February 2024 - Parks and Recreation - 35

Kate DeAngelis, 26
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Lexington Recreation and Community Programs (MA)
Kate DeAngelis is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
for the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts. She focuses on the
department-wide inclusion and adaptive services and evaluates
all programs for delivery, inclusion requests, modifications,
staff and volunteer trainings, community outreach and grant
writing. DeAngelis has secured approximately $75,000 in
grant support over the past three years, onboarded more
than 20 part-time inclusion staff and dozens of volunteers,
and processed more than 200 unique inclusion requests for
all ages and abilities in 2023. She also developed and implemented
a Leadership in Training program for teens
of all abilities and created inclusion job opportunities.
Alejandro (Alex) Diaz, 29
Community Recreation Director, Naval Base Ventura County (MWR - CA)
Alex Diaz's dedication to enhancing the lives of military personnel and their
families through his involvement in the $6 million restaurant, bar and recreation
center renovation project on San Nicolas Island (SNI) in Ventura
County, California, is a testament to his commitment to fostering
community engagement and collaboration. He developed
an expansion plan for recreation programs on SNI and established
Commander, Navy lnstallations Command accreditation standards
that set a high benchmark for program quality. In a previous
role, Diaz secured $50,000 in grant funding to enhance senior services
in Roswell, New Mexico, illustrating his resourcefulness in
improving the quality of life for residents.
Alison (Ali) Geary, 30
Marketing and Communications
Manager, Elk Grove Park District (IL)
Ali Geary serves as the marketing
and communications
manager at Elk Grove (Illinois)
Park District, where she aims
to grow the organization's visibility,
engagement and impact
in the community. Geary uses
innovation to build successful
community-centric brands for
recreation
facilities
body connection,
Ashley Faulcon, 27
Program Coordinator, Youth/Community Services, East Brunswick Recreation and Parks (NJ)
Ashley Faulcon is the youth and community services program coordinator
for the Township of East Brunswick, New Jersey. As the advisor
of the East Brunswick Youth Council, Faulcon supports
this 400-student organization in providing services for teens.
She also has secured more than $120,000 in grant funding
for the Youth Council. Faulcon is a teen Mental Health
First Aid (tMHFA) instructor and has certified more than
125 youth in tMHFA, which helps to train teens to recognize
if a friend is experiencing a mental health challenge
and learn how to connect their friend with a trusted
adult. Faulcon oversees yearly food drives and seasonal
school supply drives.
that eminnovation
and
profitability. These projects
include leading the marketing,
branding and public relations
strategies for two multimilliondollar
projects: 390 Golf Experience
and the redevelopment
of White Oaks Park at Wood
Dale Park District. Additionally,
she is working on rebranding
Pavilion Fitness at Elk Grove
Park District. Geary received
the 2020 Rising Star Award on
behalf of the Illinois Parks and
Recreation Association Marketing
and Communication
section.
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | FEBR U AR Y 2 0 2 4 | Parks & Recreation
35
February 2024 - Parks and Recreation

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