Lake Wales, Fla. — Petersen Industries Inc. was awarded National Joint Powers Association national contract No. 070313-PII for procurement of “Grounds Maintenance with Related Equipment, Accessories and Supplies.” This is Petersen Industries’ second awarded contract with njpa.

The njpa serves over 46,000 government and nonprofit organizations as a contracting agency that satisfies competitive bid requirements while reducing the cost of the equipment. As a njpa awarded contract vendor, Petersen Industries is part of a select group of world-class vendors.

Farmington Hills, Mich. — NTEA, the Association for the Work Truck Industry, recognized 20 organizations that distinguished themselves as Member Verification Program companies during the quarter ending September 2013. In addition, seven companies re-qualified for the MVP that quarter. The program currently includes 258 ntea member companies.

Among the newest MVP companies are: Automotive International Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio; Bay Bridge Mfg. Inc., Bristol, Ind.; Champion Hoist and Equipment, Dunn, N.C.; Commercial Van Interiors, Houston, Texas and St. Louis, Mo.; Henderson Truck Equipment locations in Manchester, Iowa, Gilberts, Ill., Watertown, N.Y., and Bucyrus, Ohio; Knapheide Truck Equipment, Garner, N.C.; and pafco Truck Bodies, East Peoria, Ill. Companies that successfully qualified to renew their MVP status included Dealers Truck Equipment Co. Inc. locations in Baton Rouge, La., Buda, Texas, Little Rock, Ark., Longview, Texas, and Shreveport, La.; Pro-Vision Video Systems, Byron Center, Mich.; and Tiffin Loader Crane Co. (Palfinger North America Group), Tiffin, Ohio.

Chattanooga, Tenn. — Heil Environmental sponsored a public Sanitation Worker Appreciation Celebration Nov. 1 in downtown Chattanooga, Tenn. The second annual event was held in conjunction with the Heil Sanitation Worker Appreciation Program month of appreciation.

The initiative provided company employees and local residents an opportunity to let sanitation workers that the work they do to keep neighborhoods clean is appreciated. In addition, it raised awareness about how residents can stay safe around garbage trucks.

The public event is one of a kind for the refuse collection industry. Chattanooga closed off streets for the event and local municipalities and haulers brought their units to display. A large number of kids’ activities took place.

Heil employees in Chattanooga, Tenn., and in Fort Payne, Ala., kicked off swap in November 2011, the traditional month for giving thanks, by placing “We Appreciate You” signs on trash cans and setting out gift bags filled with snacks, pictures drawn by kids, thank-you notes and items featuring the Heil logo.

Washington — The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ board of directors voted at its annual meeting in October to elect Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Mike Hancock as the association’s president. John Cox, director of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, was elected aashto vice president.

As president, Hancock will emphasize three areas: updating the aashto Strategic Plan; promoting innovation as it relates to state department of transportation and industry practices; and participating directly in aashto’s effort to pass the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.

Hancock recently served as president of the Southeastern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. He currently serves as chairman of the aashto Standing Committee on Planning and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board.

Cox has served as wydot director since 2005. He enjoyed a distinguished career in law enforcement.