Ben Sparks Receives Prestigious AMP Seven Hats Award

COLUMBUS, OHIO: Ben Sparks, Electric and Water Distribution Superintendent for the Village of Yellow Springs, is the 2026 recipient of the AMP Seven Hats Award.

The award was announced during the 2026 AMP Annual Conference, which took place Oct. 12-14 in Columbus.

The AMP Seven Hats Award — modeled after the American Public Power Association’s national Seven Hats Award — was introduced in 1984 to recognize utility managers who serve smaller communities of less than 2,500 meters, and whose management duties extend well beyond the scope of a manager in a larger system. Award winners demonstrate skills in seven areas: planning and design, administration, public relations, field supervision, accounting, personnel or employee direction, and community leadership.

“The AMP Seven Hats Award is one of the greatest honors that AMP can bestow on a Member official,” said Brian O’Connell, PE, Director of Public Infrastructure/Director of Utilities for the City of Bowling Green, Chair of the AMP Board of Trustees. “Ben Sparks exemplifies the versatility, commitment and community-minded leadership that define public power, and his dedication to Yellow Springs makes him highly deserving of this recognition. I am honored to present this award to Ben on behalf of the AMP Board of Trustees and thank him for his service to public power.”

Yellow Springs is a small community in western Ohio serving about 2,200 electric meters. Sparks has served the Village of Yellow Springs for 12 years. In his role as Electric and Water Distribution Superintendent, he oversees electric and water distribution, field operations, utility planning, emergency responses, customer service, budgeting, safety, employee development, community outreach and more.

Under Sparks’ leadership, the Village of Yellow Springs has made significant improvements to its electric distribution system, even achieving Diamond Level designation from the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider, or RP3 Program. Improvements have included two phases of system expansions to serve the Spring Meadows housing development, implementation of an advanced metering infrastructure system, development of a detailed digital map of the village’s distribution system, development of an in-house underground cable deployment solution, the migration of 1,600 feet of overhead electric lines to underground, the implementation of a targeted pole protection strategy, development of the Center Circuit Project, and more.

“Thank you to my family and to the Village of Yellow Springs for allowing me to be able to serve the community the way that I’m able to,” Sparks said, upon accepting the Seven Hats Award from O’Connell. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you. This is such an honor.”

Sparks’ leadership in the village also extends beyond the confines of his day-to-day job. Actively partnering with the Yellow Springs Police Department, he participates in the Safety Village Program where he helps to teach young children how to stay safe around electricity. He also launched the Yellow Springs Holiday Tree-Lighting Ceremony, which has grown to draw more than 500 attendees each year.

Beyond his service in his utility leadership role, Sparks devotes personal time to community service. He serves as a worship leader and youth pastor, and he is known in the community for offering others support during their most difficult times.