February 24-26, 2025
Potawatomi Inn, Pokagon State Park, Angola, IN
The Eppley Center for Parks and Public Land’s 78th Great Lakes Park Training Institute is offering a certificate program for women in leading park and recreation agencies. The program, led by an instructional team of leaders from the National Park Service, park and recreation districts, conservation districts and Eppley, has designed a curriculum that helps future women leaders meet several significant challenges in leading agencies, especially as these spaces evolve to meet the demands of changing climates, health needs, and the diversity of the nation. The program will be held February 24 to 26, 2025 as part of the Great Lakes Park Training Institute.
Costs for the program include $450 for early bird registration and approximately $500 for lodging and meals at Pokagon State Park in Angola, IN. Registration includes all Great Lakes Park Training Institute activities from 2/24/25 to 2/27/25 and attend exclusive program learning sessions.
Program Instructors:
Laura Rudow- Superintendent of Parks and Planning, St. Charles (IL) Park District
Laura currently serves as the Deputy Director and Superintendent of Parks and Planning for the St. Charles Park District. Since 2011, she oversees the maintenance and operations of a 1,500-acre park system. On the planning side, Laura is responsible for implementing the annual Capital Plan, from the bidding process through construction. She actively conducts community input for all projects, facilitates land acquisition/development and applies for State and Federal grants. Additionally, she serves as the district’s ADA Coordinator and leads the DEI committee.
Before her role in St. Charles, Laura was the Superintendent of Parks at the Naperville Park District, where she began her career in 1999 as a Park Specialist focused on athletic field maintenance. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Keller Graduate School and a Bachelor’s in Agriculture from Southern Illinois University.
Elizabeth Kessler- Executive Director, McHenry County (IL) Conservation District
Elizabeth has spent 18 years as the Executive Director of the McHenry County Conservation District, 19 years in progressive leadership roles at the Skokie Park District, a National Gold Medal Award-Winning Agency, and is the Owner/President of Artemis Strategic Consulting, LLC.
She received her B.S. in Recreation and Park Administration with honors from Illinois State University, an MBA with distinction from Keller Graduate School of Management and is a Certified Park and Recreation Executive. She is also a graduate of the Bell Leadership Advanced Achievement Leadership Program at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.
Elizabeth has served at the regional, state, and national levels including President of the National Recreation and Park Association, Chair of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and is the 2024-2025 President-Elect of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. Currently, she is an advisor to the McHenry County Conservation Foundation, serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Naturally McHenry County, Chair of the Chicago Wilderness Alliance and represents the NRPA Ambassadors (Past Chairs/Presidents) on NRPA’s Advocacy Committee.
Diana Bramble-Superintendent, National Park Service
Diana Bramble has served as the Superintendent of Cowpens National Battlefield, Kings Mountain National Military Park, and the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, with oversight of management at Ninety Six National Historic Site since September 2020. She began her National Park Service career in 2011 and has served as the supervisory horticulturist for Rock Creek Park and the chief of maintenance at National Capital Parks-East, both in Washington DC. Prior to joining NPS, she worked at the Smithsonian Institution for six years as a horticulturist.
Diana holds a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resources from University of Maryland, and a Master of Professional Studies in sustainable landscape design from George Washington University. She is a graduate of the Brookings Institution Women’s Leadership Program, and the NPS Facility Manager Leaders Program where she has also served as a program mentor for three terms. Diana is passionate about leadership and bringing out the best in the people within an organization.
Erin Parker- Eastern District Interpretive Services Supervisor, Huron-Clinton (MI) Metroparks
Erin has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Ecology and Environmental Science from Michigan Technological University and a Master of Science Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She has been in the field of parks and recreation for twenty-one years and her areas of expertise include Interpretation, Environmental Education, Nature Play, and Nature Education. Erin loves connecting people of all ages to nature in whatever capacity best meets their needs.
Program Schedule (All times ET):
Monday, February 24
Tuesday, February 25
Wednesday, February 26
12:30 pm Orientation
1:00 pm Emotional and Cultural Intelligence (GLPTI workshop)
3:15- 4:45 pm Accessibility in Parks (GLPTI General Session)
7:00 pm Toboggan Run social event
8:30-10:00 am High Impact Communications Skills (GLPTI General Session)
10:15 am What it Takes to Lead
12:15-1:30 pm GLPTI Awards Luncheon
1:30 pm Strength-Based Leadership
3:30 pm Managing Yourself to Lead Others
5:00 pm Optional Roundtables
7:00 pm Evening Social event
8:30 am Power, Politics, and Fundamental Leadership
10:15 am Women in Leadersihp Roles
12:15 pm Lunch
1:30 pm GLPTI concurrent sessions
7:00 pm Game Night social event
Thursday, February 27
8:30-9:30 am GLPTI Concurrent Sessions
10:00 am Brunch
10:30-11:45 am Creating Content for the Speed of the Internet (GLPTI General Session)
11:45 am GLPTI Closing Ceremony