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For my career report, I interviewed Courtney Meehan, Director of Parks and Recreation for the Borough of Lansdale, located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, via phone on Monday, March 25th, 2024. I interviewed Courtney to learn how she transitioned from Penn State University in 2007 with a degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management to her career as a Director of Parks and Recreation in June 2022. 

I learned that Courtney started as a Coordinator of Parks and Recreation for Whitpain Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, from August 2011 to June 2022, which enabled her to gain the experience, relationships, and leadership skills to move to her director role. This insight has opened my career perspective that becoming a Director of Parks and Recreation will take time and that starting in a role will help me grow personally and professionally. Another key point I took from the interview was obtaining the Park and Recreation Professional Certification (CPRP), the national standard for parks and recreation professionals that shows a continued commitment to be at the forefront of the parks and recreation profession.

Reflecting on my conversation with Courtney, I enjoyed her deep knowledge and passion for the field of Parks and Rec. She has helped me learn what career steps she took to transition from an undergraduate in RPTM to becoming a Director of Parks and Recreation and the skills and qualities necessary for success in Parks and Recreation. I appreciated her advice on the importance of transferable skills from other positions. As a result, this has made me realize the importance of developing transferable skills.

Moreover, I enjoyed her advice about attending the National Recreation and Parks Conference. This conference will expose me to the industry's changing dynamics, career opportunities, and networking contacts as I continue my learning journey in the RPTM program. A critical point I took away from the interview was that the Director of Parks and Recreation has a mission of protecting open space and preserving the natural sustainability of resources.