Current Position: Park Manager, Stephen C. Foster State Park, Fargo, GA.
How long have you been with Georgia State Parks and in what capacity?
Over the last 10 years I have been fortunate to work at three Georgia state parks. Due to prior work experience I started as an assistant manager and worked up to a park manager.
How did you become involved in working as a Park Manager?
After college and working in business for 10 years I wanted to get back to the outdoors. I grew up on a rural farm and have always enjoyed hunting, fishing and anything outdoors. Working for Georgia State Parks is a wonderful opportunity that allows me to use my education, experience and interests.
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.)
Trying keep everyone happy is an overly simple way to describe my job. A park manager has to deal with personnel issues, financial matters, customer service, and project planning, ranging from cutting grass to building new facilities. No two days are alike.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
At least 40 hours and more at peak times.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
Of course dealing with happy customers that really appreciate the park and the outdoors is always rewarding. I also enjoy days when all the staff works together to get a project completed. The variety of the job is fun to me also. In the course of my job I get to travel in some remote areas of the Okefenokee Swamp and that is always an enjoyable adventure.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Personnel matters tend to be the most challenging parts of my job.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
Specific work experience and/or a college degree can get you started in this career. I recommend a four-year college degree in a field related to natural resources or business. In today’s business world a four-year degree in business is especially useful. Experience in customer service, law enforcement, interpretive programming, and computers is also beneficial.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
It would be hard to have all the types of training and experience that would be helpful to do this job. My education, business background and farm experience have proved to be very helpful. More interpretive classes and experience would have been beneficial to me also.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
We are building some new facilities along the Suwannee River in Fargo, GA. This project has had numerous challenges and required extensive planning. It just proves that no two days are alike.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Manager at a state park, what advice could you give them?
For future advancement opportunities I would strongly suggest that a person interested in working as a park manager would benefit from getting a college degree. If they have the opportunity to do some volunteering or seasonal work at a state park, they could get a better understanding of what it is really like to work at a park. Keeping a park in good working order requires a lot of work that many weekend customers never see.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
This type of work will not make you rich, but it can be very rewarding in other ways. It can provide a quality work setting and outdoor opportunities that many people just dream about. Generally speaking, most people working at a state park are there because they like their job, the people and the environment.
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