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CPRS
District X Spotlight on....
Mark
Matsuda, Community Services Coordinator
City of
Orange
A brief
description of what you do:
I oversee the youth sports programs, adult sports and field
allocations. I also assist with city-wide special events.
Tell us about
you away from work. (family, hobbies)
I enjoy spending time with my family. My wife and I have a 2
year old son and 5 year old daughter who keep us busy and
entertained. We really enjoy going to Disneyland and to the
zoo. I enjoy sports and working on my backyard landscaping
projects.
What made you
pick Parks and Recreation as a Profession?
Everything evolved from working part-time with the youth
programs. I really enjoyed working with the kids, parents and
the community. I saw the great value that recreation has to
offer so I decided to pursue it as my profession.
What do you
like the most about this Profession? What do you like the least?
I strongly think that this profession makes a great difference
in the community and enhance people’s lives. Though it is very
beneficial to the community, it is often the target of budget
cuts. That is what I like the least.
One of the
most exciting things what you have accomplished, been a part of
or created in Recreation?
What I really take pride in is being part of all of the
city-wide special events. I enjoy the 3rd of July
Celebration, Treats in the Streets, and Tree Lighting Ceremony
especially now that my children can enjoy them. In 2009, we
will be opening our first gymnasium. It has been exciting to be
part of the planning process.
Tell us
something that someone would never guess you have done,
accomplished or participated in.
My wife wants you to know that I was “Mr. July” in a calendar
published and sold as part of a college fundraiser and that I
won first place in a cutest baby contest.
If you had
$5million dollars to spend for your Park and Recreation
Department how would you spend it and why?
I would use the money to renovate some fields by installing
synthetic turf. This would allow our user groups to utilize the
fields year round and have minimal closures. This way they
could continue to gain the health benefits of being physically
active.
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 CPRS
District X Spotlight on....
Cindy
Robinson, Recreation Supervisor
City of
La Palma
A brief
description of what you do
I have only been a Supervisor for 9 days! Plus I am
covering my Coordinator job, so I do a variety of things right
now. As a coordinator I oversaw a variety of things. My most
important was staff development (recruiting, hiring, training,
scheduling, etc.) and facility operations (permit scheduling,
maintenance, etc.). I also assisted with the brochure, oversaw
the instructors for our classes and volunteers for the city. As
a small city, we all have a part of our special events which
include the 5k/10k Run, Halloween and La Palma Days (our annual
parade and festival). I also work closely with our Police
Department and assisted with Red Ribbon Week and whatever else
they needed a recy’s touch on.
Tell us
about you away from work. (family, hobbies)
Away from work, I will do pretty much anything and everything.
In order to relax I enjoy reading, watching movies, or tinkering
on a piano (music runs in my family), and taking Yoga. I love
attending baseball games-I am a die hard Angels fan-and during
the winter, I switch gears and become a Kings fan (hockey, not
basketball). I also enjoy ice skating, rollerblading, hiking
and camping and on an adventurous note skydiving.
What made you
pick Parks and Recreation as a Profession?
I was going to school to become a teacher and needed a summer
job. Janet Cates told me I should come apply in La Palma, and
so I did. So far my summer job has lasted 8 years.
What do you
like the most about this Profession? What do you like the least?
I like the fact that no day is ever the same, and that at times,
we can make that happen. I get bored with things easily so when
an event is coming up that I have done a few times I think of a
way to make it more interesting not only for myself but for the
community as well. Nothing is perfect so there has to be
something I don’t like, but for the most part I love my job.
One of the
most exciting things what you have accomplished, been a part of
or created in Recreation?
The Teen Program in
La Palma.
I was promoted to Specialist and was able to revive a dormant
program and make it my own. We are now cosponsoring it with
Cypress
and got a CPRS Award for the collaboration. It was an amazing
feeling to think back at when it was nothing and to where it
came in about 3 years.
Tell us
something that someone would never guess you have done,
accomplished or participated in.
I have been involved in music since I was in 2nd
grade when I started piano lessons. Since then I have gone on
to learn the flute, clarinet, saxophone (including marching the
baritone saxophone, which was not the smartest idea I ever had),
trombone, cello, and percussion. I was the person in the high
school band (yes, I was a band geek) that when we needed an
instrument for a song or a musical group (orchestra) the
director looked at me and asked me to learn a new instrument. I
was the drum major my senior year in high school….yep I was a
big (and proud) band geek.
The summer before my senior year in high school I started a
summer music camp (my first attempt at running a recreational
activity-who would of known that was the start of it all!) for
my final project that earned me my Girl Scout Gold Award (equal
to the Eagle Award for Boy Scouts).
If you had
$5million dollars to spend for your Park and Recreation
Department how would you spend it and why?
Well….I would say renovate, but that project was just finished.
I think I would spread it out a bit and renovate and empty store
and make it into a very cool teen hang out-give them a place
that is there’s (not my idea, but I think its brilliant
J)
I would also redo our Pavilion area in the park. This past
summer we were asking kids what they wanted to see, they had
some great ideas! I would like to implement one of the pieces
they picked out.
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 CPRS
District X Spotlight on....
Dan
Belling, Recreation Supervisor
City of
Downey
A brief
description of what you do:
For the past three years I have managed the City Aquatics, Day
Camps and Teen Programs. I also supervise special events,
the tennis center and skatepark. Previously, I managed
Senior Services and the Contract Class Program.
Tell us about
you away from work. (family, hobbies)
I am married to my beautiful wife Julie and we have four kids.
Recreationally, I manage and play for two softball teams, enjoy
tennis, Starbucks Coffee and attend Angels and Ducks games.
What made you
pick Parks and Recreation as a Profession?
I have worked in the profession since 1986. I wanted to
work in a profession that I can make a difference and impact my
community. I enjoy the variety of programs and services I
have had the opportunity to work in.
What do you
like the most about this Profession? What do you like the least?
What I like most is the people I work with and the communities I
have served. What I like the least is the lack of funds
available in order to address all the needs of the community and
the necessary politics needed to meet these social concerns.
One of the
most exciting things what you have accomplished, been a part of
or created in Recreation?
I Would say one of the most satisfying things was opening the
doors of the Community and Senior Center in Downey in 1998 from
the ground up. Many of the programs I was able to initiate
are still in operation today.
Tell us
something that someone would never guess you have done,
accomplished or participated in.
When I worked for the City of
Covina,
I participated in the Summer Gong Show. It just wasn’t a
good thing dressed up with a co-worker as Milli Vanilli. Thank
goodness there were no digital pictures.
If you had
$5million dollars to spend for your Park and Recreation
Department how would you spend it and why?
I would create an inter-generational sports complex and
Community Center to be the focal point of the entire community.
I cannot think of a better way of Creating Community than having
a location serving as a one-stop shop for recreational and
social services for all generations.
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CPRS
District X Spotlight on....
Wendi Redington, Community Services Supervisor
City of
Rancho Santa Margarita
A brief description of what you do
I orchestrate community events including the Annual New Years
Eve event, Summer Concert Series, 5k Fun Run and Taste of
Rancho. I manage the City facilities which enable a variety of
non-profit organizations to deliver life-enriching programs,
including youth programs, senior food service and active life
programs, along with the lively variety of City programs and
festivities.
Tell us about you away from work.
Away from work I am a full-time Mom of two thriving kids ages 7
and 6. I love volunteering at their school, swimming, playing
soccer – not as a “soccer mom” but participating in a women’s
soccer league. I enjoy traveling and have a passion for
photography.
What made you pick Parks and Recreation as a
Profession?
It sounded relaxing. Boy was I wrong! In all seriousness, how
many other professions allow us to make a living bringing joy to
the lives of hundreds of people every day!
What do you like the most about this Profession?
What do you like the least?
I get to witness the tangible, positive effects of my profession
every day. I can wake up each morning knowing I’m going to make
a direct and positive difference in many people’s lives. I love
that about this profession. As far as any downside is
concerned, who was it that said that obstacles are there to give
you the opportunity to show how much you want something?
Administrative limits and challenges are inevitable when
pursuing any worthy cause, but with the active support of the
community and my colleagues and City Council Members, we get to
share in the tremendous sense of accomplishment as the public
benefits from the services grow and the community thrives!
One of the most exciting things what you have
accomplished, been a part of or created in Recreation?
The City of Rancho Santa Margarita was incorporated in the year
2000. I began working for the City as a consultant in 2002. I
was able to assist in the early development of the Community
Services Department. It was exciting watching City Hall and The
Community Center from all stages of the development process.
It’s a self-rewarding experience.
Tell us something that someone would never guess
you have done, accomplished or participated in.
Last year, I had backstage passes to see Justin Timberlake. I
got to hang out with Justin and his mom all night. Living the
teenage dream at 39!
If you had $5million dollars to spend for your
Park and Recreation Department how would you spend it and why?
Most recently the City began to oversee the day-to-day
operations of the Bell Tower Regional Community Center and I
would love to provide our residents with a gymnasium.
Programming would become endless with gym. If there was a
surplus of money, I would dedicate an area for the Historical
Society to preserve the great history of this area.
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