What personal attributes, skills, or knowledge would you bring to the State Board of Directors if elected?
I offer over 12 years of CPRS District, Section and State Board leadership experience that have highlighted my leadership skills and ability to work with various members of CPRS and local agency leaders. I have served on a variety of committees and have been the chairman of several CPRS events and trainings, all with great success. I also bring over 35 years of park and recreation experience in the field of Landscape Architecture. As a landscape architect I have been responsible for the design of over 300 parks and the construction of over 75 parks. My professional experience has allowed me to work with numerous agencies and cities throughout California and I have a very good understanding of the challenges and issues that park and recreation professionals face on a daily basis.
I am a highly organized person and take pride in my ability to process information and disseminate it in a clear and concise manner. I am very interested in and very adept at various social media platforms and believe that utilizing this type of communication is vital to the success of CPRS. I am committed to continuing the exploration and discussion of how CPRS can best use these various platforms to communicate with and engage the membership.
What is the greatest challenge our profession faces and how will you lead to address that challenge?
Demonstrating Parks and Recreation as an Essential Public Service has and continues to be one of the greatest challenges we face as Parks and Recreation professionals. Our profession provides economic value, health and environmental benefits, and social importance for our communities. CPRS has done a great job demonstrating this value with the VIP Action Plan and the Parks Make Life Better (PMLB) program. However, when budget cuts are made, Parks and Recreation is usually one of the first departments affected. Throughout my career I have consulted with agencies throughout California and have seen firsthand how these cuts affect department staff and the entire community. I will continue to explore and promote methods in which the true value of parks and recreation can be documented and demonstrated through research, program data, community outreach, member engagement, legislation, and partnerships.
Developing stronger partnerships with Districts, Sections and industry partners is a proven way to strengthen the profession and provide greater influence in local agencies and statewide legislation. In 2018 I worked with many industry partners to contribute funds to promote the passage of Proposition 68 (Parks and Water Bond Act) and give CPRS a “bigger voice at the table”. The voters saw the value and Prop 68 has already provided $255 billion dollars to agencies throughout California and will grant an additional $395 billion in 2021. This has been a win for both agencies and industry partners. As Vice-President, President-Elect, and President of CPRS I will continue to explore and champion ways to strengthen CPRS and the Parks and Recreation profession as a whole and demonstrate that we are an Essential Public Service.