SE FL Education Meeting - 022426

If you need a form to register, contact blaire@frpa.org

Tentative Education Schedule:

8:30 – 9:00 AM: Check-In

9:00 – 10:00 AM: 
Understand the Role of State Professional Organizations in Parks and Recreation
Jennifer Gill - Recreation Manager, St Lucie Parks and Recreation
Being a member of your state association is easy, but being an involved member makes a difference. This session will show you the benefits of being involved in your state association can do you for you, and how your involvement can help others. State association membership goes beyond your work life, developing relationships that will help you with your job and throughout you life.

10:00 – 11:00 AM:
Community Partnerships That Actually Work
Jessica Tharp CPRP - Assistant Recreation Division Manager, Stuart Community Services
Learn how to create strong, lasting partnerships that enhance programs and events. Explore practical strategies, real-life examples, and solutions for common challenges. Leave with actionable tools to align goals, define roles, build trust, and expand your community impact—ready to implement in your own programs.

11:00 – 11:15 AM: Break

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM:
Building an Inclusive Workplace with Best Buddies
Lyndsey Marsh - Operations Manager, Palm Beach Gardens Leisure Services
Tricia Williams - Regional Director, Best Buddies
Best Buddies is a worldwide organization dedicated to empowering individuals of all abilities through friendship-building, inclusive programming, job training, and housing opportunities. This session will provide an overview of Best Buddies’ programs and services, explore ways to integrate them into your community center, and outline best practices for creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace.

12:15 – 1:00 PM: Lunch and Networking

1:00 – 2:00 PM: Two Sessions

Designing for Maintenance for Parks & Recreation Facilities
Mike Kendrick - Assistant Director, Port St Lucie Parks and Recreation
Kelly Boatwright - Assistant Director, Port St Lucie Parks and Recreation
Zak Sherman - Executive Project Manager, Port St Lucie Parks and Recreation
This session will cover how Designing for Maintenance integrates ongoing upkeep, repair and operational needs into the initial planning and construction phases to create durable, safe and efficient facilities that maximize the long-term operational costs and maximize their life cycle and provide the best community value. This course will focus on safety, sustainable practices, accessibility for maintenance and risk management.

Prepare for the Worst
Nan Krushinski CFEE - Special Events Director, Port St Lucie Special Events Division
You’ve all heard the phrase, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”  We’re going to prepare for the worst to help keep you calm if potential challenges occur.  We will discuss how to plan for most emergencies, how to identify potential hazards, and what to do if something happens.  

2:00 – 3:00 PM
Recreation Center Safety & Security
Charlotte Presensky CPRE - Leisure Services Administrator, Palm Beach Gardens Recreation
Lyndsey Marsh CPRP, AFO - Operations Manager, Palm Beach Gardens Recreation
During this session, we will provide an overview of the recently opened Burns Road Community Center and explain how safety and security were intentionally designed into the building. We will also review the Centegix Crisis Alert System to provide an understanding of how it has enhanced response times to incidents across the recreation campus. In addition, participants will review the Emergency Operations Plan and understand its role in supporting staff and visitor safety.

3:00 - 3:15 PM: Break

3:15 - 4:15 PM
From Contract to Ribbon Cutting: Managing the Full Park Construction Lifecycle
Mike Kendrick - Assistant Director, Port St Lucie Parks and Recreation
Kelly Boatwright - Assistant Director, Port St Lucie Parks and Recreation
Zak Sherman - Executive Project Manager, Port St Lucie Parks and Recreation
A start-to-finish look at managing park construction projects, from evaluating design proposals through procurement, permitting, construction oversight, and ribbon cutting. This session focuses on practical strategies for defining scope, coordinating reviews, avoiding surprises, and delivering complex park projects smoothly and efficiently.

FRPA will provide certificate of completion of the approved amount of CEUs following events, in person or virtual. It is the professional's responsibility to maintain these records for any appropriate certifications. We ask that if you are ill that you do not attend FRPA functions in person.