MARYSVILLE – City of Marysville Community Development Director Gloria Hirashima received one of two “Public Employee of the Year” awards presented by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties and the Puget Sound Section, Washington Chapter, of the American Planning Association.

Robert Thorpe, past president of the Puget Sound APA and principal of Robert W. Thorpe and Associates in Seattle, joined Jennifer Jerabek and Michael Pattison of the MBA in presenting the award to Hirashima at the APA’s annual holiday celebration in Seattle.

The joint MBA-APA award program, now in its third year, was created to honor public employees who best exemplify the spirit of seeking meaningful solutions to the challenges presented by growth while maintaining responsible environmental stewardship.

Thorpe said that public employees such as Hirashima “have distinguished themselves as outstanding leaders in the planning world and in the communities they serve by working with and bringing together various stakeholders to affect good public policy.”

Hirashima was named a “Public Employee of the Year” for her leadership during a period of significant growth for the city of Marysville. She oversaw the annexation that saw Marysville grow from 37,000 to 57,000 residents, effectively incorporating its entire urban growth area.

MBA Executive Officer Sam Anderson congratulated public employees such as Hirashima “for their leadership on planning issues and for the many contributions they make in the cities they serve.”