Current Position: Park Manager 3, Fort Yargo State Park, Winder, Georgia
How long have you been with Georgia State Parks and in what capacity?
I have been with Georgia State Parks for 19 years. I was a seasonal hourly at Unicoi State Park in maintenance and security for seven years through high school and college. I then transferred to Roosevelt’s Little White House as the Park Enforcement Ranger for a little over one year. After that, I was Assistant Park Manager 1 at Kolomoki Mounds State Historic Park for two years then I was promoted to Park Manager at that site and stayed in that capacity for five years. I have been Park Manager here at Fort Yargo State Park for three years now. I have a total of 13 years in a salaried position.
How did you become involved in working as a Park Manager?
I turned 16 and needed a job, so I went to Unicoi and interviewed for a maintenance position and began with the basics of cutting grass, weed eating, and cleaning bathrooms. As I progressed, I became more interested and drawn in by the variety we did on a daily basis. Originally, I was an Engineering major in college before I realized I wanted to stay with State Parks and changed my major to Forest Resources.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
I tell people my job is split five ways. First, there is administration including taking park receipts at the office for camping, cottages, etc, completing paperwork and reports, and doing routine administrative tasks. Secondly we have supervision. I have around 18 employees at any given time and must keep them scheduled, tools and supplies to work with, and get them paid. Thirdly, there is maintenance. In a park operation, something is either broken or needs attention on a daily basis including cleaning up the park. Fourthly is programming. We visit schools, lead hikes, do nature programs, and hold special events on the park. Fifth we have law enforcement. Myself and two of my staff are certified law enforcement officers and write citations, give warnings, and keep the park safe.
One advantage to my position is that I never have the same day twice and there is no typical day. That is why I love it.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40-70 hours, depending on staffing situations and season.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
Meeting the people is probably one of the most important aspects. I have met people from all around the world who are very interesting. I also enjoy providing a safe environment where people can come to the park and feel secure while they are playing with their children. The resource management is interesting also including doing controlled burns, cutting trees, and managing fish and wildlife populations.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Operational and repair funds. We do not get enough money to improve our sites to the level that we think they need to be upgraded. Park managers are good at scrounging money up to work on a project that needs to be completed. Work schedule is hard on the family and can take a toll because you feel tied to the park so often since we live here.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
No college is required to be a Park Manager, but it will help you get hired faster and you can move up quicker in the organization if you have either a 2 year or 4 year degree. Also with a degree, you can begin at a higher level instead of at an entry level position.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
It was important for me to enter at an entry level to learn the system and be able to make solid decisions based on the State Park system’s history. I believe any natural environment background helps you understand the job. Even if it is not working experience, just camping, fishing, or hunting in the woods is a great benefit.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
We are beginning construction on several different sections of both walking and mountain bike trails. This included approval from archaeologists and plant biologists. We will now begin construction on these this winter for a spring opening. We have also have begun the plans on a disc golf course. We will begin construction soon on it also. I put together my winter work project list for the year, which includes looking at every facility on the park as a visitor sees it and writing down problems you see to work on during the winter. We have deer hunts coming up on the park and the names have been drawn on the quota. I now have to send them letters as confirmation and begin taking reservations for the hunts.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Manager at a state park, what advice could you give them?
Try riding along with a Park Manager and meeting one. We would be glad to allow you to follow us for a day to see what it is all about. Some days are more interesting than others, but you will always see a variety of experiences.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
At our entry level positions, it is not a great deal of money starting out. If you do a good job and work hard, you will get promoted fast to a management level position where you will become more financially comfortable. I love my job because the variety and the challenges we deal with on a daily basis. This job is not for everyone because of the weekend, night, and holiday hours. If you love people and love the outdoors, it is for you.
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