Virtual Education: Leading Early: Navigating Success as a Young Leader
February 4, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET | 0.1 CEUs
Leading Early: Navigating Success as a Young Leader
Devon Poulos, Aquatics Manager, North Port Parks and Recreation
Stepping into a leadership role at a young age presents unique opportunities—and challenges. This session is designed for emerging leaders looking to build their confidence, credibility, and influence in the workplace. Whether you're new to leadership or aspiring to step into a higher role, this session will equip you with the tools needed to thrive as a young leader and make a lasting impact.
- Identify key challenges faced by young leaders in professional environments and develop strategies to overcome them.
- Explore techniques for managing inter-generational teams and navigating workplace dynamics with confidence.
- Enhance communication and interpersonal skills to build trust, influence, and credibility as a young leader.
About Devon: Devon Poulos has over a decade of experience in the recreation field, having worked with local YMCA organizations and county-level government agencies. Since joining the City of North Port in November 2018, he has held several key roles, including Recreation Program Coordinator, Head Lifeguard, Assistant Aquatics Supervisor, and Aquatics Manager.
Devon has earned multiple professional certifications, including the Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) in 2019, Lifeguard Instructor Trainer (LGIT) in 2022, and Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) in 2023. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).
Devon completed The Emerging Leaders Institute in 2021 and graduated from the Abrahams Jones Academy for Leadership Excellence in 2023. He played a vital role in helping the City of North Port achieve its initial CAPRA accreditation in 2019 and contributed to the successful reaccreditation in 2024.
All FRPA Virtual Education Sessions are live and encourage you to stay engaged so that discussion can take place during and after the presentation. Each session has been scheduled for the time of the presentation but please keep in mind that we will have around seven to ten minutes of introductory announcements and possibly words from our sponsor during the session. These may cause the session to run over the allotted time by 10-15 minutes.
Please make sure your first and last name appear as your profile name so that the moderator will know to let you into the meeting. If are not able to make this change, it is your responsibility to inform FRPA what device name you will be signing in under.