Alachua County Public Works employee wins Regional Equipment Roadeo

Press release from Alachua County

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Alachua County is proud to share that Public Works employee Nicholas Gianos took home top honors at the 2026 Annual Equipment Roadeo organized by the Santa Fe Branch of the American Public Works Association (APWA).

The event, co-hosted by Alachua County and the City of Gainesville, took place on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at the Alachua County Equestrian Center.

This large-scale regional competition drew 75 skilled operators from surrounding municipalities and counties. Some participants traveled from all over the state to showcase their proficiency in precision heavy machinery operation.

“Nicholas is without a doubt one of our best equipment operators,” said Brian Kauffman, the County’s assistant Public Works director. “He has a great career ahead of him here at Public Works.”

Equipment rodeos serve as a vital platform for public works professionals to demonstrate the technical skills and safety standards required to maintain the County’s critical infrastructure. These competitions test an operator’s ability to handle massive machinery with surgical precision, often under simulated emergency or high-pressure conditions.

Following his regional victory, Gianos and other top finishers will travel to Tampa in April to represent North Central Florida and compete for state honors at the Florida APWA Expo.