Brad Woznak Receives Minnesota Floodplain Manager of the Year Award

The Association of Floodplain Managers Association—Minnesota Chapter (MnAFPM) presented SEH Water Resources Engineer Brad Woznak with the Floodplain Manager of the Year Award at their Annual Conference in November 2017.

As a certified floodplain manager for many years, Brad works tirelessly to lead floodplain management efforts.  

Here’s what Brad, who works out of the SEH St. Paul, Minnesota office, had to say about receiving the award and his profession:

1. What does this award mean to you?

I’m both pleased and humbled to receive this award. I have so much appreciation for my peers, my involvement in floodplain management and MnAFPM.

2. Describe your involvement with MnAFPM? How long have you been a member?  What other organizations are you involved in?

My involvement with MnAFPM began in 2003 when I became involved on the inaugural conference planning committee. I also served as treasurer and most recently assisted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources staff with teaching a Floodplain Management Review class.  

Outside of MnAFPM, I am a member on the Scholarship Committee with American Council of Engineering Companies—Minnesota Chapter.

3. What is it about your profession that you find the most rewarding?

The most rewarding would be working to solve challenging problems.

4. Can you explain more about what you like about flood project challenges? 

I really like the challenges that come with each project. To get more specific, I really like: 

• Being challenged to come up with solutions and using the collective wisdom of a team to develop and fine tune those solutions.
• The challenge of knowing there typically isn’t any one right or wrong answer.
• The challenge of figuring out the appropriate tools to first understand the big picture issue and then developing the best means for mitigating the problem. This could be anything from modifying floodplain planning and zoning to building structural flood mitigation projects.

5. What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far while working in this field?

Seeing the many projects I’ve been involved with taken from an initial "pipe dream" to construction and providing the many benefits to communities.