Robert L. Nichols Professional Service Award: Spencer Maxwell
Spencer Maxwell, Group Manager for North Texas Transportation and Associate, has dedicated hundreds of hours of service to both the Texas chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) in a variety of roles.
Beginning his journey as a member of the APWA Texas Education Committee, Spencer steadily advanced to chair the Awards Committee before joining the Board of Directors in 2021. He currently serves as Vice President of the chapter, overseeing the Conference and Education committees and ensuring each chapter branch submits reports accurately and on time.
Additionally, Spencer chairs the ITE Committee on Ethics in the Transportation Profession. In 2024, he led the committee’s efforts to revise the organization’s Canon of Ethics for the first time in almost a decade. He extensively coordinated the group spanning the U.S. and Canada as they discussed, debated and ultimately implemented the proposed changes.
Spencer is passionate about encouraging young team members to get engaged with professional organizations — a passion that was inspired by Bob Nichols himself. Early in Spencer’s career, Bob conducted one of his first QA reviews and then afterward asked about his involvement.
“When I told him that I had gone to some ASCE, TexITE and APWA meetings, he frowned and asked if I was on any committees or executive boards,” Spencer said. “When I told him that I wasn’t yet, he made it clear that just attending meetings was not enough — I needed to raise my hand and get more involved. His words have stayed with me ever since, and I continue to repeat his advice to younger staff in my group.”
Spencer’s participation in these groups has given him opportunities to grow as a leader, build valuable relationships with colleagues and contribute to enhancing the reputation of the engineering profession.
His APWA service has helped him connect with public works leaders, provide our clients with valuable learning opportunities and advocate for government funding for public works at the state and national levels. His ethics-related work for ITE has fostered a greater awareness of the importance of integrity, diversity and inclusion within the profession and strengthened his mentorship abilities.
“The [engineering] community has benefited through the promotion of high professional standards, ensuring that future projects are guided by ethics and inclusivity, leading to better outcomes for both professionals and the public,” Spencer said.
Freese and Nichols presents the Robert L. Nichols Professional Service Award each year to an employee who demonstrates dedication and commitment to professional development. Nominees are evaluated according to their involvement and leadership with professional organizations; their contributions to the profession, including technical presentations and papers; their long-term impact on colleagues and students; and their efforts that go above and beyond normal duties.