On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the importance of operating with a sense of urgency. While urgency is often discussed as a function of time, as Phil explains, the term for park rangers should be viewed through intentionality. Like business leaders, park rangers should not reduce […]
Leadership
Should Parks be Self-Sufficient
On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss why parks should be financially sufficient. While a complex topic in execution, the bottom line for a park’s financial structure is simple: Each state park should be sufficient to maintain operating expenses including maintenance and personnel. As Phil explains, this […]
The Foundation of Leadership with John G. Miller
Personal accountability is the foundation of leadership. If you don’t get personal accountability right, nothing else in leadership works as well as it should. This is why QBQ by John G. Miller is one of the most important leadership books I have read. I read this book at least once each year and have given […]
What Parks Can Learn From Disney with Lee Cockerell
As I talk to leaders and managers from parks, Disney came up more than once as a source parks could look to for best practices and new ideas on how to operate a park. I took the hint and brought Disney to the Park Leaders Show. Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of […]
Happen to Your Career with Scott Barlow and Mark Sieverkropp
Scott Barlow is a Human Resources Manager with a company in Washington State. He is also a career coach and founder of Happen To Your Career. Mark Sieverkropp is an author, entrepreneur, consultant, and speaker. Together at Happen To Your Career, they help connect people with the work they love. Talking with Scott and Mark gives […]
The Value of Experience with Eric Watilo
Eric Watilo is a Region Manager with Washington State Parks. After fifteen years in the field as a Park Manager and Park Manager, Eric has spent the past sixteen years in a Region Headquarters. As a Region Manager, Eric works directly with many Park Managers. He is familiar with the issues most Park Managers struggle […]
Parks are the Soul of a Community with Rex Derr
Rex Derr is the former director of Washington State Parks. Rex says his career in Parks was glorious and feels parks are the soul of a community. Rex was the architect and main cheerleader of Washington State Park’s Centennial 2013 plan. This plan built excitement and prepared Washington State Parks to celebrate the park system’s […]
Feeling the Pulse of a Park – Chris Guidotti
Chris Guidotti is the manager of Riverside State Park in Spokane, WA. Ranger Guidotti has lead his park and staff to find new ways to create revenue and recreation opportunities for visitors, despite increasing budget pressure to do more with less. He explains some of the ways a new manager can find the […]
What is Park Leaders?
In this introductory episode of the podcast, I explain what Park Leaders is about. What is Park Leaders? Park Leaders is a place to connect the wisdom of those who did with the passion of those who will. We are going to talk to as many leaders in Parks as possible. Their wisdom can be […]