Beyond the Park Bench: A PRPS Emerging Leaders Podcast

In this episode of Beyond the Park Bench: A PRPS Leadership Podcast , Tyler sits down with Matt and Ally, co-chairs of the 2026 PRPS Annual Conference , to discuss everything that goes into planning Pennsylvania’s largest gathering of parks and recreation professionals. Taking place March 24–27, 2026 at Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim, PA , the PRPS Annual Conference & Expo brings together profe...

In this episode of Beyond the Park Bench: A PRPS Leadership Podcast , we sit down with Lance Welliver , Director of Butler County Parks and Recreation , to discuss what led his department to be recognized as the PRPS Agency of the Year . Lance shares how Butler County’s innovative programs, strong community partnerships, and commitment to service have set a new standard for excellence in parks and...

In this episode of Beyond the Park Bench: A PRPS Leadership Podcast , we sit down with Judy Houck , Director of Parks for the Township of Spring, to discuss the upcoming PRPS Conference at the Hershey Lodge from March 16th to March 19th 2025 . With over 50 educational sessions, an expansive expo hall, and endless networking opportunities , this event is a must-attend for parks and recreation profe...

In this episode of Beyond the Park Bench , we sit down with Monica Tierney, who leads the first-ever CAPRA-accredited park and recreation agency in Pennsylvania! Monica shares her experience navigating the rigorous accreditation process through the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and what it took to achieve this milestone. This episode showcases: ✅ What CAPRA accreditation is and...

In this episode of Beyond the Park Bench , we sit down with Sarah Prebis, the Director of Upper Gwynedd Township, to explore her journey in the field of parks and recreation . Sarah shares her story—how she got started, the challenges she faced along the way, and what ultimately led her to take the next step into a parks and recreation director role. Listeners will gain insight into: ✅ The career...

In this episode of Beyond the Park Bench , we sit down with Karen Lutz , former Director of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. With over 30 years of experience in parks and recreation, Karen reflects on her career, the trail development projects she helped bring to life, and the dedicated teams and volunteers who made it all possible. We explore the power of volunteerism...

In this episode of Beyond the Park Bench , we sit down with Tim Herd , CEO of the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, to discuss his journey in parks and recreation leadership. Tim shares how his early career experiences shaped his leadership style, how he navigated adversity , and all the lessons he’s learned along the way. We also explore how the field of parks and recreation is essential...

In this episode of Beyond the Park Bench , we explore how even the smallest park agencies can create a big impact . We sit down with Paula Willis , Parks and Recreation Director at South Fayette Township, who shares her journey of growing a thriving parks and recreation department —starting as its only employee ! Paula dives into the power of community partnerships , innovative programming, and ho...

Making Waves in Leadership: Growing Teams in Aquatics In this inaugural episode of Beyond the Park Bench , we dive into the world of aquatics leadership with Chris Biswick , an aquatics professional from Southwestern PA who found his way into the field in an organic and unexpected way. Chris shares his insights on building and growing a large-scale team of both part-time and full-time professional...