For the past five years, the Mississippi State Personnel Board has recognized the excellent work of state and local employees through the MS Excellence in Government Awards. Nominees are submitted across the state. On December 17, 2019, Governor Phil Bryant honored Sam Howell and Wayne E. Miller, P.E.
Wayne Miller, the director of Public Works for the City of Gulfport, was the local awardee for the Excellence in Local and District Government Award. Miller has served as the director for six years. While managing a team of 170 city and contract employees, he led the initiative to have the department accredited by the American Public Works Association in 2016. Gulfport is the only agency in the State of Mississippi to hold that designation. In 2018, Miller leads the City of Gulfport Public Works Department in receiving the MS Municipal League Municipal Excellence Award for Public Works.
“We are fortunate to have directors of Wayne’s caliber providing great leadership for Gulfport. His positive, “can-do” approach has become a hallmark in setting an example of how to anticipate and respond to the needs of the community he serves. Wayne has raised the bar for us all!” – Mayor Billy Hewes
