From Shaver’s Creek to the National Mall, the scale has grown, but the mission hasn’t: design with purpose, engage authentically, stay flexible, and create meaningful experiences that resonate.
Years at Shaver’s Creek: 1985–1987
Positions Held: Outdoor School, Block/SEED Semester, Volunteer
Current Company/Organization: National Park Service – National Mall and Memorial Parks
With 40 years of experience in the National Park Service, the lessons of Shaver’s Creek still resonate decades later. As chief of communications and events for the National Mall in Washington, DC, I oversee the design and execution of major annual events that draw millions of visitors, including the National Independence Day Celebration, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and presidential inaugurations.
While the scale and complexity of these events far exceed the programs I first developed at Shaver’s Creek, the core lessons remain the same. Shaver’s Creek taught me to design programs with purpose, engage audiences authentically, evaluate what truly resonates with visitors, and stay flexible when plans inevitably change. Those skills are essential when communicating with millions of people and coordinating large, complex public events.
That hands-on, real-world training shaped my approach to leadership, collaboration, and storytelling—and continues to guide how I create meaningful experiences on one of the nation’s most iconic public landscapes.
(and most significantly, my wife of 37 years met during Block Term!)