Current Position: Park Manager
How long have you been with Mississippi State Parks and in what capacity?
I started working in the agency at age 15 as a part-time summer lifeguard in 1976 and worked in that capacity in summers during college. I started full-time in 1985 as a Park Ranger, moved up through the ranks as Assistant Manager, then to Park Manager in 1999.
How did you become interested in working as a Park Manager?
My father became Park Manager at John Kyle State Park in 1972, so at the age of 12, I started living on a state park. I would go to work with my dad each day in the summers and thought what he did was the greatest thing in the world. My older sister also became a Park Manager, and I would visit her during the summers in college. They loved what they did, so I thought I would pursue the same career.
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.)
During the busy season, working in a state park, there is absolutely never a normal work day. One minute I could be taking a reservation, talking to a guest, and the next minute I could be knee-deep in mud working on a broken water line. But, that's what makes working in the state parks exciting and challenging.
The primary responsibility of a park manager is fiscal accountability. Other major responsibilities include: preventive maintenance, aquatic facilities operations, safety, security, promotions, interpretive programming, retail management, office management, and budgeting, just to name a few.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
The normal work hours are 40 hours per week. During the busy season, Memorial Day through Labor Day, the hours I put in will vary. It can be as many as 70 per week depending on occupancy and visitation.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the people. Our guests are coming to this park for recreation, so I know that our guests are coming to my park for fun and relaxation. I get great satisfaction in providing a clean, safe and secure recreational environment for people and knowing that when they leave, they have had a wonderful experience.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
As a Park Manager I am constantly seeking ways to provide more services and activities to the public. And working with a limited fiscal budget and limited personnel it's difficult to provide those new services.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
A BS degree in parks recreation/administration or equivalent experience in the same field.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
I was fortunate that prior to taking this job I already carried certification with the American Red Cross in Lifeguarding, CPR, and First-Aid. I was also certified as an Aquatic Facilities Operator and Certified Pool Manager. Had I not had the certifications, managing my job at a high level would have been difficult.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
Before Hurricane Katrina I had developed a fantastic season pass program for our water park. This park basically was the only municipal pool in the county, so drawing local citizens to the park was critical. I developed a season pass that encouraged the locals to utilize the facilities. The first year I started that program, we had 38 season passes sold; the last year we sold over 500 season passes.
If someone were interested in working in your position, what advice could you give them?
Working in state parks is great. My children, ages 6 and 10, think that living on a state park is neat. My advice is, if you're a 9-5 person, the job is not for you. If you enjoy working with the general public and working in a recreational environment, then becoming a park manager is a great choice.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
I have been a part of this agency since the age of 12. My father and sister both are retired park managers. I learned much from them. I saw their work ethic and saw the effect they had on people that worked for them and the guests that visited their parks. There are so many great people that work in this agency. It's an honor and privilege to work with them.
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