SPRD to present executive candidates

The community is invited to a meet-and-greet on Friday, April 12, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. to meet the final candidates being considered for the new executive director at Sisters Park & Recreation District.

Those who attend will hear a three- to five-minute introduction from each candidate. Community members will receive an index card to write down questions for the candidates, which will be asked by a facilitator until 6:15 p.m., at which time the formal session will end for informal mixer time.

The SPRD Board was pleased to have 19 applicants. Following phone interviews on April 2 and independent ranking exercises by each board member, the field was reduced to four finalists. Jeff Tryens, board chairman, said all four of the candidates are highly qualified. Three come from within Oregon, and one is from out of state.

At the time of The Nugget deadline, one candidate had not confirmed their attendance on April 12. The three who had include: Jennifer Holland, Bob Keefer center program manager, Willamalane Park and Recreation District, Springfield; Chad Rush, recreation programs director, Sisters Park & Recreation District, Sisters; and Stacey Sommerfield, executive director, Buffalo Valley Recreation Authority, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. The finalists have been invited to come to Sisters for the day on April 12. The candidates will have a full day beginning at 9 a.m. They will individually interview with two different panels — the board of directors and a panel of community partners.

They will also meet individually with the SPRD staff to answer questions. Staff comments will be summarized for the Board’s executive session at the end of the day. SPRD’s facility and grounds coordinator will lead a tour of the facility for each of the candidates. The candidates will share a group lunch at midday.

A community leader will take each candidate on a driving tour of the community and then provide their perspective on each candidate at the executive session.

Following the community meet-and-greet, and after a full day of numerous vetting opportunities of the candidates, the Board will go into an executive session to discuss candidates and select a finalist.

Interim director Courtney Snead will stay at SPRD through June 2019 to help with the transition of the new executive. Once the new ED is in place, recruitment will begin for a new finance person. Currently, Snead is filling both positions.