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Celebrate Excellence in Colorado’s Roads & Engineering Community
The Colorado Association of Road Supervisors and Engineers (CARSE) recognizes individuals whose leadership, expertise, and service strengthen our communities and advance the mission of CARSE through its annual Awards Program.
The organization seeks nominations for colleagues and peers who exemplify dedication, innovation, and impact in their work. Whether they’re building stronger road networks, leading with vision, or giving tirelessly to CARSE, these awards shine a spotlight on the people who make a difference.
Nominations for 2026 award recipients will open in June.
2025 Road Supervisor of the Year Award
Ty Barger, Road & Bridge Superintendent from Ouray County, was recogized with the CARSE 2025 Road Supervisor of the Year Award on Dec. 2.
Barger manages over 300 miles of road with an annual budget that varies between $4-6 million. Ouray County’s roads include the famous Engineer and Imogene Passes that require challenging high country spring snow removal, and heavily traveled dirt roads that serve residents and access to public lands. He has diagnosed the tension between keeping up with exceptional maintenance expectations and investing in road reconstruction. Through his 1 and 6 year road plan, Ty has outlined how he can balance that tension to chip away at the backlog, and is spearheading a 2026 ballot initiative to enable Road & Bridge to accelerate road reconstruction to modern standards.
Ouray County Commissioner Jack Niece said, "Ty Barger embodies the saying, 'do more with less' and deserves to be recognized for working smarter AND harder, his integrity, organization, ingenuity, and bottom line effectiveness."
“When I joined Ouray County nearly five years ago, I didn’t fully anticipate the kinds of challenges and difficulties my team and I would encounter. I am so very grateful for the wonderful team of dedicated professionals who I have been privileged to work with, and I believe they are completely capable of overcoming any challenges in serving this community. None of us do our work for gratitude or recognition, so this award is deeply appreciated and very humbling. It was an incredibly proud experience to represent Ouray County in accepting this award,” said Barger.
Award Categories
ANNUAL AWARDS
Engineer of the Year or Road Supervisor of the Year
Nominees must be a CARSE Member who is a professional engineer or road supervisor or road and bridge director/manager. This individual demonstrates exceptional leadership, engineering expertise, and commitment to both CARSE and the broader community. This award follows NACE guidelines, allowing the CARSE winner to be considered for national recognition.
Nominations may be submitted by a Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), County Manager, or CARSE member.
SPECIAL AWARDS
CARSE Member of the Year
Elaine Spencer Award
Celebrates a CARSE member whose leadership, expertise, and involvement in both CARSE and the community set them apart. Unlike the above awards, this recognition remains at the CARSE level and is not tied to NACE guidelines. Nominations are typically submitted by fellow CARSE members.
Presented in honor of Elaine Spencer, this award recognizes a member who has gone above and beyond in service to CARSE itself. It is a heartfelt tribute to dedication and volunteerism within the organization. Nominated by CARSE members.