Amanda Gutierrez has made an impact at the Emporia Recreation Commission
Now, she’ll be its new director effective Tuesday after a four-month stint as interim director. Gutierrez, previously the Assistant Director of Operations, was one of three finalists for the job., Fred Lowery, the Recreation and Operations Superintendent at Hilton Head Island Recreation in South Carolina, and John Mark Woolums, a former facility program manager for Deerfield Park District in Illinois, were the other two finalists.
Gutierrez says she’s excited for her new role. Gutierrez says when she looks back at her 24-year career, she did everything she’s done because she enjoys her work.
Gutierrez says her first order of business as the new director is focusing on expanding the Emporia Recreation Commission’s programs rather than the original focus of a potential new facility or an upgraded facility.
Board Chairperson Jeremy Dorsey says he was very pleased with how the search went and with choosing Gutierrez as its next director.
Dorsey says he was impressed with Gutierrez during her interim tenure for making immediate changes. Dorsey says some items addressed by Gutierrez included adult soccer field access and creating a potential new field. Dorsey says the board was able to see that ‘front and center’ with Gutierrez, but would’ve been as competitive for the position even if she wasn’t the interim director.
Gutierrez replaces Tom McEvoy, who retired in December after a nearly 40-year career in local public recreation.
In other business, the board heard a pair of Leadership Team Updates, an Impact Statement from Jennifer Kraus, and a Pulse Statement from Stephanie Dreasher. The board also heard items from Gutierrez concerning a Transient Guest Tax grant application to support the KSHSAA tournament, a maintenance update on the indoor pool and fitness center window, a follow-up to the Joint City/County Meeting, and a CDBG grant for Park Improvements.
The Emporia Recreation Commission will next meet for its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. on May 19.
