Federal Way City Councilman Mark Koppang recently received a Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities (AWC).

AWC’s Certificate of Municipal Leadership program recognizes city and town elected officials for accomplishing training in four core areas:

• Roles, responsibilities and legal requirements

• Public sector resource management

• Community planning and development

• Effective local leadership

“Cities and towns around the state are continually transforming in light of changing laws and the need to meet new challenges and opportunities,” said AWC Chief Executive Officer Peter B. King. “Our Certificate of Municipal Leadership program helps mayors and council members sharpen the tools they need today to understand the legal landscape, plan for the future, manage their resources, and foster strong relationships. The elected officials who earn this certificate demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and a desire to bring new ideas back to their community.”

Koppang completed more than 30 hours of training credits to earn this distinction.

Elected November 2015, Koppang served as the chair of the Parks and Recreation, Human Services and Public Safety Committee (PRHSPSC), where he spearheaded the creation of the City Council/Federal Way School Board Co-Committee. He now serves as the chair of the Land Use and Transportation Committee (LUTC) as well as the Federal Way Boys and Girls Club and Kiwanis Foundation boards.

Koppang has also been a member of Kiwanis for past six years.

AWC serves its members through advocacy, education and services. Founded in 1933, AWC is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation that represents Washington’s cities and towns before the state legislature, the state executive branch and with regulatory agencies. AWC also provides training, data and publications, and programs such as the AWC Employee Benefit Trust, AWC Risk Management Service Agency, AWC Workers’ Comp Retro, AWC Drug and Alcohol Consortium and AWC GIS Consortium.