MOHAVE COUNTY, AZ (March 13, 2023) – Sergio Gudino, Interim Engineering Manager in Mohave County’s Public Works Department has been recognized by the Arizona Association of County Engineers (AACE) with an honorable mention under the “Rising Star” category at the organization’s 20th Annual Esterbrooks Awards on March 9, 2023.

AACE Board of Directors established its award program in an effort to recognize service to the community through the Arizona county public works profession, to recognize achievements in the county public works field, to increase awareness to AACE in Arizona, and to promote the county public works profession and AACE.

AACE says individuals whose contributions to the public through its county public works department make a difference in the lives of friends, family, coworkers, colleagues, and the public as a whole. Membership in AACE is not required in order to be recognized. Individuals must be employed in the public works profession in Arizona and be an employee of a county.

Mohave County Public Works Director Steve Latoski submitted the nomination. Gudino joined Mohave County in 2019 after graduating from San Diego State University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in May 2019 and led the county’s first foray into roller compacted concrete (RCC) construction. He directed all aspects of construction engineering for 1.75 miles of Vanderslice Road reconstruction using RCC at $1.14 million. He also championed new methods for phase two delivery with tightened performance specifications, such as thresholds for ambient conditions having potential to affect project outcome. He further enforced removal and replacement as well as repair for numerous phase one sections that failed contract requirements due to workmanship.

Latoski said that since May, 2021 when Gudino was appointed Interim Engineering Manager, “he has performed with utmost professionalism and technical skill in delivering multiple gravel road hard surfacing projects coupled with federally funded traffic safety as well as new road and bridge construction projects.”

Latoski adds that Gudino “maintains a ‘future forward’ frame of mind in engineering practice, employing new technologies to improve service and developing new methods.” The Rising Star category is for Arizona county employees who have less than 5 years of service, are not upper management and have “made a profound impact on the organization in a short period of time, using innovation and enhancing the image of the county.”