Current Position: Park Manager at Fort Loudoun State Park in East Tennessee
How long have you been with Tennessee State Parks and in what capacity?
I have worked with Tennessee State Parks since 1981 in a variety of positions, beginning as a Park Attendant then moving on to Laborer, Park Ranger I, Park Ranger II, Assistant Chief Ranger and now as Park Manager I.
How did you become involved in working as a Park Ranger?
I became interested in working for the park service after the summer of 1974. I spent eight weeks living and working at Fall Creek Falls State Park and decided that this was the life for me! Ever since that summer, my goal was to become a park ranger. After 17 years serving as a Tennessee State Park Ranger, I accepted a promotion to Park Manager.
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.)
My days are typically a combination of administrative, maintenance, law enforcement and interpretive roles. Fort Loudoun is a small park, and we do not have the number of personnel to have true specialists for various roles. Consequently, our staff, including me, has to have a variety of skills so we can work as generalists.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
The standard workweek for the state of Tennessee is 37.5 hours. However, it is not unusual for me to voluntarily work more than 50 hours in a week. I do this voluntarily to ensure that the park and my staff are taken care of.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy meeting people from around the world and helping people when they have a need. I like presenting interpretive programs and then realizing I have gotten through to the listener. I also realize it helps them and me when I can make people laugh.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Dealing with the traditional bureaucracy found in any kind of government.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
A four-year degree is the minimum to enter into the uniform ranks of Tennessee State Parks.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
No, my entry into the park service through the maintenance branch allowed me to gain insight into "behind the scenes" aspect of our work. Therefore, I do not have to call an electrician to work on a fixture or a plumber when a toilet leaks.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
We have been busy on a major reconstruction project at Fort Loudoun, a garrison facility originally built between 1756 and 1760. I thoroughly enjoy the work of replicating and furnishing these eighteenth century structures. However, I do not like mashed fingers and splinters that sometimes come with hands-on renovation projects.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Ranger at a state park, what advice could you give them?
Gain as much real world park experience as possible in a season role. I advise people to seek a degree relevant to the career they want to pursue. It helps to learn multiple languages. Be friendly; parks are about serving people, helping folks and protecting nature.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
After I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in park service administration in 1981, I really wanted to work for the National Park Service. When I didn’t make the cut, I found my way to Pinson Mounds State Archeological Area in West Tennessee. On December 1, 1981, my career with Tennessee State Parks began as I reported to work as a Park Attendant. That was 26 years ago, and I could not be more pleased with how my career has progressed. I’ve had a lot of fun, made a lot of great friends and, hopefully, impacted Tennessee State Parks in a positive way.
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