Meet your 2024-2025 mParks Leadership Team

Earlier this month, the mParks Leadership Team was back on Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel. Sure, we stopped at our favorite shops and precariously strolled through the town, monitoring each step while holding our breath. There was plenty of fun and catching up with old friends and colleagues, but the true mission was to get to work on the strategic plan. We were lucky to have Julie Hales-Smith, North Coast Community Consultants (NC3), and Patrice Martin, Innovative Community Solutions, guide us through that journey.
 
Our group of dedicated parks and recreation professionals and staff helped tweak and make attainable goals for the association. It was amazing to see the enthusiasm, professionalism, and brainpower on display. When things are all said and done, mParks is set up to be a hub for member professional development, an employer of choice, and more financially stable for whatever the world throws at us. We also left with a clearer vision for our regional groups on aligning better with mParks, and ideas to make it easier to grow their membership and participation.

If you know me, you know I'm all about building personal relationships and recognizing the work that we all put into our fields and our communities. In the next year, it's my goal to ensure that you have the opportunities to make professional connections within the association and attain the tools and skills to improve your participants' lives.

I look forward to you joining us on that journey. And as always, if you need a hand or an ear, all you have to do is reach out.

Board of Directors

President, Chad Stevens, CPRP
Director, DeWitt Area Recreation Authority
 
President-Elect, Kyle Langlois, CPRE
Director, Sterling Heights Parks & Recreation
 
Past President, Lori Irwin, Ed.D., CPRP
Professor, Central Michigan University 
  
Secretary/Treasurer, Nikki McEachern
Superintendent of Recreation, City of Royal Oak 

Director at Large, LaReina Wheeler, CPRP
Director, Ferndale Parks and Recreation

Director at Large, Greg Morris
Assistant Director, Northville Parks & Recreation

Presidential Appointment - Government Relations, Gary Kirsh
Community Relations, ITC
 
Presidential Appointment - Health & Wellness, Dan Ekonen
Sr. Director, Program Leadership, Special Olympics Michigan

Committees

Focus Areas

Middle Managers, Michele Vannerson, CPRP
Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation, Chesterfield Township

New Professionals, Allyson Leach
Recreation Supervisor, Troy Recreation Department

Park Resources, Larry Hess
Park System Superintendent, Independence Township Parks Recreation & Seniors

Past Presidents, Stu Alderman, CPRP
Executive Director, Grosse Pointe Neighborhood Club
 
Programming, Jordan Hilbrecht
Special Events/Festivals Manager, Howell Recreation 
 
Students, Nick Wing
Recreation Programmer, Meridian Township Parks & Recreation

Trails, Brett Kaschinske
Director, City of Lansing Parks and Recreation 
 
Youth & Teens, Chelsea Straub
Recreation Specialist – Youth
Canton Leisure Services

Middle Managers, Michele Vannerson, CPRP
Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation, Chesterfield Township

New Professionals, Allyson Leach
Recreation Supervisor, Troy Recreation Department

Park Resources, Larry Hess
Park System Superintendent, Independence Township Parks Recreation & Seniors

Past Presidents, Stu Alderman, CPRP
Executive Director, Grosse Pointe Neighborhood Club
 
Programming, Jordan Hilbrecht
Special Events/Festivals Manager, Howell Recreation 
 
Students, Nick Wing
Recreation Programmer, Meridian Township Parks & Recreation

Trails, Brett Kaschinske
Director, City of Lansing Parks and Recreation 
 
Youth & Teens, Chelsea Straub
Recreation Specialist – Youth
Canton Leisure Services

Regional Groups

Knuckles Knorth, John Chase, CPRE
Director, Grand Traverse County Parks & Recreation

Northeast Recreation & Park Association (NERPA), George Cardaris
Director of Parks & Recreation, Clinton Township Recreation
 
Northwest Parks & Recreation Association (NWPRA), Shawnie Stamper
Director, City of Pleasant Ridge 

Southern Michigan Recreation & Park Association (SMRPA), Jodi Ackerman
Foster Community Center Programmer
Lansing Parks & Recreation Department
 
WAM (Wayne & Monroe), Laura Mortier, CPRP
Recreation Supervisor
Canton Leisure Services
 
West Michigan Recreation & Park Association (WMRPA), Krashawn Martin
Director
Wyoming Parks and Recreation

Strategic Partners

mParks Foundation, Mike Hoffmeister
Mannik Smith Group

Michigan Association of County Parks and Recreation Officials (MACPRO), Nick Smith
Parks and Recreation Director, County of Newaygo