CONFERENCE SESSION BLOCK 5

• Session 5A
• Session 5B
• Session 5C
• Session 5D
• Session 5E
• Session 5F

Public Policy Risks of Artificial Intelligence

Description: 

When used properly, artificially intelligent systems can make organizations more efficient and more accurate. But this is not a simple good. Artificial intelligence opens up new areas of risk in public policy, including increasing inequality, decreasing choice, and ultimately undermining the trust that citizens have in public institutions.

Presented by: 

Nathan Colaner, Managing Director, Ethics and Technology, Associate Teaching Professor, Director of Business Analytics, Seattle University  

Biography: Professor Colaner is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Management at Seattle University, where he is also Director of Business Analytics and Managing Director of the Ethics & Technology group. His research and teaching focus on the ethical implications of the development and use of analytics and artificial intelligence. He also consults for the Vatican, the National Science Foundation, and various universities and businesses.

Learning Objectives

1. Awareness of how AI systems impact equity
2. Awareness of how AI systems impact trust between institutions and users
   
3. Basic understanding of how AI systems are created

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Gender Inclusion in Your Agencies and Sports Programming

Description: 

Join this session to explore how the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) has taken proactive steps toward gender inclusion. Discover how they've equipped their staff with essential training and implemented progressive policies and practices that foster inclusivity in recreational sports.  In today's evolving sports landscape, gender inclusion is more important than ever. Traditional sports leagues often segregate participants based solely on gender, but it's time to challenge these norms and create a more inclusive sporting environment that benefits everyone.  You'll delve deep into THPRD's experience and learn how their commitment to gender inclusion and how we reshaped one of their co-ed leagues. Explore the impactful changes they've made and the valuable feedback they've received as a result. As well as learn how to create a more equitable and inclusive sports environment for everyone.

Presented by: 

Julie Rocha, Sports & Inclusion Director, Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District  

Biography: Julie Rocha is the Sports & Inclusion Director at Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado and has an extensive career in parks and recreation in Colorado and Washington. With 16 years at THPRD, Julie leads the sports affiliate program, field fee committee, and public field fee task force. She expanded programs for individuals with disabilities, introduced a district-wide gender inclusion policy, and supervised an internship program for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color students.

Emily Kent, Sports & Inclusion Manager, Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District  

Biography: Emily Kent, THPRD's Sports and Inclusion Manager, oversees four facilities offering recreational and competitive activities, and inclusive programming for all ages. Her 20-year journey at THPRD started at 16, spanning various roles. Emily's experience includes sports affiliates, field allocations, fitness programs, afterschool initiatives, grants, and park projects. She's passionate about serving the 55+ community, forging partnerships, and staff equity. Beyond work, Emily is a sports mom who appreciates the benefits of parks and recreation for her children.

Learning Objectives

1. Understanding Gender Inclusion in Sports:  Participants will gain an understanding of the significance of gender inclusion in your agencies and in today's sports landscape, recognizing its importance for promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity.
   
2. Equipping Staff with Essential Training:  Participants will learn strategies and best practices for providing gender inclusion training to sports staff, enabling them to create welcoming and respectful environments for individuals of all genders.
3. Case Study Analysis:  Participants will delve into THPRD's experience as a case study, assessing how their commitment to gender inclusion reshaped a co-ed league. They will examine the impactful changes made and analyze the feedback received, extracting v
4. Implementing Progressive Policies and Practices: Attendees will explore practical steps and an operational procedure that promotes gender inclusion in recreational sports. They will understand how to adapt existing practices or introduce new ones to foster inclusivity.

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Prioritizing Social Emotional Wellness of Program Participants

Description: 

During the pandemic, every child experienced loss and trauma to varying degrees. Isolation, changes to daily living, and losing connections with friends and family have left a lasting mark. Coming back to activities after such a prolonged period of time can be very stressful for kids. The speakers will share their experiences working with participants as they transition back into programs and how they have adjusted programs to support participant's social emotion well-being. Attendees will learn the impact of vicarious trauma and how to adjust programs to support kids dealing with anxiety. This session is designed for any size agency

Presented by: 

Stacy Stenslie, Community Services Program Coordinator, City of Bellevue  

Biography: Stacy Stenslie is a Community Services Program Coordinator in the City of Bellevue Parks Department at Kelsey Creek Farm. She is responsible for recreation programs, day camps, special events, and volunteer activities serving thousands of children, teens, and adults each year. She has worked in recreation in various roles for 14 years. Stacy has a B.A. in psychology.

Mary Boyle, Community Services Program Coordinator, City of Bellevue

Mary Boyle has a BA in psychology and specializes in behavior modification techniques. She is the inclusion coordinator for the parks recreation division focusing on training general recreation staff on inclusion services for programs and provides support to staff for program modifications. She is responsible for the adaptive recreation programs held at the Highland Community Center serving adults and youth with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Learning Objectives

1. Examine the dynamic roles social-emotional wellness and vicarious trauma play in programming and their impact on participants.
2. Explain the benefits of comprehensive staff training that includes baseline awareness, situational awareness, and relationship building.
3. Discuss basic program changes with social-emotional wellness in mind.

Help Wanted!  Identifying Employment Risks and Recommendations for Parks & Recreation Professionals 

Description: 

Whether a small, mid-size or large department, Parks and Recreation is a people-oriented profession and finding and keeping good people has never been more challenging.  Learn how to avoid common employment-related pitfalls and develop and sustain a thriving seasonal, part-time, and full-time workforce.  The presenters will identify top employment loss areas that plague parks and recreation departments and share the essential tools to address potential problematic behaviors and performance issues early on. 

Presented by: 

Andy Cooley, Attorney, Keating Bucklin and McCormack 

Biography: 

Andy Cooley has been with the firm since 1990. He was previously an Assistant Attorney General in the Tort Claims Division. He is past-President of the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers and has lectured extensively in Washington and throughout the country. His practice focuses on trial work, emphasizing Federal Civil Rights cases, highway design litigation, and commercial cases. He has tried more than 50 cases to jury verdict in state and federal court.

Andy is married with two children.  In the summers, he and his family  enjoy fly fishing in Ketchum, Idaho. He serves on the board of directors of the Sun Valley Ski Team and the Rotarun Ski Area in Hailey, Idaho.

In June of 2018, Andy was appointed to a position on the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD). The National Committee is the body which drafts and promulgates the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD is the standard for signs, markings and signals on public roads, and is a critical document in road design liability cases. Andy’s appointment marks the first time a practicing attorney has been appointed to this important committee. He serves on the Signals Technical Committee and the Rules of the Road Joint Task Force. 

Jenna Richardson, Human Resources Manager, Metro Parks Tacoma

Biography: Jenna Richardson is the Human Resources & Risk Manager for the Metropolitan Parks District of Tacoma. She has served in public sector Human Resources and Labor Relations positions at the state, local, and special purpose district level for over 23 years. In her previous role, she was the Human Resources Manager for the City of Bonney Lake, WA where she was employed for 16 years and oversaw all aspects of the Human Resources and Labor Relations functions. She received her Master of Science in Human Resources from Chapman University and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Social Work from the University of South Carolina. Jenna also holds the designation of Certified Labor Relations Professional (CLRP), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and SHRM – Senior Certified Professional (SHRM -SCP).

Peter Mayer, Director, Tukwila Parks and Recreation Director

Biography: 

Jefri Peters, Recreation, Risk and Safety Manager, City of Tukwila

Biography: With over 28 years of dedication to the Parks and Recreation sector, Jefri Peters currently serves as Parks and Recreation Manger with a special emphasis on Risk and Safety for Tukwila Parks and Recreation, applying the wealth of knowledge gained from previous pivotal roles, including Vice President of Risk Management at the YMCA of Greater Seattle; Risk, Safety, and Emergency Management Officer at Metro Parks Tacoma; and Recreation Manger at Seattle Parks and Recreation. A Recreation management graduate from Western Washinton University, she is also a Certified Praesidium Guardian, the highest level of child and vulnerable adult abuse protection certification offered in the Nation.

Learning Objectives

1. To learn the Top 10 reasons to become best friends with your Human Resources Department.
2. To identify the most common oversights, missteps and pitfalls of the employment relationship and how to overcome them.
3. To explore proven strategies and tactics to become a better supervisor and an employer of choice.

Interview Like a Pro: Skill Development

Description: 

Meant to be taken in conjunction with “Preparing for Success- Navigating the Application Process”, this session will identify the tools needed to prepare and present yourself and your skills effectively to a hiring panel. This session will include a short analysis of effective and poor interview answers, leaving a majority of the allotted time for an interview simulation. Participants will practice their interview skills with a Parks professional and receive direct, immediate, and constructive feedback. Questions used by interviewers will be tailored by position; entry, coordinator, supervisor and manager.

Presented by: 

NeSha Thomas-Schadt, Parks and Recreation Manager, Pierce County Parks

Biography: NeSha Thomas-Schadt oversees the operations of the west region of Pierce County’s park system. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked for several municipalities in Washington and California. She holds a bachelor’s in athletic administration from Pepperdine University, where she competed as a student-athlete, as well as a master’s degree in sport management from the University of San Francisco. She is also a Professional Advisory Committee member of Western Washington University’s recreation degree program, the co-chair of WRPA's Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals (PREP) committee, and a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional.

Kylee Ashley, Pierce County Parks- Recreation Coordinator

Biography: Kylee has six years of working in Parks and Recreation. She is currently a Recreation Coordinator with Pierce County Parks, planning and executing special events, programs and coordinating volunteers for the department. Kylee graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University and received her bachelor's degree in Sport Management and Minor in Coaching in 2017.

Learning Objectives

1. To gain a better understanding of the interview process.
2. To improve interviewing skills by practicing with professionals and receiving direct and immediate feedback.
3. To better understand the structure and composition of an effective versus ineffective response to an interview question.

Accessible Playgrounds Tour: Esther Short, Marshall and Fruit Valley

Description: 

Join us for a tour of Esther Short Park and hear what we learned about building inclusive parks. The parks staff will be joined by the landscape architect for this discussion.         

Presented by: 

Julie Hannon

Biography: Julie Hannon has over 30 years of experience in parks and recreation, making it her life’s work to provide exception parks, trails and recreation programs for the communities she serves. Her professional accomplishments include outstanding leadership of the Vancouver Waterfront Park and Grant Street Pier project; a complete overhaul of the parks capital strategy to better fund parks; and making Vancouver’s neighborhood parks destinations through engaging themes. Throughout her career, she has worked to build equity-focused partnerships to ensure everyone has the opportunity to experience the life changing power of parks and recreation. Julie has a B.A. in Parks and Recreation from Western Illinois University and an M.P.A. from Ashford University. Before joining the City of Vancouver as the Director of Parks and Recreation in 2013, she served the City of Modesto. Julie Hannon retired in 2024.

Terry Snyder

Biography: Terry Snyder joined the City of Vancouver in 1984, and his expertise as a landscape architect and his passion for parks have been shaping the spaces where Clark County residents love to play ever since. If you’ve ever visited Vancouver, Washington, you’ve undoubtedly witnessed Terry’s work. From the award-winning Waterfront Park, Grant Street Pier and Esther Short Park, to cherished neighborhood parks throughout the city, Terry skillful guidance has been instrumental in creating Vancouver’s most iconic places. A respect for the environment informs Terry’s work, ensuring natural resources are protected and environmental impacts are minimized during park development, construction and ongoing maintenance.  His ability to think creatively and pay attention to detail has contributed to the successful completion of numerous projects. For Terry, his work is his canvas to create beautiful parks for everyone to enjoy, and that is his ultimate reward.

Kirsti Hauswald

Biography: Kirsti Hauswald is a registered landscape architect who has provided master planning and landscape design services for numerous projects throughout Southwest Washington and the Portland metro area since joining AKS Engineering & Forestry’s Vancouver office in 2007. As a life-long resident of the greater Clark County area and a Washington State University alum, Kirsti has a passion for making outdoor spaces that are accessible, vibrant and beautiful within our communities at all levels – from the open spaces within our neighborhoods to larger community centers. Her diverse skill set includes parks, playgrounds, and public open spaces, street frontage and pedestrian connections, stormwater management improvements, educational facilities, and single and multi-family housing. When not at work, Kirsti enjoys baking and spending time outdoors in all that the beautiful Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will discover design basics for inclusive playgrounds. 
   
2. Participants will learn about the challenges and issues when designing inclusive parks. 
3. Participants will compare and contrast playground layouts of different inclusive parks. 

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