
SCHEDULE
The WRPA Conference Committee has put together a program filled with informative sessions and interacting socials for the WRPA 2025 Conference & Tradeshow at Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, WA. We encourage you to take a moment to review the schedule-at-a-glance and detailed session descriptions.
Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday
*This schedule is subject to change
PRE-CON TUESDAY, MAY 13 |
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
Registration Desk | Lobby |
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Show Me The Equity: From Planning to Impact
($65 Add-On to Conference Registration)
($150 Standalone Registration)
The Show Me The Equity: From Planning to Impact workshop is designed to raise awareness and provide actionable strategies to center equity and inclusivity in event planning and execution. This interactive session encourages participants to examine the importance of belonging in creating meaningful and transformative event experiences. Through discussions, and collaborative activities, attendees will explore the challenges faced by underrepresented groups and learn effective practices for designing inclusive and accessible events. By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with practical tools to ensure equity is at the heart of their event planning and execution.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, you will be able to;
- Define key equity-related terms and explain their relevance in the event planning process.
- Identify strategies to incorporate equity into pre-event activities, mitigating the impact of implicit bias.
- Develop an action plan for implementing equitable practices in future events and evaluating their effectiveness.
- Create strategies to ensure equity, accessibility and inclusivity throughout the event planning process.
Karen Foster, Event Producer and Social Equity Strategist
Karen Foster is an Event Producer and Social Equity Strategist, and the visionary Founder of KF Curates, an Event Strategy, Execution, and Consulting Agency. With a passion for creating inclusive and transformative experiences, Karen partners with purpose-driven organizations to design events that drive meaningful change and foster authentic spaces of belonging. Through her signature workshop,“Show Me The Equity! From Planning to Impact,” she equips event professionals with the tools and strategies to integrate equity into every aspect of their work, empowering them to create systemic change and inspire lasting impact.
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Inclusion
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6:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
Tuesday Night Social: HUB & GRUB
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 13 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Location: Summers HUB of Kennewick Address: 6481 W Skagit Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336 – Transportation NOT provided
Sponsored by Kaizen and Romtec

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DAY 1 WEDNESDAY, MAY 14
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Registration Desk | Lobby |
8:15 AM - 10:15 AM |
Welcome Address, Annual Meeting, and Opening Keynote: Michael Novakovich (Making Vitality Your Reality) | Great Hall AC
Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management
Secondary Tag: Wellness
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10:15 AM — 11:00 AM |
Student and Emerging Professional Conference Prep | Meeting Room H |
10:15 AM — 11:00 AM |
Morning Tradeshow Break (Coffee will be provided) | Great Hall BD
Sponsored by AHBL

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11:00 AM —12:15 PM |
Breakout Session Block 1
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1A: Journey Mapping: Small Steps for Big Impacts to Equitable and Inclusive Parks
Speaker: Brice Maryman, Karen Braitmayer, and Amanda Bailey
Location: Meeting Room AB
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Resource Management & Maintenance
Secondary Tag: Inclusion

1B: Conversational AI - Unlocking it's Potential and Productivity
Speaker: Jen Wills
Location: Meeting Room C
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Technology

1C: Pickleball Policy for Inclusive Play
Speaker: Marianne Johnson
Location: Meeting Room D
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Programming
Secondary Tag: Wellness

1D: A Safe Space for Play: Consent and Boundaries in Recreation
Speakers: Billie Hassebrock and Mary Boyle
Location: Meeting Room E
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Programming
1E: Preparing for Success: Securing the Interview
Speakers: PREP
Location: Meeting Room F
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management
Secondary Tag: Career Development
1F: The ABCDs of an Extraordinary Workplace: Accessibility, Belonging, Culture & Diversity
Speakers: Michael Novakovich
Location: Meeting Room G
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management
Secondary Tag: Inclusion
1G. Riding the Rapids: Mastering Risk and Adaptability in Uncharted Waters
Speakers: Shelley Roberts
Location: Meeting Room H
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Risk Management
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12:15 — 1:30 PM |
Lunch Break (Lunch will be provided)
Location: Great Hall AC
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1:30 PM — 2:45 PM |
Breakout Session Block 2
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2A: Neighborhood Parks as a Model for Growing Urban Forestry Programs
Speaker: Michael Sanborn, Larry Villegas, and Joanna Martin
Location: Meeting Room AB
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Resource Management & Maintenance
Secondary Tag: Arboriculture

2B: Managing Volunteer Programs: Developing Guidelines for Staff and Volunteers
Speaker: Jennifer Newton and Colin Wick
Location: Meeting Room C
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management
Secondary Tag: Volunteer

2C: Social Emotional Wellness & Inclusion in Recreation
Speaker: Mary Boyle and Stacy Stenslie
Location: Meeting Room D
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Programming
Secondary Tag: Wellness
2E: Interview Like a Pro: Skill Development
Speaker: DJ Mackie and Kylee Ashley
Location: Meeting Room F
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management
Secondary Tag: Career Development
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2F: Tell Your Story through Data Visualization
Speaker: Amy Johnson and Jay Kim
Location: Meeting Room G
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Outreach & Engagement
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2G: Safe Havens: Reinventing Park Safety, Security and Risk Management
Speaker: Pete Mayer, William Overby, and Fred Ramey
Location: Meeting Room H
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Risk Management
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2:45 PM — 3:30 PM |
Afternoon Tradeshow Break (Coffee will be provided) | Great Hall BD
Sponsored by AHBL

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3:30 PM — 4:45 PM
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Breakout Session Block 3
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3A: Beyond ADA: Making Accessibility Inclusive
Speakers: Vinita Sidhu, Paige Reischl, and Clayton Beaudoin
Location: Meeting Room AB
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Park Planning
3B: Instagram Balancing Act: Creating Content that Informs AND Engages
Speaker: Christina Hirsch and Rachel Schulkin
Location: Meeting Room C
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Outreach & Engagement
Secondary Tag: Technology
3C: Becoming a Parks and Recreation Director: Panel Discussion
Speaker: Nick Farline, Jennifer Wills, Dave Johnson, and Jesse Rice
Moderator: Brandon Lange
Location: Meeting Room D
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management
Secondary Tag: Career Development
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5:00 PM — 6:00 PM
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Student and Emerging Professional Networking Dinner | Great Hall AC |
6:00 PM — 9:00 PM
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Wednesday Sponsored Social: GLOW WILD – The Ultimate Adult Glow Party
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 14 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Numerica Pavilion, City of Kennewick | Transportation provided Address: 2901 Southridge Blvd, Kennewick, WA 99338
Sponsored by Great Western Recreation

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DAY 2 THURSDAY, MAY 15
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8:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
Registration Desk | Lobby |
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
Visit with Exhibitor | Great Hall BD |
9:00 AM —10:15 AM |
Breakout Session Block 4
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4A: Need the Dough? How to Get an RCO CANCELLED
Speaker: RCO
Location: Meeting Room AB
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Grant
Secondary Tag: TBA
4B: Through Their Eyes: Gen Z's Vision for Parks and Recreation Careers
Speaker: DJ Mackie and Chris Waite
Location: Meeting room C
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management
Secondary Tag: Teambuilding

4C: Title VI Foundations: Removing Barriers and Enhancing Equity (Virtual)
Speaker: Joy Misako St. Germain and Kristi Oosterveen
Location: Meeting Room D
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Outreach & Engagement
Secondary Tag: Inclusion

4D: Better Recreation through Collaboration
Speaker: Michelle Haffner and Julie Piper
Location: Meeting Room E
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Programming
Secondary Tag: Programming
4E: Engaging Camp Staff: A Fresh Approach to Training
Speakers: Carmen Murrell and Amanda Zollner
Location: Meeting Room F
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Programming
Secondary Tag: Programming
4F: Everyday Leadership: Promoting A Shared Values System for Your Agency
Speakers: Aisha Panas and Sabrina Taylor Schmitt
Location: Meeting Room G
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management
Secondary Tag: Leadership
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4G. Blueprints for Safety: Mastering Facilities Management for Recreation
Speakers: Amanda Bley Kuehn and Shawn Christie
Location: Meeting Room H
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Risk Management
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10:15 AM —10:45 AM |
Morning Tradeshow Break (Coffee will be provided) | Great Hall BD
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10:45 AM —12:00 PM |
Breakout Session Block 5
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5A: GIS in Parks: Creating Data Driven Decisions
Speaker: Cassidy Sawyer, Margaret Wagner, and Terry Jungman
Location: Meeting Room AB
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Technology
5B: Inclusion of All Sizes: Designing Inclusive Play for Every Budget
Speakers: Jill Moore and Ariel Mansholt
Location: Meeting Room C
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Inclusion
5D: Student Conservation Corps, Youth Employment for Neurodiverse Teens
Speaker: Cody Ogren and Morgan Houk
Location: Meeting Room E
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Resource Management & Maintenance
Secondary Tag: Volunteers
5E: Aquatic Safety Plan: Mitigating Risks and Ensuring Safety
Speaker: Johnathan Nies
Location: Meeting Room F
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Aquatics
5F: From Request to Delivery: A Practical Guide to Accommodations
Speaker: Katt Merilo
Location: Meeting Room C
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Programming
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12:00 PM —1:30 PM |
Lunch | Great Hall AC |
1:30 PM — 2:45 PM
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Breakout Session Block 6
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6A: IRONMAN 70.3 Tri-Cities: Engaging our Community by Hosting an Iconic Event
Speaker: Kevin Lewis, Julie Piper, and Bryan Mayes
Location: Meeting Room AB
 CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Programming
Secondary Tag: Special Events
6B: Rewriting the Script: Defining Boundaries and Mastering Your Inner Critics
Speaker: Joshua Green
Location: Meeting Room C
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management
Secondary Tag: Wellness
6C: Lead with Dreams: Realizing Opportunity-Driven Projects
Speakers: Guy Michaelsen, Paul Simmons, and Garret Jones
Location: Meeting Room D
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Park Planning

6D: Wildland Fire Fuels Reduction on City of Spokane Parks Land
Speakers: Nick Jeffries
Location: Meeting Room E
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Resource Management & Maintenance
Secondary Tag: Arboriculture
6E: Learning and Improving from Lifeguard Audits
Speakers: Johnathan Nies
Location: Meeting Room F
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Aquatics
6F: The BUILD Strategy: A 5-Step Guide to Team Cohesion and Effectiveness
Speakers: Kelly Melroy and Corey Crownhart
Location: Meeting Room G
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management
Secondary Tag: Teambuilding
6G: Risk Management Leadership: From Risk to Possibility
Speakers: Shelley Roberts
Location: Meeting Room H
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Risk Management
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2:45 PM — 3:00 PM |
Afternoon Break | Lobby |
3:00 PM — 4:15 PM |
Network Meetings | TBA |
5:15 PM — 7:00 PM
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Awards Banquet | Great Hall AC |
7:00 PM — 10:00 PM
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Thursday Night Social: The Time Traveler’s Bash
Date and Time: Thursday, May 15 | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Location: Reach Museum, Kennewick Address: 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, WA 99352
Sponsored by Northwest Playground

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