So You Want to be a Director
Track: Professional Development

Friday, May 1st | 10:30 - 11:45am
Facilitator and Panel Member Bruce Fletcher, Director of Mercer Island Parks and Recreation

Panelists: Kit Ledbetter, City of SeaTac Parks and Recreation Director; Daryl Faber, Director of Parks, Arts and Recreation, City of Auburn; Paul Simmons, Parks, Arts, and Recreation Director, City of Olympia; Mary Dodsworth, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director, City of Lakewood Parks, and Larry Otos, past Parks and Recreation Director, City of Mount Vernon.   

Room: 316

Description:

If you’ve ever considered how your career path may lead to a director level position someday, or wondered what it might take to get there, you’ll want to join us for a lively panel discussion with some of our association’s parks and recreation directors. The panel discussion, with plenty of time for Q & A, will include topics such as, “What do I know now, that I wish I knew then”, advice on areas of focus for those desiring to pursue a director position, effective leadership tips, and much more.

Speaker Bio: Bruce Fletcher, Director of Mercer Island Parks and Recreation

Speaker Bio: Kit Ledbetter, City of SeaTac Parks & Recreation Director

Kit has been the Parks and Recreation Director for City of SeaTac since 1995. He has been a Parks and Recreation Director for various communities since 1984.  His professional career started as a Recreation Leader for the City of Brea in 1970. He has been very fortunate to work for the City of SeaTac who has funded over $15 million in park project over the past 20 years. Because he is at the end of his working career, he often reflects back on what a wonderful opportunity parks and recreation has been.

Speaker Bio: Daryl Faber, Director of Parks, Arts and Recreation, City of Auburn

Daryl has worked for 30 years in Municipal Recreation at 4 different agencies (Edmonds, Metro Parks-Tacoma, Burien and Auburn) He has been a Parks Director the past 15 years.  Daryl’s efforts began with a focus on recreation services such as athletics, aquatics, and community centers.  He currently oversees the City of Auburns programs that include over 30 parks, community and senior center, museum and historic farm as well as the golf course and cemetery. Daryl is a Past President of the Washington Recreation and Parks Association and has also served the association in numerous positions. Daryl is the father of 3 sons and is married to his wife Mary for 23 years.  In his free time he loves to golf and hike.

Speaker Bio: Paul Simmons, Parks, Arts, and Recreation Director, City of Olympia 

Paul has been serving as the Director in Olympia since the fall of 2013, prior to that he spent ten years working as the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Cheney. Paul’s career highlights more than eleven years of experience as a department director and he has over twenty years of overall parks and recreation experience. This includes working with a county, school district, non-profit agency, air force base, outdoor education camp, university, and six different cities.

Paul believes in public service, and more importantly believes in the role Parks, Arts, and Recreation plays in the larger community. Paul is a member of the West Olympia Rotary and has been elected president of two different non-profit organizations. He has spent countless hours coaching Special Olympics swimming, basketball, and softball. When he is not working, he is typically living adventurously with his lovely wife Amy and their seven month old daughter Lucy.

Speaker Bio: Mary Dodsworth, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director, City of Lakewood

Mary has been with the City of Lakewood for thirteen years working on developing a comprehensive public park and recreation system for the citizens of Lakewood.  Recently her department has taken over several traditional public works functions – streets, signs and signals. Prior to working in Lakewood she spent fifteen years with the Town of Steilacoom directing their parks, recreation and community service programs. She is the proud mother of two college students, a past president of the Washington Recreation and Parks Association and if she isn’t playing in the dirt, she’s probably out wandering around her community.

Mary believes in the benefits of parks and recreation and is working to create a vibrant and healthy community in Lakewood.  She is thankful for the many people and organizations that are willing to share resources, solve problems and work together to improve the Lakewood community.  
Speaker Bio: Larry Otos, past Director for City of Mount Vernon

Coming Soon!