Courtesy photo.
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VENTURA — Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) is proud to announce the recognition of its 2025 Employees of the Year. These exceptional individuals have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, dedication, and innovation in their roles, contributing to the Agency’s ongoing success. The awards were presented on Tuesday, May 20th, during the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting.
Evan Martinez, honored with the Operations & Maintenance Employee of the Year award, has been with VCPWA for just over five years, playing a key role in maintaining and operating the water systems across the Agency’s four service districts. His major duties consist of helping the Operations and
Productions team deliver safe drinking water to residents and keeping the water system in excellent working condition.
“To be nominated and win this award is something else,” said Martinez. “I come to work and do the best job that I can, so being recognized for that makes all the long days and overtime worth it I’m happy to be recognized by management and to have been given the opportunity.”
Ben Fischetti, honored with the Manager of the Year award, is in his fifth year as the Engineering Manager for the Land Development Services Division at VCPWA, following 20 years as a civil engineering consultant. His primary duties include leading a team of multitalented staff through administration and engineering review of grading permits/violations, floodplain development permits, and water purveyor system compliance checks.
“As a third-generation civil engineer, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to develop strong technical skills in my field early in my career,” said Fischetti. “Over recent years, I have learned firsthand how building trusting relationships among co-workers raises the ceiling for accomplishments and satisfaction — both individually and collectively. I’m so grateful to have this team-focused environment at Ventura County Public Works Agency!”
Joel Chappell, honored with the Rookie of the Year award, has been with VCPWA since April 2024, serving as the Health & Safety Officer for the Agency. In this crucial role, Joel is responsible for overseeing the workplace safety and health of all 411 Public Works employees.
His efforts focus on enhancing situational awareness,
providing educational training,
conducting
workplace site
observations, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and agency safety policies.
Since joining VEPWA,
Joel has brought
innovative and impactful strategies to the table, transforming the way mandatory safety training is delivered. His dedication to keeping employees safe through engaging, effective training has made a significant impact on the Agency’s safety culture.
“As the Health & Safety officer, I take my role very seriously,” said Chappell. “I want to ensure that every employee has the knowledge and tools to keep themselves and their work teams safe from harm’s way and able to go home to their families and loved ones each and every night. It is an honor to be recognized for my efforts and contribution during my first year here at PWA and I look forward to continuing to improve our safety program for many more years to come.”
Jesse Stegall, honored as the Office Employee of the Year, is a valued member of VCPWA’s Information Technology (IT) team. In his role, Jesse plays a critical part in supporting the agency’s digital infrastructure by managing hardware and software systems, providing technical support to staff, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring that day-to-day technology operations run efficiently across departments.
“I am truly honored to receive this recognition,” said Stegall. *Working alongside such a supportive team makes it easy to do my best every day. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the efficiency of our operations, and I’m excited for what the future holds at
Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Ventura County through the effective management of essential infrastructure services. VCPWA oversees projects related to roads, flood control, water systems, and more, with a focus on sustainability, safety, and community well-being. For more information on Ventura County Public Works Agency and its services, please visit httos://publicworks.venturacounty.gov/