Stearns County honors County Engineer Jody Teich after national award

The Stearns County Board of Commissioners on May 19 formally recognized County Engineer Jody Teich after she received the 2025 National Association of County Engineers (NACE) Urban County Engineer of the Year Award.

The board presented a proclamation and approved a resolution congratulating Teich for “exemplary leadership and dedication in applying efficient engineering management principles and standards for the economic design, construction, maintenance, and operation of public works facilities.” The proclamation cited her service on statewide committees, her roles with the Minnesota Transportation Alliance and the Minnesota County Engineers Association, and her outreach at high schools and community colleges.

Linden Robjant, Carver County engineer and then-president of the Minnesota County Engineers Association, said Teich has “been working in county engineering for almost 30 years with most of it being right here at Stearns County, including being your county engineer since 02/2012.” Wayne Sandberg, Washington County engineer and secretary‑treasurer for NACE, described the award as “the highest honor bestowed by NACE” and praised Teich’s leadership and mentorship at statewide and national levels.

Teich credited county board support and her staff. “This award is just as much for the county board and to my staff,” she said, adding that family support helps sustain her time at state and national meetings. The board voted to adopt the resolution congratulating Teich; the chair instructed board members and guests to join for photos after the vote.

The board placed the recognition on the record and had visiting county engineers present the award in the boardroom. The presentation preceded other scheduled business and came before Teich’s reappointment item that appears later on the board’s agenda.