August 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 49

CONFERENCE
2023
ANNUAL
Developing Leaders at the
NRPA Annual Conference
Maria Cepeda's story of growth and empowerment
By Hayley Herzing
L
eadership development requires guidance, support and opportunities
to grow, especially in the park and recreation field. For Maria
Cepeda, the special events and facility coordinator at Huntersville
Parks and Recreation in North Carolina, her leadership journey has been
filled with valuable experiences that led her to the 2022 NRPA Annual
Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Through mentorship, hard work and the
opportunity to engage with like-minded professionals at the conference,
Cepeda has developed her leadership skills, which she continues to grow as
she makes an impact in her community and beyond.
The NRPA Annual
Conference Fosters
Professional Growth
Cepeda knows firsthand how challenging
it can be to break into leadership
positions. After realizing her lack
of long-term experience may have
been holding her back from attaining
higher positions, Cepeda sought opportunities
to grow. One of the key
steps on her path to leadership development
has been to cultivate meaningful
relationships with other park
and recreation professionals.
After three years of interacting
with her mentor, John Stutzman,
recreation supervisor at City of
Golden Valley, via Zoom and email,
Cepeda met him in person for the
first time at the NRPA Annual Conference.
Prior to the conference, she
shared her goals with Stutzman and
expressed a desire to present.
" John and I had talked about this
for so long. I wanted to develop my
leadership skills and serve as a credible
resource for others, " Cepeda shares.
Stutzman recognized her potential,
and when an opportunity to present
at the NRPA Annual Conference
arose, he encouraged her to dive in.
" I was so nervous, " Cepeda admits.
" Right before my presentation,
another one of my mentors
told me that I was chosen to present
for a reason, because I know
what I'm talking about. It ended up
being a really electric experience. "
Cepeda presented to a packed
room of 250 people, sharing her experiences
on how she shows up as a
leader in her own community. She
talked about her journey and the
obstacles she faced, inspiring and
empowering others to pursue their
own leadership development. Afterward,
attendees approached her
to ask questions and praise her for
her session. It was a transformative
experience for Cepeda, who always
had been the one asking others
questions, as she now found herself
being sought out as an expert.
Hispanic Professionals in
Parks and Recreation
As the only woman in a leadership
role in the Hispanic Professionals
in Parks and Recreation group,
Cepeda recognizes the importance
Cepeda grew her
leadership skills at
the NRPA Annual
Conference.
of representation and the need
for diversity, equity and inclusion
in the field. Cepeda played a crucial
role in communicating with
potential members, spearheading
the group's launch, and helping
to set up the group's social media
channels. Hispanics Professionals
in Parks and Recreation made its
official debut at the 2022 NRPA
Annual Conference, attracting 200
attendees to their gathering.
The Power of Paying It
Forward
For Cepeda, her experiences at the
NRPA Annual Conference have allowed
her to show up as a leader in
many aspects of her career. She believes
if someone reaches out and
asks for help, it's essential to provide
support and guidance.
" Leadership isn't about telling
people what to do, " she says. " It is
about serving as a role model. "
To join Cepeda and thousands
of other dedicated park and recreation
professionals, register for the
2023 NRPA Annual Conference
in Dallas, October 10-12 at conference.nrpa.org.
Editor's
Note: This article originally
appeared on Open Space Blog (tiny
url.com/y5usyeex) in May 2023 and
has been edited for length.
Hayley Herzing is Director of Membership
at NRPA (hherzing@nrpa.org).
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | A UGUS T 2 0 2 3
| Parks & Recreation
49
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIA CEPEDA
http://conference.nrpa.org http://ence.nrpa.org http://www.tinyurl.com/y5usyeex
August 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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