So, You Want To Be The Boss? 

Thursday, April 23 | 2:30pm - 3:45pm 

Session Description: This panel style discussion will give students and young professional conference attendees the opportunity to hear seasoned Parks & Recreational Professionals answer questions regarding their Parks & Recreation careers. A panel of directors and senior management level professionals will share their experiences in the field and highlight what it takes to obtain a supervisory/ managerial and executive role in the field. Equally important, panel members will be asked to share their funniest stories: Laughter guaranteed! Attendees will have the opportunity to engage the professional panel through a Q & A.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will leave knowing what additional education, skills and professional experience are needed to advance in the field.
  2. Participants will better understand the challenges that many management and director level professionals face in our state and around the country and will be able to weigh whether such a role is something they wish to pursue.
  3. Participants will leave having a network of high-level professionals they can reach out to for advice and recommendations in the future.

Speakers: Grant Polhemus, Andy Fuzak, Jen Burbidge, Mary Dodsworth, Julie Parascondola, Lawrence Ellis, Ross Hoover

About the Speakers: Grant graduated from East Carolina University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Parks Management. He began his career as a Recreation Intern with Mercer Island Parks and Recreation and has been promoted twice. He is currently a Recreation Coordinator with their department where he coordinates youth and adult programming.

 

Andy is a Recreation Supervisor for the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. He graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation. Andy started working with Spokane Parks and Recreation as a camp counselor, then camp director, outdoor recreation summer intern, and then as an administration assistant to the outdoor recreation supervisor. In March of 2019, he was selected to become recreation supervisor of youth programs, general recreation programs, and sports field allocations.

Jen Burbidge, Lacey Parks & Recreation Director, graduated from BYU in 1992 with her Recreation Management degree.  She went into this field with the intent of pursuing private recreation, but ended up falling in love with community parks and recreation after witnessing the social, physical, and environmental benefits and how programs and outdoor spaces create healthy communities.  Over the past 26 years, and prior to Lacey, she has managed a diverse range of recreation programs, facilities, and projects in 5 communities:  Olympia, Anacortes, Federal Way, Kirkland, and Metro Parks Tacoma.  Her passion is leading a strong team and building relationships which increase partnership opportunities for the purpose of creating healthy community. 

Mary has 33 years of experience developing comprehensive park and recreation systems in Pierce County.  Her current Lakewood team manages parks and open space areas, creates recreation programs and special events, maintains streets, signs and signals, and collaborates with human service agencies supporting our most vulnerable populations.  Prior to Lakewood Mary worked for the Town of Steilacoom managing their parks, recreation and community center.  Mary believes in the benefits of parks and recreation and how it can create a healthy and vibrant community.  She is thankful for the many people and organizations always willing to share resources, solve problems and work together to improve their communities.  She is a graduate of Central Washington University (Go Wildcats) and loves to travel, watch Seattle sports teams and play in her garden!

 

Julie has spent the last three years as the Director of Parks, Recreation and Human Services for the City of Kent, the sixth largest city in Washington State with a diverse population of 131,000. Prior to Kent, Julie spent 20 years at Metro Parks Tacoma. Julie has been actively involved with CAPRA (Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies) since 2011 and helps train industry best practices across the US, working with over 55+ agencies. Julie has also completed NRPA’s Marketing and Revenue School, Executive Development School and Director’s School and is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional and Executive. She has a degree in Public Administration from North Carolina State University.

Lawrence Ellis, has over 35 years of parks and recreation experience. He is currently the Parks, Community Programs and Services Director with the City of SeaTac. Lawrence earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Washington State University where he also worked as Assistant Director with the Intramural Department. He relocated to Seattle where he worked with the YMCA of Greater Seattle as a Recreation Supervisor. Since the incorporation of the City in 1990, he has worked his way up to the Director of the Parks Department. Over the many years, he has established strong community relationships with local organizations, the local school district, human service agencies and sports organizations.

Ross Hoover has over 20 years of experience in municipal Parks and Recreation and a majority of his career has been with the City of Issaquah, where he worked in Recreation Services and Parks Planning and Development. Ross is the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Tualatin, near Portland, Oregon and is a Board Member for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Association. Ross is a graduate of Western Washington University and University of Texas, LBJ School of Public Affairs Senior Management Program.

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