The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)’s Center for Accountability and Performance (CAP) has awarded the City of Alexandria the 2023 Performance and Organizational Leadership Award. This prestigious award recognizes organizations that have outstanding application of a systems approach to performance measurement that has resulted in a culture change, sustained improvements, and demonstrated positive effects on government performance and accountability. 

“The Office of Performance Analytics is vital to continuous improvement in our City government. The performance indicators and analysis created by the Office help us identify areas where we are doing well and areas with room for improvement,” said Mayor Justin Wilson. “This honor from ASPA confirms what we already know: OPA’s efforts, alongside the work of all City employees, are a top-notch example of what good governance can look like when public servants are dedicated to the work of the people." 

OPA’s efforts were supported by many within the City, including Mayor Justin Wilson, City Council, City Manager James Parajon, Information Technology Department, and all Department Heads. 

ASPA annually bestows awards on individuals, organizations, and governments for excellence in public service and administration. Alexandria was selected because of its stable, exemplary, active, and nationally recognized performance management system that incorporates cross-departmental collaboration, transparency in reporting, and program evaluation, among other components.  

ASPA will be holding a Virtual CAP ceremony at its Annual Conference on March 20 through 24, 2023. They will provide the City an official award plaque. Past award winners include King County, Washington; City and County of Denver (Denver) and its Peak Academy Initiative; State of Washington, Results Washington Initiative, and other exceptional organizations. 

The Office of Performance Analytics 

The City of Alexandria applied and was selected for the 2023 Performance and Organizational Leadership Award through the City’s Office of Performance Analytics’ (OPA). Since opening its doors in 2012, OPA has helped the City by providing analytical guidance, data analysis, rigorous surveying, process analysis, program evaluation, data centralization and automation, and more to help the City understand and solve problems.  

OPA is an invaluable resource, supporting the City’s commitment to protecting its fiscal health, supporting a thriving business community, and improving residents’ quality of life. The expertise of the City’s OPA staff has resulted in nation-wide acclaim and has placed Alexandria on the map as one of the most innovative cities in the world. Learn more about the office at alexandriava.gov/Performance and by watching this video. 

About ASPA 

The American Society for Public Administration’s (ASPA) Center for Accountability and Performance is committed to helping governments at all levels move to performance-based, results-driven management. ASPA, the largest organization representing practitioners, scholars, and students in the public administration field, advocates for greater effectiveness in government.