Award speech by: Kerry Brennan, NYSAPCSO President

Good evening everyone.

Tonight, it is my absolute honor to present the 2026 Merit and Fitness Award to someone who truly represents the very best of public service, civil service, and quite honestly, being an all-around good human being…….Joe Cavazos.

Before I go any further, I want to take a moment to welcome Joe’s family, who are here with us tonight. Joe’s wife, Abi, and his children, Gunner and Adela…..we are so grateful that you are here to share this special recognition with him. We know that behind every dedicated public servant is a family that shares them with the rest of us, and tonight we recognize you too….And in all honesty, you should probably get your own award for putting up with him.

Joe has spent the majority of his career serving and supporting civil service administration at the local government level. He joined the Municipal Services Division in 1997 (I was 12 at the time)……through the Public Management Internship program, and from there, he began building what has become an incredible legacy.

One of Joe’s most meaningful contributions was the development of the Civil Service Institute training program. What began as an effort to train newly appointed civil service agency staff has grown into something that has helped shape the work of local civil service agencies across New York State. More than 670 local civil service professionals have graduated from CSI, and Joe’s impact has reached nearly every local agency served by Municipal Services.

That is an incredible accomplishment. But numbers only tell part of the story.

Joe has a rare ability to take complicated, technical, sometimes overwhelming civil service matters and explain them in a way that people can understand…aka…dumb it down. And for those of us who work in civil service, we know that is no small gift. There are days when we read Civil Service Law, rules, regulations, memos, policies, and guidance, most likely at 4:00 PM on a Friday when we receive 5 months’ worth of PAR’s all in one afternoon….and we think, “Surely this could have been written in a language known to humans.” Joe is one of the people who can translate it.

He has been a teacher, a mentor, a leader, an advocate, and a steady voice for local government. He understands the work we do, the challenges we face, and the importance of protecting the principles of merit and fitness while also remembering the people behind the process.

And that is what makes Joe so special.

When I think of Joe, I do not only think of his title or his experience, although those are certainly impressive. I think of the person. I think of someone who makes people feel welcome. Someone who can walk into a room and instantly make it better. Someone who has the kind of personality that makes people want to pull up a chair and stay awhile.

I still remember when I first met Joe. It was in the hospitality suite, which, as we all know, is where many important professional relationships are formed…..and where absolutely no official minutes should ever be taken.

I watched Joe interacting with people, telling stories, laughing, and engaging with everyone around him. He had the majority of the room laughing, and I remember thinking, “Who knew people who worked for New York State could be so fun?”

And the truth is, that is Joe. He brings warmth and humor into spaces that can sometimes be very serious. He reminds us that while the work matters deeply, we do not have to lose ourselves in it. We can serve with excellence and still laugh. We can be professional and still be personable. We can lead and still be human.

And from what I understand, Joe’s sense of humor is not limited to conference hospitality suites. I have heard stories of office pranks, dad jokes, and even a missing burrito incident that apparently became worthy of a wanted poster. I will not go into all of the details tonight, mostly because I want Joe to still speak to me after this, but I think it is safe to say that Joe has brought joy, laughter, and probably a small amount of chaos to many people over the years.

Joe’s wife Abi also shared that Joe is a spare-no-expense kind of guy, including on their first date, when he learned she liked Brandi Carlile and somehow turned that into front row tickets. That is a very Joe thing to do….thoughtful, big-hearted, and maybe just slightly over the top.

And then, of course, there is Yeti. I am not sure how many award speeches include a dog with his own Instagram account, email address, wardrobe, and political aspirations, but here we are. Apparently, Joe has matching outfits with Yeti, sleep pants with Yeti’s face on them, and at one point wrote Yeti in to serve as town trustee. So, if anyone is looking for a campaign manager in the future, Joe may be available, and Yeti may already have a platform.

But underneath all of the humor and stories is something much deeper.

Joe cares.

He cares about the work. He cares about the people doing the work. He cares about local civil service agencies. He cares about getting things right. He has spent his career helping others understand, navigate, and uphold a system that is central to fair and effective public employment.

That is what merit and fitness is about. It is about fairness. It is about integrity. It is about public trust. It is about making sure government service is based on ability, qualifications, and commitment. Joe has not only supported those principles…..he has helped teach them, protect them, and carry them forward for the next generation of civil service professionals.

Joe, your influence is felt across this state. It is felt in the people you have trained, the agencies you have supported, the colleagues you have mentored, and the countless local government professionals who have relied on your guidance.

You have made this work better. You have made this profession stronger. And you have made all of us laugh along the way.

On behalf of NYSAPCSO, it is my privilege to present you with the 2026 Merit and Fitness Award in recognition of your lifetime achievement, your leadership, your advocacy, and your undeniable status as an all-around good guy. Congratulations, Joe.