
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 - 7:00 PM |
Registration Desk | Foyer |
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Show Me The Equity: From Planning to Impact | Meeting Room A
($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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11:15 AM - 5:30 PM |
TOUR: Walla Walla Public Spaces & Wine Tour
Cost: $50
You can register for this activities during your main conference registration, or contact us at [email protected] to sign up separately.
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11:45 AM - 2:00 PM or 2:15 PM - 4:30 PM |
TOUR: Bike with a Ranger! Exploring the “Secret City” History of Richland
Cost: $25 - If you need a bike rental | $15 – if you bring your own bike
You can register for this activities during your main conference registration, or contact us at [email protected] to sign up separately.
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12:00 PM - 2:00 PM or 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM |
TOUR: G.A. Pehrson Urban Greenbelt Trail Walking Tour
Cost: FREE
You can register for this activities during your main conference registration, or contact us at [email protected] to sign up separately.
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12:00 PM – 4:30 PM |
Golf Tournament
Hole Sponsored by Great Western Recreation

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12:45 PM – Arrive at Playground of Dreams
1:00 PM -1:45 PM – Tour
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TOUR: Kason’s Corner: Transforming Spaces for Inclusive Play Tour
Cost: FREE
You can register for this activities during your main conference registration, or contact us at [email protected] to sign up separately.
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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 | Foyer |
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 |
Morning Tradeshow Break | Great Hall BD
Sponsored by AHBL

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10:15 AM — 10:30 AM |
The Bridges Program Meet Up | Foyer |
10:30 AM — 11:00 AM |
Student and Emerging Professional Conference Prep | Meeting Room H |
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 EF
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Resource Management & Maintenance
Secondary Tag: Inclusion

1B: Conversational AI - Unlocking Its 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 A
CEU: 0.1
Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices
Secondary Tag: Programming
1E: Preparing for Success: Securing the Interview
Speakers: DJ Mackie and Kylee Ashley
Location: Meeting Room B
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
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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 EF
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 B
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 | 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 EF
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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7:00 AM |
WRPA Annual Conference Run Club [totally-not-a-race] 5K w/Jen Wills
Location: Main Entrance of Three Rivers Convention Center Description: Lace up those sneakers and join one of WRPA’s most spirited members (and proud pastpast-President), Jen Wills—City Manager of Longview—for a not-so-serious, definitely-not-Olympic morning 5K jog!
Meet Jen at 7:00 AM sharp outside the main entrance of the Three Rivers Convention Center, where there will bejust enough stretching to feel virtuous before she leads you on a mystery loop of her choosing. The route is about 5K, give or take a few extra turns, and the pace? Totally up to you—whether you’re chasing a personal best or just chasing coffee.
Bring a buddy and join Jen for some early morning motion. Don’t make her jog alone… though let’s be honest, she will anyway.
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8:00 AM–6:00 PM |
Registration Desk | Foyer
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8:00 AM–9:00 AM |
Visit with Exhibitors | Great Hall BD
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9:00 AM—10:15 AM |
Breakout Session Block 4
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4A: Restorative Leadership
Speaker: Joanna Martin
Location: Meeting Room EF
CEU: 0.1

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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

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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

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4D: Better Recreation through Collaboration
Speaker: Michelle Haffner and Julie Piper
Location: Meeting Room A
CEU: 0.1
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4E: Engaging Camp Staff: A Fresh Approach to Training
Speaker: Carmen Murrell and Amanda Zollner
Location: Meeting Room B
CEU: 0.1
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4F: Everyday Leadership: Promoting A Shared Values System for Your Agency
Speaker: Aisha Panas and Sabrina Taylor Schmitt
Location: Meeting Room G
CEU: 0.1
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4G: Blueprints for Safety: Mastering Facilities Management for Recreation
Speaker: Amanda Bley Kuehn and Shawn Christie
Location: Meeting Room H
CEU: 0.1

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10:15 AM—10:45 AM |
Morning Tradeshow Break | Great Hall BD
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10:45 AM—12:00 PM |
Breakout Session Block 5
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5B: Inclusion of All Sizes: Designing Inclusive Play for Every Budget
Speaker: Jill Moore and Ariel Mansholt
Location: Meeting Room C
CEU: 0.1

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5C: Where the Street Ends! Finding and Leveraging Hidden Parks
Speaker: Guy Michaelsen, Lily Daniels, and Omar Akkari
Location: Meeting Room D
CEU: 0.1

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5D: Student Conservation Corps, Youth Employment for Neurodiverse Teens
Speaker: Cody Ogren and Morgan Houk
Location: Meeting Room A
CEU: 0.1
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5E: Aquatic Safety Plan: Mitigating Risks and Ensuring Safety
Speaker: Johnathan Nies
Location: Meeting Room B
CEU: 0.1
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5F: From Request to Delivery: A Practical Guide to Accommodations
Speaker: Katt Merilo
Location: Meeting Room G
CEU: 0.1
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5G: Elevating Your Recreation and Event Management Programs Through a Risk Management Lens
Speaker: Amanda Bley Kuehn and Jefri Peters
Location: Meeting Room H
CEU: 0.1

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12:00 PM—1:30 PM |
Lunch Break (Lunch will be provided) | Great Hall
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1:30 PM—2:45 PM |
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 EF
CEU: 0.1

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6B: Rewriting the Script: Defining Boundaries and Mastering Your Inner Critics
Speaker: Joshua Green
Location: Meeting Room C
CEU: 0.1

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6C: Lead with Dreams: Realizing Opportunity-Driven Projects
Speaker: Guy Michaelsen, Paul Simmons, and Garret Jones
Location: Meeting Room D
CEU: 0.1

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6D: Wildland Fire Fuels Reduction on City of Spokane Parks Land
Speaker: Nick Jeffries
Location: Meeting Room A
CEU: 0.1
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6E: Learning and Improving from Lifeguard Audits
Speaker: Johnathan Nies
Location: Meeting Room B
CEU: 0.1
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6F: The BUILD Strategy: A 5-Step Guide to Team Cohesion and Effectiveness
Speaker: Kelly Melroy and Corey Crownhart
Location: Meeting Room G
CEU: 0.1
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6G: Risk Management Leadership: From Risk to Possibility
Speaker: Shelley Roberts
Location: Meeting Room H
CEU: 0.1

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2:45 PM—3:00 PM |
Afternoon Break | Lobby
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3:00 PM—4:15 PM |
WRPA Network Meetings
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5:00 PM—7:00 PM |
2025 WRPA Awards Banquet | Great Hall AC
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7:00 PM—10:00 PM |
Thursday Night Social: The Time Traveler’s Bash
Reach Museum, Kennewick - 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, WA 99352 (Transportation provided; pick up outside in front of convention center)
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