January Premier: Release Your Niche: Career Success in Parks and Recreation

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Released January 2024! Success is a concept defined differently for every person, yet something everyone aims to achieve to some degree. Regardless of how you define success, you cannot reach the noun without action. Success requires you to set and accomplish goals, take a leap of faith, and jump into new challenges that push you personally and professionally. The journey requires hard work, humility, risk and even failure. In this session, we explore the journey of three recreation professionals who — despite starting their careers in very specialized areas — decided to break away from their niche to achieve individualized levels of career success.

After watching this talk, the audience will leave with an understanding of the shared experiences two professionals used to reach their own, self-identified levels of success. Numerous examples and specific ideas are presented for how professionals can take charge of their own careers.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain knowledge in career progression and get tips to achieving success in your park and recreation career.

2. Identify three different ways to take charge of your career by diversifying experience and taking risks.

3. Learn strategies on how to break out of your specialized area of focus and achieve broader career experience and success.

This talk is available for 1 year from release date!

Errin Koon

Recreation Manager

Programs Town of Parker

This session features Errin Koon, a recreation program manager with more than 16 years of increasing experience in parks and recreation. As a Certified Youth Sports Administrator, Koon learned the value a policy provides an organization, but more importantly, the participants they serve. She has served many roles within the Town of Parker (Colorado), including assistant facility coordinator, sports coordinator, sports supervisor and programs manager. Each role required the creation of a variety of policies, checklists, manuals, handbooks and procedures for front desk operations, the sports division, and department-wide operations. In 2021, she was awarded the Colorado President's Award for her contributions in policy and bylaw editing for the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association and Colorado Association of Recreational Athletics (CARA). Koon has served as a CAPRA Visitor on seven visits, reviewing countless policies, plans, procedures and programs. Her involvement as a reviewer provides a unique insight into effective, creative and successful agency documentation.

Hillary Roemersberger (she/her/hers)

Director, Recreation Services

Apex Park and Recreation

Hillary Roemersberger has worked in Parks and Recreation for 16 years. She currently works as the Director of Recreation Services with Apex Park and Recreation District located in Arvada, CO. In her role she is responsible for the oversight of Fitness and Wellness, Licensed programs, and Aquatics as well as multiple recreation centers. Hillary holds a BS in Health and Exercise Science, a Masters in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism, and is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional.

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