Meet the Management

DIRECTOR
The Director of Recreation and Parks is Karen Kendrick Mier. Mrs. Mier brings with her 34 years of recreational experience within the Division and over 37 years in the field of recreation and parks. She began her career with the Division as a part time Recreation Leader at Three Chopt Elementary School in 1976. She went on to hold numerous jobs as she worked her way through the Division including Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Senior Adult Specialist, Special Programs Supervisor, Recreation Manager and Assistant Director. Karen was promoted to Director position in January 2007.The Director's office can be reached at 501-5104.


ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Neil Luther is the Assistant Director of Recreation and Parks. Neil began his career in recreation and parks in 1992 as a planner with the Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department before moving in 1997 to Charlotte, NC to take a position as Natural Resource Planner with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation. He also served as a Principal Planner for the City of Charlotte overseeing land use and transportation planning before moving back to Richmond to take a job as Assistant Parks Planning Supervisor with the Division in 2002 and was promoted to Parks Development Supervisor in June 2006. The Assistant Director's office can be reached at 501-5104.

MANAGEMENT TEAM
The Management Team was created in 1989 and consists of the Director, the Assistant Director and representatives from several sections within the Division. These positions include the Controller, Park Services Manager, Parks Planning Supervisor, Park Development Supervisor, Management Specialist II, Recreation Programs Manager, and Recreation Services Manager.

CONTROLLER'S OFFICE 
The Accounting section is responsible for the financial compliance and control of the Division including coordinating, preparing, submitting, and monitoring the Division's capital and operating budgets. The Registration section is responsible for program registration and shelter reservations. The Technology section provides support for and maintains all of the Division's hardware and operating systems in addition to providing network support. Please contact Louise Evans, Controller, at 501-5101 for further information.

PARKS PLANNING
Parks Planning is responsible for coordinating the needs assessment, long range planning, acquisition, citizen input, master planning, and project management processes for the Division. Call Al Azzarone, Recreation & Parks Planner, at 501-5120 for more information.

PARK SERVICES
Park Services is responsible for maintenance services to over 123 park and school locations, natural resources management, as well as the repair and preventive maintenance of 320 existing Recreation and Parks buildings and structures. To learn more about Park Services operations, call Ray Pauley, Park Services Manager, at 727-8201.

RECREATION SERVICES & PROGRAMS
Our Recreation services and programs are divided into two sections. For information on Sports, Special Events, Facilities, and Facility Programs, call Debbie Nolen, Recreation Manager, at 501-5113. For information on Recreation Programs and History, call Karen Perkins, Recreation Manager, at 501-5130.