The Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) Academy of Leadership Development aims to build a community of professionals committed to effective leadership. The cohort have met throughout 2018 for education and leadership training and development; learning and growing as leaders and professionals in the industry.
Elizabeth Anderson, CPRP
Community Recreation Supervisor, Conroe
PARD
Education
Tarleton State University, BS – Human Sciences, 2007
When I first began my career, I was driven by my efforts to provide quality programs for parents and youth in our community. My passion was working directly with children, and I took full advantage of the opportunities to serve as a positive role model and make an impact on their lives. My team, my programs and my community are growing, and I am confident in my ability to keep up with the demand for quality. While my programming passion is still very much alive, I recognize my professional development is dependent upon my leadership and ability to foster alliances within my profession and circle of influence. I have consistently sought leadership opportunities, whether it is facilitating training opportunities, planning an event, or working on an organizational committee. The experience I have gained through my position at the City of Conroe, as well as my affiliations with other organizations has provided me a great foundation. My desire is to grow my leadership experience and continue to develop professionally. The Leadership Academy will provide me with that opportunity.
Victoria Arevalo, CPRP
Recreation Supervisor, Bellaire PARD
Education
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, MBA Sports Management – 2021
Texas State University, BS-Exercise and Sports Science – 2010
Being a Recreation Supervisor for the City of Bellaire for the past seven years has had its challenges, but it has also been gratifying. My areas of responsibility include supervising two vastly different divisions. I organize activities, events, and day trips for adults above the age of fifty and coordinate and plan all city-wide special events. In 2019, I took steps to advance my career, including becoming a certified parks and recreation professional through the Nation Recreation and Park Association. I also returned to school to obtain a master’s degree in Business Administration. I have continued to be more active and involved through TRAPS and TFEA to grow professionally. I am committed to my profession and want to continue to grow into an emerging leader in the field of parks and recreation.
Tamara Aquino, CPRP
Supervisor III, Dallas PARD
Education
Texas A&M University, BS Recreation, Parks and Tourism 2015
I am lucky to have a job where I can combine my work ethic and passion for the good of others. My eagerness to know more, do more, and improve are evidence of my quick career advancement within the department. Colleagues and supervisors are impressed by how I search out learning material, consult with mentors and experts, challenge the status quo, and vocalize my ideas. My initiative and professionalism have gained leadership’s respect and trust to place the youngest supervisor over one of the busier recreation centers in Dallas.
As a first-generation immigrant, I pushed myself to explore all possibilities at my disposal, even when sometimes nobody in those spaces looked like me. I am currently active on a national scale collaborating on conservation efforts. However, I want to re-engage with colleagues in my home state, resuming where I left off since TRAPS El Paso. For the Future and Young Professionals Showcase panel, I spoke on not waiting for the opportunity to be given but creating opportunities for themselves. The Academy of Leadership Development is a group of esteemed and prestigious professionals I would be proud to work with on advancing the quality of life for Texas residents.
Christopher Escoto, CPRP,CPSM
Park Planner, Denton PARD
Education
University of North Texas, MBA-Business Studies, currently-2023
Leadership comes from within and grows with experience and mentorship. I value hard work, collaboration, creativity, and passion. These are the core foundations I believe are vital to any aspiring leader. I take pride in developing my skills as a professional and value the idea that you should always be learning. In my opinion, an emerging leader is also someone who doesn’t just care about themselves but also cares about the team. I take pride in giving back those same opportunities I have received in my career by teaching and inspiring my staff.
Jonathon Hanson, CPRP, CPSM
Recreation Manager, Harker Heights PARD
Education
Mary Hardin-Baylor, MS. Ed. – Sports Administration, 2017
Mary Hardin-Baylor, B.S. – Criminal Justice, 2014
Mary Hardin-Baylor, MS. Ed. – Exercise Physiology, 2014
I am an emerging leader for my organization because I have taken initiative and created new policies and procedures that better my department. I work with my staff to better our city by listening to them, encouraging them to be creative, and supporting them in trying new ideas. I am an emerging leader for TRAPS because I have a passion for the purpose of parks and recreation. Seeking to get people outside, to create a safe space for social equality, and advocating for environmental stewardship are ideas that resonate with me. Education and experiences that allow me to gather information, practice skills, and learn new ways to accomplish these goals are exciting. In pursuing a future career in parks and recreation, I am excited to cultivate relationships with other leaders in TRAPS through conversation and team building.
Daulton Mobley, CPRP
Recreation Coordinator, Marble Falls PARD
Education
Texas State University, B.S. – Recreation Administration, 2018
In the three short years within the Parks and Recreation industry, I have stepped into multiple leadership positions within TRAPS, Special Olympics and my own organization. I have used my experiences within the industry to mentor future professionals, and led various organizations (listed below) to obtain goals. My first task in the City of Marble Falls is building a Recreation Division, and I take great pride in taking that role. As I create the division in our department, I will have to improve as a leader as new part-time and full-time staff are hired, and I feel the Academy is a wonderful means to assist me in this journey.
I believe I am destined for leadership in our field and the Academy is a prime platform to launch me into the networks and expertise that I will need to grow in this journey. Although I am confident in my current leadership ability, I am always eager to learn and improve to better serve my community.
Cassandra Paddock
Recreation Manager, City of Schertz
Education
University of Phoenix, B.S. Management, April 2021
University of Iowa, Sport & Recreation Management, (attended 2012-2016)
I’m an emerging leader for the City of New Braunfels and the Texas Recreation and Park Society due to my passion for the field, call to serve my community, dedication to staff engagement and commitment to creating a positive culture at my organization. My role as an emerging leader has been recognized by my organization through my selection for the New Braunfels Leadership Academy in 2019 as well as my Employee of the Year award in 2020. Over the past few years, I’ve continued to acquire leadership roles at the local, state, and national level. Locally, I’ve served on the New Braunfels Impact Committee, a committee dedicated to employee engagement and appreciation, since its inception in 2018 and am the current chair. Through TRAPS, I’ve coordinated the annual Day Camp Summit twice and worked on the 2018 central region conference committee. Finally, this past year I have served on NRPA’s Leadership Development Network and Young Professional Network committees as a virtual round table coordinator, giving me the opportunity to speak at webinars, lead small groups, and present at the 2021 annual conference in Nashville. I’m always looking for ways to expand my professional involvement and continue developing my leadership style.
Emanuel Pulido, CPRP
Recreation Supervisor, Farmers Branch PARD
Education
University of North Texas, B.S. – Recreation, Event & Sport Management, 2018
I am an emerging leader for my organization because I started my Parks and Recreation career with the City of Farmers Branch and have grown tremendously since. I have held four different positions here, each increasing in responsibility. I believe that I have succeeded because of my passion for serving the community, but also my desire to empower my team to grow as individuals. My team consists of many young adults that are pursuing higher education, trying to “figure out” what they want to do, and are overall trying to understand who they want to be. My hope is for them to take what they have learned during their time with the city and apply it to their careers and lives.
In addition, I am also an emerging leader for the Texas Recreation and Park Society because I genuinely work to serve the community and make a difference in the lives of those I come into contact with. In the past few years with COVID, I believe it has truly shown how essential Parks and Recreation is to our communities and as an emerging leader it is exciting to be apart of what is to come for our industry.
Blake Reynolds
Recreation Supervisor, City of Leander Parks and Recreation
Relevant Professional Experience
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, BA – Christian Studies & Recreation, 2008
I am a dedicated Parks and Recreation professional that has a high level of experience and service at two premier municipalities such as Georgetown PARO and Leander PARO for almost 8 years. I have grown through experiences as a Specialist, Coordinator, and Supervisor and have networked with many TRAPS counterparts to grow the industry further.
I feel I am a strong candidate for selection for the Leadership Academy as I have desire, passion, and excitement for our industry and this opportunity, if selected, would allow me to further grow my experience and knowledge as I advocate to better serve our local community and surrounding areas. In my experience, I have been able to identify and create ways to grow programming, marketing, and budget needs to better Leander Parks and Recreation Department. I am ready for the next step in my career and with this opportunity it will allow me to grow, bring awareness, and help lead the TRAPS Central region.
Abby Sandy, CPRP
Athletics Supervisor, Grapevine Parks & Recreation Dept.
Education
Texas A&M University, BS – Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences, 2020
Whether it was through athletics, creative arts, outdoor recreation, or educational programs, I have always been able to find enjoyment and build lasting relationships through active involvement. As a parks and recreation professional, it is my goal to give back to what was given to me so that area youth and community members are given unique opportunities to advance their quality of life. With experience in local government and non-profit organizations, I know the importance of community involvement and collaboration. My approach to leadership positions has been about service and training others to be equipped to reach their goals and aspirations. The biggest takeaway from being involved in the mentorship programs through TRAPS and the AAPRA is networking with other field-related professionals. Their experience and insight help me learn from mistakes, analyze programming strategies, seek career advice, and most importantly, find more ways to serve. After graduating from Texas A&M University, I earned my CPRP because I’m committed to the field and want to deliver the highest quality of service to community members. With a passion for serving those within organizations and communities, I want to continue learning from professionals in the field while also gaining more experience in leadership development.
Daniele Stewart, CPRP
Assistant Director, Missouri City PARD
Education
Clemson University, MS—Park & Recreation Tourism Management, in progress
Lipscomb University, BA – Communications, 2015
Throughout my professional journey from seasonal employee to Recreation Specialist, Recreation Manager to Recreation Superintendent, I have never shied away from increased responsibility and challenges. I am constantly looking for opportunities to grow and lead, and actively seek out conferences, educational seminars, and mentorship programs. In addition to my recent promotion to Recreation Superintendent, I have increased my involvement in professional organizations by becoming Vice-Chair for the Education Committee for TRAPS East Region. I am also currently attending Clemson University to earn my Masters of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. My strong desire to contribute to the field drives me to succeed and accomplish my goals of developing and advocating recreational experiences that will benefit my community. I have gained a vast amount of real world experience, but am still seeking to further my education. The TRAPS Academy of Leadership Development would provide me with an opportunity to form relationships with professionals that span across the state and continue developing as a leader.
Rudy Vega
Recreation Coordinator, Boerne PARD
Education
University of Texas-El Paso, BS – Kinesiology, 2015
I am an emerging leader in my organization because I bring a new and different mindset to the City of Boerne. Although I have been in the profession for 10 years (7 full-time), I have the same drive and energy as I ever did. I am not afraid to try new programs/events and I do not allow the thought of “failing” to prevent me from attempting something new. I am always researching innovative ways to revamp our current programs/events; and would love to gain knowledge from like-minded professionals. I am never satisfied with the status quo and always strive to be and do better than last time.
Calie Willis, CPRP
Recreation Manager, City of Coppell
Education
Texas Woman’s University, BS – Family Studies, 2013
I started my career with one goal in mind: build community. At first, I achieved that through creating opportunities that encouraged people to engage with others to create a community. In McKinney specifically, I’ve worked to redefine what being a senior means to the members of our facility. I have taken the next step in my career and moved beyond program coordination and into leading and training staff as they begin program coordinating. When the pandemic began, I learned that building community is deeper than my organization. I’ve had the honor to lead the Leisure and Aging Branch through closures and reopening over the past year and a half. I was able to experience how leading a strong network of likeminded professionals fostered connection, and sanity, during a time of utmost uncertainty. I believe I am an emerging leader within our organization because I have pushed myself to grow professionally and personally by learning to understand and develop a leadership style unique to myself. Additionally, I see myself as an emerging leader in the field and TRAPS because I understand that it just takes one dedicated person to start a community and I am determined to be that one person.