Chase Ellis, CPO, CPRP - Director of Parks and Recreation, Trophy Club, TX - speaks to developing a strong support system that doesn't shy away from discussions surrounding mental and emotional health, the idea of corporate coaching, normalizing therapy, and creating a sustainable mindset in the face of professional hardship, resulting in the development of the Directors Summit established in 2023.

Click here to learn more - https://www.110percent.net/directors-summit

This episode sponsored by CivicPlus - The Best-Run Local Governments Run on CivicPlus Technology - https://www.civicplus.com/

Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.

Tom Venniro is the 11-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughter Amelia.

Jay Tryon is an 18-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

RecLess presents: This Parks & Rec Life - a new podcast exploring the parks and recreation field from the viewpoint of the support system and the family of a parks professional. Shane and Hannah Mize kick off this new series with a conversation about their family structure and some of the wins and struggles that they have encountered during their time in the field. This is a sneak peak of a new series that will release at the beginning of 2026. Listen on your favorite podcast platform and watch the video interview on YouTube.

Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.

Tom Venniro is the 11-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughters Amelia and Maisie.

Jay Tryon is an 18-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

Melissa Lockwood - General Manager, Baha Bay at Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas - shares her path in the parks and rec world from the public to the private sector and her international adventures managing teams at some of the most prestigious resorts and parks in the world.

Click here to learn more -

https://bahabay.bahamar.com/

https://www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com/

https://www.yasisland.com/

This episode sponsored by CivicPlus - The Best-Run Local Governments Run on CivicPlus Technology - https://www.civicplus.com/

Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.

Tom Venniro is the 11-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughter Amelia.

Jay Tryon is an 18-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

Jai Cole - Executive Director, Fairfax County Park Authority, VA explores conversation about a leadership mindset, the art of developing relationships and making connections, resume and interview tips and tricks, and the idea of "leading up."

This episode sponsored by CivicPlus - The Best-Run Local Governments Run on CivicPlus Technology - https://www.civicplus.com/

Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.

Tom Venniro is the 11-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughter Amelia.

Jay Tryon is an 18-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

Heavenly Smith - Recreation Program Coordinator, Susquehanna Township - Harrisburg, PA converses about finding a career in and navigating parks and rec as a nontraditional hire, the path that lead to her being a Thirty Under Thirty winner, the benefit of implementing skills gained from other jobs in parks, and covers topics from mental health and building a support system, to successful conflict resolution and leadership coaching tactics.

This episode sponsored by CivicPlus - The Best-Run Local Governments Run on CivicPlus Technology - https://www.civicplus.com/

Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.

Tom Venniro is the 11-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughter Amelia.

Jay Tryon is an 18-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

Cort Jones, NRPA Director of Content Marketing; Christina High, Social Media Manager at NRPA; Cara Myers, Marketing and Engagement Manager at NRPA; are the driving force behind Open Space - the official blog and podcast of the National Recreation and Parks Association. Listen in as they talk about the fun, responsibility, and opportunities to tell the stories of, and provide resources and tools for NRPA's professionals.Click here to learn more about Open Space - https://www.nrpa.org/blog/This episode sponsored by CivicPlus - The Best-Run Local Governments Run on CivicPlus Technology - https://www.civicplus.com/ Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.Tom Venniro is the 11-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughter Amelia.Jay Tryon is an 18-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

Chris Hunter, CPSI - Superintendent of Park Operations at Mecklenburg County, NC offers a crash course in his leadership philosophy, strategies that have given him success in relationships as the "chief cheerleader for parks and rec," and the challenges and mindset of switching from running a parks and rec staff to a parks ops staff. Make sure to connect with him on LinkedIn to check out his Superintendent Shorts.

This episode sponsored by CivicPlus - The Best-Run Local Governments Run on CivicPlus Technology - https://www.civicplus.com/

Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.

Tom Venniro is the 11-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughter Amelia.

Jay Tryon is an 18-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

Brandon Washington, MPA, CPRE - Recreation Program Superintendent, Casa Grande, AZ highlights his transition into the field of parks and recreation from athletics, the difference that being involved makes for a career and networking opportunities, and constantly striving for excellence as he moves into various leadership roles and pushes his career forward.

This episode sponsored by CivicPlus - The Best-Run Local Governments Run on CivicPlus Technology - https://www.civicplus.com/

Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.

Tom Venniro is the 11-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughter Amelia.

Jay Tryon is an 18-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

Hashim Taylor - Director of Rec, Parks, & Cultural Activities, Alexandria, VA discusses his role on the board of the National Recreation and Park Association, helping steer national policy, advocating for the program, and amplifying the message for parks professionals. He also discusses his early career and his trajectory to his leadership philosophy and current role. This episode sponsored by CivicPlus - The Best-Run Local Governments Run on CivicPlus Technology - https://www.civicplus.com/ Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.Tom Venniro is the 11-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughter Amelia.Jay Tryon is an 18-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

Molly Keays - Director of Parks and Recreation, South Windsor, CT highlights stepping from the private sector world with the YMCA into the world of public service, navigating local politics, making connections and networking with other young professionals, and finding success.

This episode sponsored by CivicPlus - The Best-Run Local Governments Run on CivicPlus Technology - https://www.civicplus.com/

Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.

Tom Venniro is the 11-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughter Amelia.

Jay Tryon is an 18-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.