Operating & Advisory Boards

GP RED is fortunate to have volunteer board involvement from a variety of notable experts from around the country. The Operating Board meets monthly to govern and oversee the organization’s policies, funding, and operational direction. The Operating Board also may act as faculty and review GP RED activities and research.

Advisory Board members contribute industry expertise and opportunities, and also may act as faculty, along with being reviewers of activities and research. The Advisory Board meets quarterly through phone and web conferencing.

If you are interested in serving on a GP RED board, CLICK HERE for more information.

Operating Board

Chris Cares
Teresa Penbrooke, PhD
Robby Layton, PhD
Chris Nunes, PhD
Tony Lopez
Tiara Chapman, CPRP
Chris Cares – President

Chris Cares

Vice President, Research and Planning, RRC Associates

Chris Cares possesses a diverse background in public and private planning and market research. A founding partner of RRC Associates, he specializes in practical applications of quantitative and qualitative research including surveys, modeling, focus group facilitation, and public outreach for problem solving in a variety of industries and settings. His research and recommendations have helped to shape the design and marketing strategies of major resorts and other developer clients, as well as advertising campaigns, hospitality performance evaluations, community development programs, etc. He has coordinated the planning and public processing of numerous large resort and mixed-use projects. In addition, Chris has managed customer feedback programs, and other efforts designed to improve the function and performance of organizations, for over 20 years. Housing and real estate-related needs assessments are particular areas of specialization. Chris has an undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester and a Masters degree from Harvard University.

 

Teresa Penbrooke, PhD, MAOM, CPRE – Executive Administrator

Teresa Penbrooke

Senior Manager, BerryDunn; Visiting Scholar/Researcher, North Carolina State University; Director, Healthy Community Reseach Group; Faculty, Researcher and Secretary of the Board, GP RED

Teresa brings substantial career experience and planning expertise to projects for large and small communities on a national level. She founded GreenPlay, LLC, in 1999, and has been integral in the research, quality, recommendations, and implementation of the innovations that GreenPlay (now BerryDunn) contributes to the field. In addition to leading projects and the firm, Teresa teaches and researches best practices around the country. She is an Official Visitor Chair for the Commission on Accreditation for Parks and Recre­ation Agencies (CAPRA). Teresa co-founded GP RED in 2008. She now divides her time between special projects, academic endeavors, and administration.

Robby Layton, PhD, FASLA, CPRP, Treasurer

Principal, Design Concepts, Landscape Architecture & Planning

Rob Layton’s interest has always focused on how the landscape of the public realm affects the lives of people. This has led to his involvement nationally towards helping communities understand, create and manage their public spaces. As one of the primary architects of the GRASP® methodology and a founding partner of Design Concepts, a national landscape architecture firm, he is dedicated to perfecting the science and practice of measuring how the built environment affects the people who live within it. Rob travels extensively throughout the world, involving himself with cultures and the way they create and inhabit their own landscapes. Another specialty of his is facilitating projects through the public process; Rob presents at conferences, leads workshops for communities, and writes articles on the processes he has helped develop for improving the built environment.

Chris Nunes, PhD, CPRE

Chris Nunes, PhD, CPRE

For the past 25 years, Chris has dedicated himself to the municipal parks and recreation profession and has been an agency director in Maine, Colorado, and Texas. Currently he is the Director of Parks and Recreation for The Woodlands Township in Texas, a community of 115,000, 30 miles north of Houston. In 2019 Chris led The Woodlands Township to be recognized by the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration for winning the Gold Medal Grand Plaque Award for excellence in parks and recreation management. In 2020, The Woodlands Township received National Recreation and Parks Association Conservation Innovation Award.

Chris is also tireless advocate for the profession. Over the course of the past 15+ years he has presented over 400 sessions to local, regional, state and national sports, recreation and athletic organizations. In addition, he serves or has served on the, Oglebay Revenue Management School (Chair 2020),  NRPA Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions, National Certification Board (NCB), Rocky Mountain Revenue Management School, NRPA Administrators Network and founded the Gulf Coast Leadership Development Institute. In 2012 Chris was elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Parks and Recreation Administrators and in 2015 he received the National Distinguished Professional Award from NRPA. In 2016-2017 he was the President of the American Academy of Parks and Recreation Administrators. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management and a master’s degree in Sports Management from Springfield College in Massachusetts, a Doctorate in Parks and Recreation Administration from the University of New Mexico, and was one of the first 50 Certified Parks and Recreation Executive’s in the country.

“We are extremely pleased and honored to add Chris to our governing Board.” said Dr. Teresa Penbrooke, Faculty, Researcher, and Secretary of the GP RED Operating Board. “His experience with the professional and education segments of the parks and recreation industry will surely help GP RED in our continued goals to help provide transdisciplinary research and education for the professionals who help communities thrive.”

Tony Lopez


A photo and bio for Tony are coming soon!


Tiara Chapman, CPRP

Recreation Supervisor for the City of Lewisville, Texas

Tiara Chapman (she/her) is a bonafide Nature Nerd who inspires her community to run, jump, play, and explore at Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area and greenspaces throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Tiara knows that personal connections to nature can bring about healing, strengthen relationships, and improve one’s health and wellness. In recognizing the intersectionality of this work, she’s built partnerships on a local, state, and federal level to ensure folks have equitable access to the outdoors. She firmly believes that everyone should be able to access nature from wherever they are, be it a 2600-acre nature preserve or from their living rooms. This is why she is dedicated to utilizing the tools of the 21st Century to create compelling stories, advocate for inclusion, and smooth down barriers to the outdoors.

Tiara is a creative and innovative informal science educator, with 7+ years of extensive experience in developing and delivering conservation science and outdoor recreation programs for children, students (K-12), families, and adult learners.

In her free time, Tiara consumes books like happy meals, curates a bangin’ indoor and outdoor garden, and unsuccessfully tries to nuzzle Twila, her husband’s 16-year-old cat.

Advisory Board

Advisory Board members contribute industry expertise and opportunities, and also may act as faculty, along with being reviewers of activities and research. The Advisory Board meets quarterly through phone and web conferencing.

Daniel Betts

President for the National Association of County Parks and Recreation Organizations (NACPRO)

Daniel Betts is a public servant with 20 years of executive leadership experience managing personnel, property and multi-million dollar budgets. He has served in leadership roles within higher education, U.S. military, nonprofit, government and economic development organizations. Daniel is an innovative and creative leader with excellent skills in project management, strategic planning, program planning, facility management and developing public/private partnerships. Daniel has served in leadership and management positions in mid and large urban environments (Chicago, Denver, and Naperville, Illinois). He has served in leadership and management positions in higher education (University of Illinois at Chicago & Columbia College). Daniel holds a Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel (MS) from the School of Education at Western Illinois University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix, Denver. He has Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Western Illinois University. He currently serves as the President for the National Association of County Parks and Recreation Organizations (NACPRO) representing more than a 150 cities and municipalities. Daniel is a member of the National Recreation and Park Association, National Forum for Blacks in Public Administration (NFBPA), The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the Alliance for Innovation, Transforming Local Government.

Andrew Bohannon

Photo and Bio coming soon

Jo Burns, MS, CTRS

Jo Burns is a parks, recreation, public health professional, public speaker and consultant in the Denver  area with over 25 years of experience in public, private, and non-profit sectors.  She is a solopreneur leading the efforts of Jo Burns Connects LLC focused on elevating the engagement and effectiveness of organizations through connection, collaboration, and inspiration.  She is co-founder and director for the Colorado Public Health|Parks and Recreation Collaborative. Her forte is establishing multi-sectored, connections – creating collaborations and opportunities for improving health.  Her professional experience includes coordinating and implementing education events, developing coalitions, creating non-profits to support public entities, serving as executive director for therapeutic camp programs and community therapeutic recreation programs.  Jo speaks publicly around the country sharing the benefits of collaborative efforts between parks, recreation, and public health.

Jo is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) whose career included providing recreation and leisure services for people with disabilities/chronic illnesses in therapeutic camp and community settings. Jo served as adjunct faculty in Recreation and Health at Indiana University and Metro State University. Jo worked with the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association and crossed over to work with a public health institute providing professional education.

Jo is currently a steering committee member for the Metro Denver Nature Alliance. She is the coordinator for Accelerate educational events with the National Speaker Association-Colorado. Jo served on the Program Planning Committee for the GP RED’s 2020 Think Tank and served as co-chair of GP RED’s SHIFT Summit. Jo served on/chaired the Arvada Park Advisory Committee.  In 2019 Jo was recognized with the President’s Award from the Colorado Recreation and Park Association and named a Public Health Champion for Tri-County Health Department in 2018.

Jo has a BA in Business Administration and Psychology (Austin College), an MS in Recreation and Leisure from the University of North Texas. In addition, she completed Advanced Leadership Training Program with Regional Institute for Health and Environmental Leaders; earned certificates for Public Health and You for Parks and Recreation professionals, Human Health and the Natural Environment through the Eppley Institute.  She is a graduate of the National Speaker Association-Colorado Speaker Academy.

Jo and her spouse, Brian have 2 children and is passionate about connecting with nature, hiking, skiing, mountain biking and fire pits in the backyard with s’mores.  

Justin Cutler, MPA, CPRE

Director of Recreation Services for the City of Seattle

Justin Cutler serves as the Director of Recreation Services for the City of Seattle.  During his time in Seattle and across his career he has worked to increase the diversity of his team and the programs offered to underserved communities through partnerships with local non-profits.  Inculcate the tenants of continuous improvement and performance management, through increased training, pilot projects, and customer journey mapping.  Connect the dots between health care and local parks & recreation through the implementation of evidence based chronic disease management programs.  Because of his work connecting local parks & recreation agencies and medical providers, he was asked to serve on the National Recreation & Parks Association Advisory Board for Health & Wellness.      

Prior to his work in Seattle, he has served as a Recreation Manager, Executive Director, Analyst, and as a Recreation Coordinator.  Cutler has a passion for parks & recreation, leadership development, and public service.  He has also been involved with professional associations serving on several boards, commissions, and volunteer groups, with the Colorado Parks & Recreation Association, and the Oregon Recreation & Parks Association.  He has presented at numerous conferences on youth program evaluation, customer service in parks & recreation, continuous improvement, and chronic disease program integration in parks & recreation.     

Cutler, originally from Issaquah, WA, attended Washington State University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation Administration and Leisure Studies, GO COUGS!  He moved to Portland, OR after college and began working with the City of Wilsonville.  While working in the Portland metro region he obtained a Master’s in Public Administration from Portland State University – Hatfield School of Government. 

You can find Justin online @cutlerparks or www.linkedin.com/in/justincutler

Maureen Dougherty, PhD

Let’s Go with Dr. Mo, LLC

Dr. Mo launched her company, “Let’s Go with Dr. Mo, LLC” in 2016 and has enjoyed training, consulting, team building, and delivering keynotes ever since!  She has taken a special interest in working with the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association Leadership Institute and Training Committee over the past four year.  Dr. Mo worked as a practitioner in Corporate Adventure, Campus Activities, Intramural Sports, and Community Recreation prior to teaching Recreation & Parks Management for sixteen years for both CCBC Catonsville and Frostburg State University. She helped to create and launch the MRPA Student Mentor Program in 2003 and received a Presidential Award of Mentor Emeritus in 2016.

She received her Ph.D. from WVU where her research focused on the empowerment of women in the outdoors. Her career has spanned many areas, but her passion has always been to help groups learn, laugh, and play while building a stronger team.  As a former practitioner and educator, Dr. Mo applies the 3 E’s:  Educate, Engage, and Entertain so everyone can walk away gaining valuable information, reap the benefits of working together, and have some fun in the process. 

She lives in Frederick, Maryland with her husband John (who has also been in the park and recreation field for more than 30 years).  They have two adult children, Maddie and Bryce, and one really spoiled dog, Murphy. She loves to Irish social dance, ski, golf, hike, and go camping every chance she gets.

Let’s Get “Revved Up” and Go with Dr. Mo!!!

Chris Dropinski, CPRE

 Chris Dropinski, CPRE

Chris Dropinski, CPRE, is a Senior Manager with BerryDunn. Over her career, she has developed a unique and respected approach to addressing challenging areas in the field of parks and recreation through a focus on strategy, philosophical underpinnings, leadership, personal and organizational development, and relationship building. Her current role with BerryDunn builds on a strong foundation of 20 years as Business Owner and Senior Principal at GreenPlay, LLC and 24 years of Parks and Recreation administration with nearly half of that as Director of the City of Boulder, Colorado, Parks and Recreation Department. Armed with a teaching degree in addition to her P&R Administration degree, Chris has passionately helped move our profession forward, taking advantage of opportunities to serve in leadership and faculty positions ranging from non-profits and foundations, to the NRPA Rocky Mountain Revenue and Management School, and the National Association of Park Foundations. As a Certified Parks and Recreation Executive, a fellow of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administrators, and experienced consultant, she continues to help organizations remain relevant in our ever-changing environment. 

Daniel Hernandez

 

Photo and bio coming soon 

Sheema Hai, CPRP

Sheema Hai is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Park Management from Frostburg State University. Sheema has experience working in both the public and nonprofit sector as an event planner, consultant, trainer, and educator. Her areas of expertise and skills include organizational and strategy development, policy management, fund raising, research, and cultural competency practices.

Sheema has had a multitude of experiences working both in academia and as a practitioner in the non-profit and public sector as well as a volunteer for various Islamic organizations in the greater DC metropolitan region. She has also created multiple trainings and presented at state and national recreation and education conferences with an emphasis on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion paradigm.

Sheema is an avid believer in lifelong learning and has therefore embarked to attain the skillset and become a certified grant writer. In addition, she hopes to polish her DEI skills by attaining the University of South Florida, MUMU College of Business Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace Certificate by December 2021.

Sheema has been an inaugural member of the of the Maryland Recreation and Parks Social Justice, Racial Equity, and Inclusion committee which she now co-chairs with hopes to impact DEI work in the field of recreation and parks in Maryland and beyond.

Sheema is an avid coffee enthusiast who loves to spend time with family and friends, explore new hiking trails and enjoys reading, writing, and coloring for fun and relaxation.

Sidney Kittila

Photo and bio coming soon

Eric Legg, PhD, CPRP

Assistant Professor in the School of Community Resources of Development and Global Sport Institute Affiliate Faculty, Arizona State University

Eric Legg is an assistant professor in the School of Community Resources of Development and a Global Sport Institute affiliate faculty at Arizona State University. His research and publications focus on how communities create and sustain recreational sport programs that maximize positive outcomes, with a specific focus on positive youth development. Eric also worked for several years for Arlington County Parks and Recreation, is the founder of a community sport organization (Tennis on the Hill), and a member of the national nominating committee for the United States Tennis Association.

Alexi McHugh

Photo and Bio to come

Sylvie Rokab, M.A.

Filmmaker, Speaker, and Nature Therapy Guide

With the Atlantic Forest and rocky beaches as her backyard, Sylvie was born in Rio and raised by French and Italian—Egypt-born—parents who encouraged her fascination with nature. Heartbroken by its rapid destruction, as a young adult she made it her mission to inspire people to deepen their connection with the natural world.

Today, Sylvie is an Emmy nominated, award-winning filmmaker with 25 years of experience as a writer, director, producer, cinematographer, and editor – working on films that screened in movie theaters, digital platforms, as well as on television outlets such as HBO, PBS, Travel Channel, and Discovery Networks.

Narrated by Liam Neeson, her latest film LOVE THY NATURE received critical acclaim including 27 awards, and had over 300 screenings in 140 cities in 16 countries – in partnership with organizations such as Bioneers, the Sierra Club, and the Nature Conservancy.

Sylvie and her team broke ground in the film world by creating view-and-do events where audience members watched the movie, discussed its themes and engaged in activities such as a shamanic hike, tree planting, and nature therapy workshops.

Inspired by the transformative power of these workshops, Sylvie became certified as a Nature Therapy guide (aka Forest Bathing) with ANFT, the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy,and now leads workshops, retreats, and expeditions, guiding participants to deepen connection – with nature, others, and themselves – promoting healing, joy, and transformation.

An engaging speaker, Sylvie has presented over 100 speeches at film festivals, universities, conferences, and TEDx. She is also a mindfulness teacher-in-training, studying under Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield – with the goal to include lessons of awareness and compassion in her offerings.

A world traveler fluent in 4 (and ¼) languages, Sylvie’s vision is to reach a massive audience and awaken the deepest nature within each individual. As they follow the brilliance, mastery, and magic of nature, they find healing, reach their highest potential, and protect our spellbinding natural world.

Lakita Watson, CPRP

Lakita Watson

 

Executive Director for Richland County, SC Recreation Commission

Lakita started her career in the Suffolk, VA Parks and Recreation as a part-time recreation leader in 1994 while attending Norfolk State University. She fell in love with Parks and Recreation and remained in the field holding many supervisory and management positions, working her way up to Director. During her tenure there, she led the department in developing two freestanding recreation/community centers, achieved National Agency CAPRA Accreditation, secured over $5 million in grant funding for programs and capital projects, and implemented the Suffolk Initiative on Youth Crime Prevention Plan. Since 2018, she became the Executive Director for Richland County, SC Recreation Commission. Ms. Watson is committed to the profession of parks and recreation, serving as a speaker at a number of state and national conferences. She has also served as a guest lecturer at Old Dominion University for the Parks and Recreation/Tourism department, leads the national Women in Parks and Recreation (WiPAR) Facebook Group, and is involved with a variety of roles for the National Recreation and Park Association. 

Debbie Woodbury

Debbie Woodbury, MPA, CPRP, CPM

Regional Program Director, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activies, Alexandria, VA

Debbie is an accomplished recreation program manager with over 8 years experience overseeing the implementation of community and city-wide programs for youth and adults. Extensive background hiring, training and supervising recreation program staff. Highly skilled in budget preparation, analysis and appropriation of program funds.

Operating Board Emeriti

  • Janet Bartnik 
  • Chris Dropinski, CPRE
  • Karla Henderson, PhD, CPRP
  • Lora Polowczuk
  • Dirk Richwine, CPRE
  • Linda Smith 
  • Lisa Wolff, MSL, CPRP