Current Position: Park Manager at Natural Bridge State Resort Park
How long have you been with Kentucky State Parks and in what capacity?
I have been associated with the Kentucky Department of Parks for many years and this is my 16th year working full-time. I come from a rich history of relatives that have worked for the Kentucky State Park System over the years. In fact, my great grandfather was the "fiddle" player at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in the 1920s. I began my career doing seasonal recreation and naturalist programs in 1987. In 1992, I began working as the recreation-naturalist supervisor for Jenny Wiley State Resort Park and oversaw all the recreation programs, the campground operations, hiking trails, etc. Most notably, I was the one who developed the Elk Viewing Tours for Jenny Wiley State Resort Park in the Eastern Kentucky area. Today, I am the resort park manager for Natural Bridge State Resort Park. I have just begun my third year as resort park manager.
How did you become interested in working as a Park Manager?
I needed a seasonal job in 1997 and I applied and was hired. I taught square and folk dancing that year and gave guided canoe trips, led nature walks, and provided lasting memories for many people. What a job!
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.)
Diversity is the key to my job as resort park manager. I firmly believe that the resort park manager needs to have an understanding for many different operations and be multi faceted. There are times that I wash dishes in the dining room, plant flowers on the park, deal with a customer complaint, and then immediately deal with a personnel issue that may arise. Personnel issues do require a lot of time and energy.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
It varies, but for the most part about 40-45 hours per week is needed to keep up with the work. There are times when I may have to work as many as 55 hours per week.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy being around people! The key is that you need to be people-oriented. I often say that we create lasting memories for future generations. If we can make a family happy, we will create a trend that will develop for many years. When I was a seasonal naturalist at Cumberland Falls, the park would have past customers that visited yearly. Some that had been coming for over 40 years. Now, that’s a lasting impression!
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
A challenge is a great learning experience. I never say I have a challenge. However, I will say that personnel issues will consume most of my time as a resort park manager. It is an every day challenge dealing with different attitudes, different approaches, finding people that can work, and keeping the operation as efficient as it can be.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
A bachelor’s degree is a must. However, resort park managers in Kentucky come from various backgrounds. I have a music degree, a minor in environmental studies, and a master’s degree in outdoor recreation. However, the main ingredient is experience.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
I felt comfortable coming into this position, especially since I had spent 13 years as a naturalist-recreation supervisor. The biggest challenge I see with this position (especially if you are new to state government), is the complete understanding of the government policies and procedures, which are different from the private sector.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
Again, park projects vary weekly according to special projects, work orders, and secured funding projects. In addition, customer service, employee relations, and marketing issues are always on the top of my list as priorities.
If someone were interested in working in your position, what advice could you give them?
Work hard, gain as much state government experience as you can, and always set the example for all your employees.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
It’s been my life! The Kentucky Department of Parks is a great operation to work for. For those that have an interest, there are varied positions available, including recreation specialists, chefs, gift shop supervisors, golf professionals, group sales coordinators, etc. As we say in parks, we consider ourselves, "The Nation’s Finest."
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