Stihl Inc. continued its support of the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) through its sponsorship of the NASPD Leadership School at the Oglebay National Training Center in West Virginia. The company provided a scholarship fund affording 15 state park staff from across the country the opportunity to participate in this unique school. In the five years it has funded the scholarship, Stihl, the first and only corporate sponsor of the school, has enabled a total of over 50 park personnel from more than 15 states to attend.
“America’s State Parks are truly among our country’s greatest natural treasures,” said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for Stihl Inc. “Managing these parks is more challenging than ever, which makes training programs like this one extremely important.”
Facing a shortage of qualified managers in the state park system, the NASPD education program was developed as a two-year training program that consists of both distance education and on-site classes to educate future leaders of state parks. This year, 50 first-year participants and 44 second-year participants were enrolled; the highest attendance to date for the school. Stihl established the scholarship fund to enable park personnel from states facing budget cuts to attend.
“Stihl knows the value of leadership and we are grateful for their ongoing commitment to the State Parks Leadership School, said Priscilla Geigis, NASPD president. “Their generous support benefits the public and our natural and cultural resources by assisting park professionals from across the country and fostering the next generation of leaders for America's State Parks.”
To learn more about the program, please visit naspd.org.
