Virtual Education: More Than ChatGPT: How Can AI Help Rec Departments Deliver Exceptional Experiences?
May 26, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET | 0.1 CEUs
More Than ChatGPT: How Can AI Help Rec Departments Deliver Exceptional Experiences?
Jay Hatch, Recreation Director, Madeira Beach Recreation
Jessi Pak Barrnett, Partnerships, Rec Technologies
AI is everywhere—but how can parks & rec actually use it? Join Rec Technologies to explore practical AI applications beyond ChatGPT or Canva, featuring insights from OpenAI and real case studies. Learn how AI can boost efficiency, inclusion, and personalization—no software engineering degree required.
- Understand foundational AI concepts in the context of parks & rec, like Large Language Models, data security, and the concept of AI agents.
- Evaluate actual use cases of AI in action such as live translation for customer support, natural language based reporting, and personalized marketing and community engagement.
- Create a roadmap for implementing AI within your department’s policy environment, whether your city has adopted official AI guidelines or not.
Sponsored by:
About Jay: Customer-focused leader with 10+ years of experience driving community engagement through program development, project execution, and operational excellence. As Director for the City of Madeira Beach, Jay oversee large-scale events, youth and adult programs, and multi-use public facilities—ensuring high-impact service delivery and sustained user satisfaction
About Jessi: Jessi Pak Barrnett brings 15+ years of sales leadership experience across high-growth technology companies, including nearly 9 years at Yelp where she held progressive leadership roles spanning sales training, director-level management, and new market development. Most recently, she served as VP of Sales at Great Place to Work before joining Rec Technologies to lead partnerships. Jessi is passionate about leveraging technology to simplify operations and connect people to the communities they love.
Registration Fees:
Member Registration - $25
Non-Member Registration - $35
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.
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