APWA Winter Maintenance Certificate Course – Instructor Biographies

MARK DEVRIES                                                          

Mark serves as a Business Application Manager and winter maintenance expert for Vaisala Inc. In his role he serves as a resource that is helping clients/agencies/etc. to improve their operations and works with them to solve problems, offers training opportunities and serves as customer support. Mark is an expert in winter maintenance operations, chemical use including liquid programs and blending liquid de-icers.  Mark also serves as a winter maintenance researcher on behalf of Vaisala.

Mark is a renowned presenter and often a keynote speaker. Mark has presented at Snow and Ice seminars all across North American and abroad, many environmental seminars and for various Municipalities across North America. Mark is also internationally known and has traveled several times to Europe, South America, Scandinavia and China. Mark is also an author and has been published in every major industry Magazine, white papers and completed research for Clear Roads.

Mark is the recipient of many awards including, the 2014 APWA Distinguished Service Award, the 2012 APWA Presidential Leadership Award, the 2010 APWA Top Ten Public Works Leader of the year, the 2007 APWA Donald C. Stone Award and the 2006 award of achievement from the APWA. Mark and crew were the recipients of the 2006 APWA Technical innovation award and the National Association of Counties Achievement award for the County’s Liquid De-icier Blending System.

Mark serves on numerous committees, he is former Chairman of the National APWA Winter Maintenance Sub-Committee. Member of the AASHTO Winter Maintenance Technical Service Program. A member of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Winter Maintenance Committee and the TRB Surface Transportation Weather Committee. Member of the APWA Chicago Metro Chapter. Former Trainer for the Illinois Department of Transportation. A member of the APWA Chicago Metro Chapter.

Prior to joining the Vaisala team, Mark was with McHenry County Division of Transportation (retired,) for 30 years where he served as Maintenance Superintendent.  Mark still resides in McHenry County where he lives with his wife. He is the father of a son and daughter and has 5 grandchildren. Mark is an avid fisherman and enjoys golf in his spare time.

Bryan is a retired Road Maintenance Supervisor, currently working part time as the Special Projects and Safety Coordinator with City of Farmington Hills, MI-DPW.

Bryan has been employed by the City of Farmington Hills for over 32 years, working his way up from a laborer to supervisor for 18 years where he coordinated various right-of-way safety training sessions to educate team members. Bryan is a graduate of Michigan Public Service Institute.

As a Road Maintenance Supervisor, Bryan was responsible for overseeing various road maintenance activities including storm drainage maintenance, forestry operations, right-of-way maintenance, snow and ice control, sign shop, and street sweeping to name a few.

In 2011, the City of Farmington Hills received the APWA’s National Snow and Ice Control Award, and Bryan has served on the APWA’s National Snow and Ice subcommittee and various APWA review committees since then.

Snow and Ice Control has been a passion for Bryan throughout his career, as an operator, mentor and team member.

Bryan has provided training to numerous agencies and has delivered presentations at various national APWA North American Snow Conferences, the APWA Michigan Road Scholar program, the APWA National Supervisor & Operator certificate courses, as well as other local APWA and commercial trainings across the country.

John is a retired Public Works Director with the City of Dubuque.

John started his employment as a labourer in 1975, and has held various positions throughout the years.

In 1991 John joined the City’s management team as the street maintenance supervisor and added several other areas of responsibility when he became the street/sewer maintenance supervisor.

In 2016 John was appointed to the position of Public Works Director.

In 2019 he was awarded APWA’s Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year award.

In October of 2023 he retired with 48 years of service with the City of Dubuque.

John has been awarded life time membership in the APWA, and currently serves on the American Public Works Subcommittee on Winter Maintenance.