Michael L. Nichols Client Service Award: Austin Dugger
Stormwater project manager and engineer Austin Dugger prioritizes our clients and communities in his work, leading community service efforts and managing major stormwater projects in his region.
As community service committee leader, Austin is responsible for organizing service events and coordinating with local organizations, putting our service-focused mindset into action.
For example, Austin participated in the Great American Cleanup last year, a statewide initiative organized by Keep Oklahoma Beautiful to collect litter and debris to restore and protect the area’s natural beauty.
Austin also serves on the Board of Oklahoma APWA and Oklahoma Floodplain Managers Association, regularly interacting with clients to understand their goals and determine solutions to accomplish them.
Jeremy Rice, Stormwater-WRP – Central Plains Group Manager who nominated Austin for this year’s award, had this to say about him:
“He manages projects to best serve our clients, including the Oklahoma Floodplain, Midwest City Comprehensive Stormwater Master Plan and El Reno Design projects. He is wewll respected by our clients.”
Here’s a portion of what a client in Midwest City said about Austin:
“Austin is very responsive to feedback and is able to pivot when required and still stay within budget. He thinks about what is best for the client and the project while also controlling scope creep in a very thoughtful and professional manner.”
Austin conducted HEC-RAC 2D training in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma City and Tulsa with more than 30 clients in attendance. Here’s what a client from Broken Arrow had to say:
“The step-by-step walkthrough was very helpful. Austin did a great job.”
Austin exemplifies the spirit of the Michael L. Nichols Client Service Award through his dedication to clients, communities, and service leadership. His focus on delivering thoughtful, high-quality solutions makes him a strong choice for this recognition.
Freese and Nichols established the Michael L. Nichols Client Service Award to recognize the outstanding service in internal or external client development. This award exemplifies our LEADS values of “Deliver Quality” and “Serve Always” as we serve our clients with respect and dedication by adding value and excelling in all we do. The recipient receives a cash stipend of $1,000.