes, awarded 2013 Emerging Leader - Private Sector by American Public Works Association (APWA), Southern California Chapter. The award "recognizes those who have demonstrated that they are the next generation of leaders in public works."

Francesca Fuentes heads Willdan's Corporate Programs. The APWA award notes: "Francesca's focus is connecting industry professionals; whether it is linking Willdan’s engineers with key agencies or professionals, or facilitating exchanges at one of the many industry associated events which she has managed. She is dedicated to the furthering of our industry… Francesca has been very active with the Southern California chapter of the American Public Works Association and has held several positions with the Program Committee; most notably, she was co-chair of the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2012 APWA National Conference in Anaheim and organized the Dinner Dance in 2011."

Pictured (L-R): Dave Hunt; Ray Wellington; Ismile Noorbaksh, APWA SoCal president; Francesca Fuentes; Adel Freij; Bill Pagett.