Klaiber Receives Third Annual Ehrnfelt Award for Outstanding Regional Contribution

NOACA is pleased to announce that the 2006 winner of the Walter F. Ehrnfelt, Jr. Award for Outstanding Regional Contribution is Cuyahoga County Engineer/Cuyahoga County Sanitary Engineer Robert C. Klaiber, Jr., P.E., P.S. Klaiber received the award this afternoon at NOACA’s 7th Annual Summit.

“Bob Klaiber’s service to Cuyahoga County and the region has been outstanding,” noted Ohio Department of Transportation District 12 Deputy Director David J. Coyle, who announced Klaiber as the award recipient. “With his approach to accountability and efficiency, Bob has strengthened public officials’ opinion for the county engineer’s office. Over the past six years Bob has worked tirelessly to improve the way infrastructure needs are met. He has made it a priority to reduce the backlog of road projects in Cuyahoga County’s Capital Plan, and as a result, many large projects, including the Pleasant Valley Road widening, Fulton Road bridge replacement and Crocker-Stearns road extension, are moving forward and being implemented.”

“Bob Klaiber exemplifies the qualities of leadership, dedication and cooperative attitude established for this award,” added NOACA Executive Director Howard R. Maier. “He did a great job as NOACA Board president (in 2005) and has been a unifying voice, setting a tone of cooperation for the Board. He is knowledgeable, understands the federal funding process and explains it well to mayors. When first appointed as Cuyahoga County engineer, Bob made it a priority to be more accessible to other governmental entities throughout the region. Bob’s inclusive attitude has earned him the admiration of community leaders and colleagues alike.”

The Ehrnfelt Award, established in 2004, recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the betterment of the region. Qualifications for the award include leadership, regional impact, cooperative attitude, and dedication.

Prior to his appointment as Cuyahoga County Engineer, Klaiber served as assistant city engineer and city engineer for the City of Strongsville, in the administration of Mayor Walter F. Ehrnfelt, Jr. His previous experience also includes working as senior design engineer for Brunkhorst Engineering.

In addition to serving as NOACA Governing Board president, Klaiber has also served as first vice president, second vice president, secretary, and treasurer through his years on the Board. He is a past chair of NOACA’s Transportation Advisory Committee, the standing committee that discusses transportation issues and makes recommendations to the full Governing Board.

Klaiber was selected by a seven-member committee of former Governing Board members from all five counties in the NOACA region and the City of Cleveland. The selection committee included:

• Seth Taft, former Cuyahoga County Commissioner
• Daniel McDermott, former Newbury Township Trustee
• David E. Anderson, Mayor of Willoughby
• Don Simmons, former Medina County Commissioner
• Jeffry J. Armbruster, Ohio State Senator, 13th District
• Charles L. Patton, Associate Judge, Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court
• Neil C. Hofstetter, former Geauga County Commissioner and 2005 Ehrnfelt Award recipient