Alaska Recreation and Park Association
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Meet the 2024 Board Candidates


Please access the election ballot by following the link: 2024 ARPA Elections Form 

Secretary Position
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Trisha Levasseur 
Parks Project Coordinator, Fairbanks Northstar Borough Parks & Recreation

Trisha Lavasseur

I am writing this letter to express my interest to run for the Secretary Position. I became involved with ARPA early on as an Awards Committee Member in early 2022 and then elected to a Board Member At-Large position in 2023 and have enjoyed getting to know the association. Since my little time of being involved, I’ve taken a large interest in wanting to be more involved with ARPA and being on the board would be a great opportunity.

I believe that the association plays an important role in providing educational opportunities and information to community planners and Parks and Recreation professionals to help improve Alaskan communities through recreation. I began my Parks and Recreation career in Fairbanks, Alaska in November of 2021 and have since learned that is takes many team members to help a community thrive. I attended my first ARPA conference in Soldotna in the Fall of 2022 and felt that it was a unique experience that I was able to bring back what I learned, to my own community. The educational sessions I found were extremely insightful!

Although I still have a lot to learn, I am always up for taking on new responsibilities with enthusiasm to help make things happen. I sincerely hope you will consider me for the Secretary Position.



Board Member at large Positions (2 openings)

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Kellie Jorgenson 
Deputy Director, Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation- Eagle River and Chugiak

Kellie Jorgensen - Deputy Director Parks and Recreation - Municipality of Anchorage | LinkedIn

My experience in the Recreation has evolved over 14 years for various government organizations to include Colorado State Parks, The Department of Defense (Army and Air Force), and most recently the Municipality of Anchorage.

I am a firm believer in the strength and utility of sharing best practices and efficiencies to allow organizations to operate in the best interest of their communities and would value emphasizing and facilitating this to occur throughout our State. I have served on various boards and “Tiger Teams” for the Department of Defense and have held numerous roles as a facilitator for various projects and initiatives endorsing and promoting recreational opportunities and entertainment for military communities. I have been involved heavily in organizing and creating strategic plans for large scale operations that align within NRPA standards and Gold Medal applications to include preparation and submission of packages for consideration. I also have served as a facilitator for several Resiliency Training programs for the Air Force instructing content and programs to numerous Service Members and counterparts across the enterprise.

I would be honored to help serve and support our Recreation Professionals in the State to promote programs, amenities available to the public, as well as pour back into those doing the work by developing and raising awareness in education and training opportunities to grow.

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Ken Wilson 
Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services - City of Valdez

Ken Wilson

My primary interest in the position seat is to play a key role in growing and enhancing the opportunities to professionals in the Parks and Recreation Field.  It is my desire to become play a key role in advancing our profession through stewardship, inclusion and innovative programming. 

I have an extensive background in municipal government and have a Bachelor of Science from Tarleton State University.  I am a current member of the National Parks and Recreation Association and the Alaska Parks and Recreation Association.  I have served on the Central Texas Association of Public Administrators for the past several years.  I have served on several committees with the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation and the State Games of Texas.  In my professional career of 25 years as a Director of Parks and Recreation I have made presentations to Civic Groups, Capital Area of Council of Governments as well as testifying at the State Legislature. I have walked the halls of the State of Texas Legislature during session promoting the vision and goals of the Texas Recreation and Park Society with regard to funding use of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.  In addition, as a professional I have continuously worked to foster positive partnerships with School Districts, State Agencies and Civic Organizations. 

Thank you for the opportunity to apply for the open positions with the Alaska Parks and Recreation Association, I feel that my experience and professional back ground will be a tremendous asset to the board.

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Terra Patterson
Aquatics Manager - City & Borough of Juneau

No photo description available.

I am pleased to submit this letter of intent to express my interest in becoming a board member at large for the Alaska Recreation and Parks Association. In my 25-year career working as a recreation professional, I have experienced the benefits of a state recreation and parks association in many facets throughout my career and look forward to creating such opportunities with your organization.
 
Having worked in recreation, aquatics and administration for municipal Parks and Recreation departments, I have both benefitted from and assisted in creating opportunities provided by such organizations to recreation professionals. My previous experience working with the Oregon Recreation and Parks Association as the incoming President for the Aquatics section during the Pandemic, gave me the opportunity to explore new ways to connect professionals through technology when coming together as a group was not possible. I am eager to lean on that experience to find additional venues for networking and sharing knowledge in Alaska where working together remotely is the most practical forum for members of ARPA.
 
As a recreation professional, I am passionate about the many benefits Parks and Recreation provides in Alaskan communities and would love to build opportunities to promote these on a larger platform through this worthwhile organization. I am also dedicated to providing opportunities for peers to learn and grow throughout their careers. Networking, sharing ideas and certification opportunities are key components to being successful in our field and I am a strong advocate for creating these types of prospects for others throughout Alaska. Working as an Aquatics Manager for Juneau Parks and Recreation, I have already begun to explore ways that I can create these opportunities and add more value to ARPA for aquatic professionals as a volunteer. I believe that working as a board member, I would be able to continue these efforts more effectively while working in balance towards the goals the board have set for the entire organization. Thank you for your consideration.






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