Park Leaders Show

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Lori Modde, Founder & Managing Director of Lorick Management, joins the show discuss the balance of tourism and community development. As a community and economic development expert with over 25 years of experience, Lori has long been an advocate for national parks in Australia. Having started out as a marketing manager in the tourism industry, Lori's busi...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss public lands with special guest and nationally recognized historian, Clay Jenkinson. As an expert on Theodore Roosevelt's life and presidency, Clay unpacks the dynamics surrounding Roosevelt's exploration and conservation efforts. He also dissects the generational differences concerning the expectations of parks. Fo...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss standard awareness in parks. Based on true stories, Jody and Phil discuss how parks should handle their facilities during financial hardships. Since one of the most important buildings in the park is the bathroom, park rangers must take care of maintenance matters in a timely fashion to retain credibility and...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the life and legacy of Gifford Pinchot.  As a top 10 influencer on Phil's park and conservation list, Pinchot, often heralded as the Father of American conservation, left an impressionable legacy on national parks. Not only did he professionalize forest management but established the modern definition of conse...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the importance of operating with a sense of urgency. While urgency is often discussed as a function of time, as Phil explains, the term for park rangers should be viewed through intentionality. Like business leaders, park rangers should not reduce urgency to deadlines but enhance it through deliberation. More...

On this episode of Park Leaders Show Phil Gaines joins me to talk about the changes in the recreation experience over the last few years. With the increase in crowds a ranger is a part of the park experience, possibly now more than ever.  After a recent trip to Glacier National Park I noticed that there are a lot of people in our parks. It seems that the pandemic awoke something in people that hel...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest Victor Bjelajac, Superintendent of California State Parks, joins the show to discuss the best ways to build tribal relationships. With 14 tribes represented in his district, Victor is passionate about integrating different perspectives and worldviews from diverse backgrounds. Having recently overseen the first tribe operating a visitor center within...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss influencers of conservation. From Theodore Roosevelt, Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold, Steven Mather, and John Muir to Gifford Pinchot, Henry David Thoreau, Horace Albright, George Hartzog, Bob Stanton, and Fran Mainella. the list of American park heroes is lengthier than we might think. Still, while the vocations...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss customer service for maintenance staff. While many parks have training programs for new staff, developing cultures of customer care is a better alternative. As Phil explains, the key comes down to training versus education. With training, you're conditioning personnel to behave within specified parameters; wit...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, special guest Sara Milbourne, Park Ranger at Rocky Gap State Park, joins the show to discuss park leadership. A Maryland Park Service Ranger and interpreter for almost two decades, Sara has a reputation for management and team building. Having pioneered dog-friendly initiatives and programs such as 'Healthy Parks, Healthy People', Sara's passion extends be...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the autonomy of state parks. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, decision-making in state parks was centralized at headquarters resulting in cookie-cutter approaches to management; however, as Phil explains, recent trends have empowered authority at the local level. Since each park is unique, each state park should h...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guests Jonathan and Destry Jarvis, join the show to discuss their book, National Parks Forever: Fifty Years of Fighting and a Case for Independence. Fusing experience with non-fiction, Jonathan and Destry unpack five decades of political tension involving state parks. Since 1972, conflicting perspectives in the Department of the Interior have hindered the...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss why parks should be financially sufficient.   While a complex topic in execution, the bottom line for a park's financial structure is simple: Each state park should be sufficient to maintain operating expenses including maintenance and personnel. As Phil explains, this implies independence in terms of need pro...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss why rangers should commit to their campaign hat. While dress code is often a subjective topic, for park rangers, the uniform plays a valuable role. While badges have their place, as Phil explains, the campaign hat designates authority and captures an iconic legacy to tourists. If one is a ranger or park leader...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss his final experience at the State Park Leadership School.   Started by the National Association of Park Directors in 2005, Phil unpacks his role with the school in finding instructors, inspiring attendance, and delivering content. Since each state has different guidelines and regulations, Phil explains why the...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Park Supervisor, Rowdy Perry, joins the show to discuss his love and appreciation for state parks.   As a former ranger turned supervisor for the Michigan Department of Nature Resources, Rowdy unpacks the attendance rise in his state, the psychological safety parks bring, and how park leaders should perceive their jobs. Per his experience, while park emplo...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Ben Novak, Lead Scientist at Revive & Restore, rejoins the show to share recent conservation success stories. While intended consequences may seem like a vague term, in the context of environment preservation, this often refers to the calculated controlling of species and habitats to sustain life. In select state parks, the reintroduction of wolves into th...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Host of the "Build a Winning Team" podcast, and former COO of Story Brand, joins the show to discuss his story and definition of success. A man of many hats, Tim Schurrer talks about the value of humility within a teamwork setting. Per his experiences, corporate success is often defined by a selfless culture where roles are prioritized above...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss new economic trends within park management. In the wake of the pandemic, park visitors have increased around the country. Yet, while the uptick in retention has been a silver lining, the population boom has led to new opportunities. As more tourists visit state parks, the more demand has taxed its resources. A...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, special guest, Michelle Baker, former Director of Disney Institute, and business leader at Disney Cruise Line, joins the show to discuss ways to build a better park culture. As Michelle explains, the emerging generation of park leaders and visitors have a deep desire to leave a lasting impact. From recreation to labor, the theme among rangers and tourists...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss the proper title for park visitors. As Phil explains, while there's a transactional element involving visitors, they aren't best described as customers or guests due to service intent. Since state and national parks are for the public, the goal for park leaders should be to retain tourists over time as opposed...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss popular themes and topics from today's tourists. Having spoken at several park ranger conferences in recent weeks, Phil notes the common denominators of frequently asked questions. The most common threads? Visitor retention and voluntary compliance. As Phil explains, while many park fans are curious about incr...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss popular themes and topics from today's tourists. Having spoken at several park ranger conferences in recent weeks, Phil notes the common denominators of frequently asked questions. The most common threads? Visitor retention and voluntary compliance. As Phil explains, while many park fans are curious about incr...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns on-site at Zion National Park to discuss the complexities of maintaining large-scale state parks. From capacity management to resource protection, encouraging tourism and preservation in tandem can be a difficult task. Sprinkle in today's social issues and the recipe for park leadership can get tricky in a hurry; however...

On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, guest co-host, Phil Gaines, returns to discuss ways leaders can focus on professional growth during this pandemic era. While personal growth centers on passion, experience, and knowledge base, as Phil explains, the key to professional growth boils down to legacy. Despite competition being a commercial necessity, to mature professionally, one must consider...