Members on the Move: Traci Sincock

With excitement and a just a small amount of sadness, Traci Sincock has announced that she plans to retire from her position as DNR Park Supervisor of Maybury State Park on February 2, 2024.

An active member of mParks since 1979, Traci Sincock has made numerous contributions to the association, the parks and recreation profession, and her adopted community of Northville. Upon graduating from Eastern Michigan University in Recreation Administration, Traci’s career started as the Senior Citizen Coordinator for the City of Plymouth. After a brief move to Texas from 1982-1985, Traci returned to Michigan and started a 39-year run of employment, all within the Northville community. Hired by Northville Parks and Recreation, a joint service of the Northville City, Township and School District, Traci started as Recreation Supervisor, was promoted to Assistant Director and then to Parks and Recreation Director. As Director, Traci managed the largest development in Northville’s history, including the construction of 9 parks and renovation of three community center buildings.

Upon retiring from the City of Northville and Township in 2010, Traci served 5 ½ years at the Northville Chamber of Commerce as Associate Director, managing festivals, chamber events and providing support to the business members. Traci returned to her parks and recreation roots in 2016 when she joined the Department of Natural Resources as Supervisor of Maybury State Park, Northville’s beautiful 944-acre day use park. As caretaker of Maybury for the past 7+ years, Traci and the staff have elevated the awareness of the park as an important community asset, increasing programs and events that have brought many new visitors and supporters. Construction of a new park headquarters in 2020 was an important project that will have long lasting impact.

Traci has served on numerous mParks boards and committees, including Senior Citizen Committee (1979 - 1982), Scholarship Committee (1986 - 1994), Hall of Fame Committee (2010 - present), Professional Recognition Committee (2021 - 2024), Certification Committee (1999 - 2009), mParks Foundation Board (2007 - 2010), Conference Committee Chair (1990), and served as the mParks Board President (2002). Traci’s contributions have been recognized with the mParks Commitment to Excellence Award (2007) and the mParks Fellowship Award (2004). 

Outside of work, Traci is known for her love of collaborations, partnerships, and community involvement. Traci remains an active member in the Northville Rotary Club and served as Governor of Rotary District 6400 in 2022 and 2023. Traci and her husband, Paul, have hosted numerous Rotary youth exchange students from Germany, Brazil, Turkey, Argentina, and Finland. Visiting these students and their families in their home countries remains a priority.

As Traci embraces retirement, she looks forward to new adventures, including more travel, organizing gatherings for family and friends, hiking, volunteering, and reigniting her interest in golf, which she has temporarily set aside. The friendships, colleagues, and relationships built throughout her career have brought Traci immense joy and fulfillment, and her philosophy of giving back more than you receive remains a guiding principle in her life.