Renea Rafala

Renea Rafala is an accomplished public works leader with more than 25 years of progressive experience in municipal operations, capital improvement planning, and infrastructure development. As Director of Public Works for the City of Lawrence, she directs daily operations across six divisions—including storm water, streets, sanitation, engineering, building, zoning, and facilities maintenance—while managing a $10 million annual operating budget.

Throughout her career, Renea has overseen multimillion-dollar projects from concept to completion, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and alignment with community priorities. She is adept at building strong partnerships with city officials, contractors, and stakeholders, and is a trusted advisor in matters of project management, fiscal oversight, and policy implementation.

Prior to her current role, Renea served as Operations Manager for the department, where she played a pivotal role in strategic planning, ordinance development, and capital improvement initiatives. She holds an Associate of Science in Business Administration from Kaplan University and maintains certification as an INDOT Employee in Responsible Charge (ERC).

An active member of the Indiana Association of Building Officials, Renea is committed to fostering sustainable infrastructure solutions and enhancing the quality of life for residents of Lawrence.