Botten who currently works as an accessibility consultant joined the U.S. Access Board in 2000 and served for 22 years (retired in 2022) in several capacities while on staff including as a senior accessibility specialist, technical assistance coordinator, and the training coordinator. He was part of a team that developed the combined guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Architectural Barriers Act and was the lead staff for the development of guidelines and technical assistance materials for the rulemaking on outdoor developed areas. Bill specializes in accessibility issues related to recreation facilities and outdoor developed areas.

Eric has been with the Division for nine years and resides in Concord NH with his fiancé Rahkiya and dog Daisy.  While living in NH full time since 2011 he has been continuously exploring all the great recreational opportunities the state has to offer.

He was finally able to land his dream job working for NH State Parks. One of his responsibilities is overseeing the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the State of New Hampshire as designated by the Governor. Since beginning this role Eric has awarded over $12 million to 40 NH local communities for acquisition and development of outdoor recreation.

Eric’s passion for this program has led him to become an executive board member on the National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers (NASORLO), an organization whose primary role is to advocate for the state assistance program for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. As a result of his work at the national level in training and advocacy, he has been awarded the Service to NASORLO Award two consecutive years (2020 and 2021). Whether he is meeting with local communities or congressional members he continues to educate people about the Land and Water Conservation Fund and he is excited to share that with you today which he hopes will lead to you all submitting great grant applications.

Antoinette was born and raised in the middle Tennessee area.  She received an accounting degree from Middle Tennessee State University and began her professional career with the Tennessee State Parks system as an accountant.  She later moved to Georgia and began working for Georgia State Parks within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

She has held various positions within DNR, and currently serves as the Grants Program Manager and Alternate State Liaison Officer for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).  She is responsible for selecting and awarding the LWCF grants as well as overseeing the compliance aspect after grant completion.  Some of her proudest career achievements include dispelling camping myths by introducing the first-time camper concept to management, being a part of the team that won the inaugural SCORP Excellence award in 2009 and being a board member of the National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers.

Jennie worked in the field of childhood development and exceptional learning for nearly fifteen years. She has a Master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Jennie joined PlayCore in 2008 and serves as the Community Outreach Director within PlayCore’s Center for Outreach, Research and Education. Deeply passionate about inclusive, intergenerational play, Jennie utilizes her expertise and personal experiences as a educator to positively impact the development of innovative play and recreation destinations that focus on community health and wellness.

Botten who currently works as an accessibility consultant joined the U.S. Access Board in 2000 and served for 22 years (retired in 2022) in several capacities while on staff including as a senior accessibility specialist, technical assistance coordinator, and the training coordinator. He was part of a team that developed the combined guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Architectural Barriers Act and was the lead staff for the development of guidelines and technical assistance materials for the rulemaking on outdoor developed areas. Bill specializes in accessibility issues related to recreation facilities and outdoor developed areas.

Jennie worked in the field of childhood development and exceptional learning for nearly fifteen years. She has a Master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Jennie joined PlayCore in 2008 and serves as the Community Outreach Director within PlayCore’s Center for Outreach, Research and Education. Deeply passionate about inclusive, intergenerational play, Jennie utilizes her expertise and personal experiences as a educator to positively impact the development of innovative play and recreation destinations that focus on community health and wellness.

Dr. Forber-Pratt began her research career in 2006, and her primary area of expertise is disability identity development. Prior to joining ACL, she served as an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University. In addition to teaching courses and serving as a mentor to undergraduate students and thesis advisor for candidates for master’s and doctoral degrees, she served as principal investigator for research projects covering a range of disability issues, including training of special education teachers, experiences of students with disabilities at every education level, and identity development. She has authored 33 peer-reviewed journal articles and is the author or co-author of a number of textbook chapters.

A two-time Paralympian and medalist in the sport of wheelchair racing, Dr. Forber-Pratt has dedicated her life to helping others recognize their potential. Globally, she is involved with disability advocacy efforts related to access to employment, education and sport. She was honored with the inaugural American Psychological Association Citizen Psychologist Award for Advancing Disability as a Human Rights and Social Justice Issue Award in 2020 and was recognized by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education as a 2018 Emerging Scholar. In 2013, she was awarded the American Association of People with Disabilities’ prestigious Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award, given to emerging leaders within the national disability community. Also in 2013, she was named a Champion of Change by the White House and had an opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion with President Obama about disability policy issues.

Marybeth Cleveland created A to B and Back to provide Orientation and Mobility training to people with vision disabilities in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia. She has been a Certified O&M Specialist for 30 years and is so passionate about accessibility in the environment, her whole family can point out areas of inaccessibility.  She became a member of the Pedestrian Bicycle Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (PBTSAC) and the Pedestrian Master plan committee in her home community of Montgomery County, MD.  She recently enjoyed being part of a project with the county to create a plan for making streets more accessible to people with visual disabilities.

Ross Edelstein (He/Him) is a research assistant at the NCA Program at the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, a center of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community.  He is also a PhD student in Special Education at Indiana University.  Ross' work centers on helping improve the experiences of the neurodivergent community in cultural spaces, such as parks, museums, and other spaces, and combines the research and practical knowledge he has gained to do so.  Ross is also Autistic, and his lived experience has proved to be a valuable asset.  He has recently been awarded the Emerging Leaders award by the Kennedy Center's Office of VSA and Accessibility for this work.

Chris Haulmark is a passionate Deaf advocate with vast experience in backpacking, politics, and community involvement. Having traveled across the world, he has visited many Deaf families and gained cultural insights that he utilizes to promote Deaf culture. As a former congressional campaign candidate who transitioned to a state legislature race, Chris has extensive political knowledge and skills, including networking, community building, and relationship management with community leaders. Currently volunteering for the Museum of Deaf History, Art, and Culture, Chris is dedicated to preserving and promoting Deaf culture. Additionally, as the Vice President for the Kansas Association for the Deaf, Chris is active in advancing Deaf rights and inclusion at the state level. With his unique combination of travel, political, and community involvement, Chris’s commitment to fostering understanding and representation for the Deaf community is unwavering.

Susan Potts, MS, CTRS is the Therapeutic Recreation and Inclusion Services Manager for Howard County Maryland, Department of Recreation and Parks since  2007. Susan manages the Therapeutic Recreation and Accommodation Services that supports for individuals with disabilities. Susan received a Governor’s Citation in 2018 in recognition for her work with individuals with disabilities, as well as Leadership Awards for work in the area accessibility from the Howard County Autism Society and Howard County Commission on Disability and Access.
Susan received a Bachelor of Science degree, in Recreation with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation from Southeast Missouri State University 1992 and a Master of Science degree in Recreation Administration from George Williams College of Aurora University (AU). Susan is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, (CTRS) and has been since 1993. She also is an instructor in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention

Ken Kutska is one of a few individuals who has been involved since the 1970s in the evolution of the public playground industry safety standards, he was co-founder and instructor of the National Recreation and Park Association's (NRPA) National Playground Safety Institute and its internationally recognized Certified Playground Safety Inspector Program. He is also an instructor for the 2-day Playground Maintenance Technician course which offers a Certificate of Completion through Clemson University. He continues to promote safe, challenging public play spaces for all people as a member of the advisory board for the International Playground Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) Voice of Play, as a founding member of the U.S. Play Coalition, an NRPA Past President and member of their Ambassador Committee, and Chair of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F15.29 Subcommittee on performance requirements for public play equipment. Lastly, he is the Co-Chair of ASTM Working Group which created the ASTM F3101-15 Standard Specification for Unsupervised Public Use Outdoor Fitness Equipment.

Lloyd Reese has 30 years of experience in the ideation and development of products serving the play and recreation market. He actively serves on numerous ASTM, CSA, and ISO play related committees and is currently vice chair of ASTM F08.63 Playground surfacing systems. Lloyd is also a founding member of IPEMA and is currently serving his second term as president of that organization, in addition to chairing the IPEMA surfacing certification program and serving on the equipment certification committee.

Ken Kutska is one of a few individuals who has been involved since the 1970s in the evolution of the public playground industry safety standards, he was co-founder and instructor of the National Recreation and Park Association's (NRPA) National Playground Safety Institute and its internationally recognized Certified Playground Safety Inspector Program. He is also an instructor for the 2-day Playground Maintenance Technician course which offers a Certificate of Completion through Clemson University. He continues to promote safe, challenging public play spaces for all people as a member of the advisory board for the International Playground Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) Voice of Play, as a founding member of the U.S. Play Coalition, an NRPA Past President and member of their Ambassador Committee, and Chair of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F15.29 Subcommittee on performance requirements for public play equipment. Lastly, he is the Co-Chair of ASTM Working Group which created the ASTM F3101-15 Standard Specification for Unsupervised Public Use Outdoor Fitness Equipment.

Lloyd Reese has 30 years of experience in the ideation and development of products serving the play and recreation market. He actively serves on numerous ASTM, CSA, and ISO play related committees and is currently vice chair of ASTM F08.63 Playground surfacing systems. Lloyd is also a founding member of IPEMA and is currently serving his second term as president of that organization, in addition to chairing the IPEMA surfacing certification program and serving on the equipment certification committee.

Lloyd Reese has 30 years of experience in the ideation and development of products serving the play and recreation market. He actively serves on numerous ASTM, CSA, and ISO play related committees and is currently vice chair of ASTM F08.63 Playground surfacing systems. Lloyd is also a founding member of IPEMA and is currently serving his second term as president of that organization, in addition to chairing the IPEMA surfacing certification program and serving on the equipment certification committee.

Karim Odeh is a Regional Sales Manager for PlayCore's surfacing division. He has been in the recreation industry for over 4 years and is a Certified Instructor for PlayCore's Center for Outreach, Research, and Education, focusing on the Strong Foundations program. He received his Bachelor's degree from Tennessee Technological University in International Business and Cultures.

Dr. Palacios is responsible for promoting the value of recreation for people of all ages and abilities. She provides training, continuing educational opportunities, professional development, and research that supports recreation and play while generating partnerships and alliances in the field. She joined the PlayCore team in 2013 after obtaining a PhD in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from NC State University. Before joining PlayCore, she was an instructor at NC State University in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Department. She is currently serving as NRPA's Chair of the Conference Program Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for Dix Park Conservancy. Inés is based out of Raleigh, NC.

Jayne Miller is an internationally recognized parks & recreation leader bringing forward innovative approaches in service delivery and community impacts. Her work is especially focused in the urban parks arena advancing park system equitable investment action plans, racial equity action plans, showcasing the work of emerging leaders, and governance, leadership and management best practices.

Jasneet Bains focuses on healthy, equitable land use planning, park equity, transportation justice, and equitable public infrastructure investments through research, technical assistance/training, and policy advocacy. Jasneet lead development of PI’s Park Equity, Life Expectancy, and Power Building Toolkit, which shows research linking parks/green space to life expectancy to support equitable investments in park infrastructure in disinvested communities.

Will is the Project Manager for Parks Research and a member of TPL’s Land and People Lab. He leads TPL’s place-based and national park research projects, focusing on the role of social access to parks as a complement to physical access and the next generation of park data tools. Will also directs and manages TPL’s ParkScore index, an annual ranking of the park systems of the 100 largest US cities. In this role he is responsible for the design and development of technology systems for managing park data and provides research, analysis, and recommendations for improving parks, trails, and open space for park agencies and affiliated organizations. Will received a Master’s degree in Environmental Management with a specialty in Urban Social Ecology from Yale University.

Vanessa Knoppke-Wetzel (she/her) is the Associate Director at GreenInfor Network. She has worked in the federal government, non-profits, tech industry, and higher education. She currently is a Director at Large for the North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS), where she chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; an Alumni Mentor for UW-Madison's SuccessWorks; and the 2022 DC Meet Director for Pull for Pride. She also is the founder of #creativeCarto, and one half of URhere podcast.

Vanessa is a detail-oriented cartographer, designer, analyst, educator, and community-builder that loves thinking about how to create and design products and utilize spatial data to tell visual stories in the best way possible. She also cares a lot about cultivating, building, and growing community (anywhere), which has led to her dedicating a lot of her free time in the last decade to giving talks, hosting workshops, and volunteering in the spatial world. She firmly believes everyone can become a better analyst, designer, and storyteller - even if they never have been in the spatial industry.

She also does non-mappy things: you can find her lifting weights, running, or enjoying the outdoors when not doing the above.

Russ has over 20 years of experience as a university Professor in kinesiology and public health, applied researcher, and PlayCore scholar and author of PlayOn! Russ is a passionate speaker on topics of comprehensive health and wellness and a committed champion of research translation and application. He is currently PlayCore’s Research & Community Impact Strategist dedicated to helping professionals turn research into practice for community health impact. Russ lives, works, and plays in northern Colorado.

Dr. Palacios is responsible for promoting the value of recreation for people of all ages and abilities. She provides training, continuing educational opportunities, professional development, and research that supports recreation and play while generating partnerships and alliances in the field. She joined the PlayCore team in 2013 after obtaining a PhD in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from NC State University. Before joining PlayCore, she was an instructor at NC State University in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Department. She is currently serving as NRPA's Chair of the Conference Program Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for Dix Park Conservancy. Inés is based out of Raleigh, NC.

Antoinette was born and raised in the middle Tennessee area.  She received an accounting degree from Middle Tennessee State University and began her professional career with the Tennessee State Parks system as an accountant.  She later moved to Georgia and began working for Georgia State Parks within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

She has held various positions within DNR, and currently serves as the Grants Program Manager and Alternate State Liaison Officer for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).  She is responsible for selecting and awarding the LWCF grants as well as overseeing the compliance aspect after grant completion.  Some of her proudest career achievements include dispelling camping myths by introducing the first-time camper concept to management, being a part of the team that won the inaugural SCORP Excellence award in 2009 and being a board member of the National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers.

Vonda Martin currently serves as the Park Planner for the City of Greensboro. Collectively, Vonda has 30+ years of experience in the field of Parks and Recreation. Over the years, she has worked in the corporate, non-profit, private, and public sectors. This includes time served as a consultant with North Carolina State University’s (NCSU’s) Recreation Resources Service and Director of the Armfield Civic and Recreation Center in Pilot Mountain, NC. Vonda obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Recreation from Catawba College and a Master of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from NCSU. She is active in the profession as the co-founder of the Women’s LeadHERship Workshop, an advisory committee member of Haw River State Park, a member of NRPA, NCRPA, and Friends of Mountain-To-Sea Trail. She is the first practitioner to be a chapter author, Physical Resource and Environmental Planning for the Management of Parks and Recreation Agencies – 5^th Edition, sponsored by the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) with Brie Hensold.  She is has a passion for improving outdoor recreational opportunities for all, is married to Dale Smith and they live in Chapel Hill.

Shawna currently serves as the Planning and Project Development Division Manager from the City of Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department. In this role, she manage the departmental efforts in the areas of strategic and long-range planning, Capital Improvement Program, Capital Life Cycle Plan, and recreational bond referendums with regards to open space, greenways, trails, parkland and facilities

Shawna completed her undergraduate degree at the University of NC at Wilmington majoring in Political Science with minors in Spanish and International Affairs. Shawna moved to Greensboro a year after completing her undergraduate degree to complete a Masters in Public Affairs at the University of NC at Greensboro.  

Dr. Palacios is responsible for promoting the value of recreation for people of all ages and abilities. She provides training, continuing educational opportunities, professional development, and research that supports recreation and play while generating partnerships and alliances in the field. She joined the PlayCore team in 2013 after obtaining a PhD in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from NC State University. Before joining PlayCore, she was an instructor at NC State University in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Department. She is currently serving as NRPA's Chair of the Conference Program Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for Dix Park Conservancy. Inés is based out of Raleigh, NC.

Lou Fineberg is Dero’s National Advocacy Accounts Manager. He supports bike advocacy organizations nationwide providing technical training and business programming strategies to help them provide bike parking expertise in their communities. Fineberg was a founder of Bike Pittsburgh and helped lead the organization in multiple roles for a decade. As Bike Pittsburgh’s Business Program Director, he developed a bike friendly business program that integrated consulting services with commuter choice programming, working with companies like Google, Alcoa, and BNY Mellon. Fineberg helped bring attention to Pittsburgh’s cumbersome bike parking regulations that have since been modernized and expanded. He has authored two books – Three Rivers on Two Wheels and Urban Biking Companion – to help bicyclists safely navigate his hometown of Pittsburgh.

Paul is originally from Minneapolis, MN where he also attended College. Paul holds a BA in English and BS in Sociology. He has always been interested in land use, building code, civic engagement and has been a transportation advocate for almost 10 years.

Dr. Palacios is responsible for promoting the value of recreation for people of all ages and abilities. She provides training, continuing educational opportunities, professional development, and research that supports recreation and play while generating partnerships and alliances in the field. She joined the PlayCore team in 2013 after obtaining a PhD in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from NC State University. Before joining PlayCore, she was an instructor at NC State University in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Department. She is currently serving as NRPA's Chair of the Conference Program Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for Dix Park Conservancy. Inés is based out of Raleigh, NC.

Lou Fineberg is Dero’s National Advocacy Accounts Manager. He supports bike advocacy organizations nationwide providing technical training and business programming strategies to help them provide bike parking expertise in their communities. Fineberg was a founder of Bike Pittsburgh and helped lead the organization in multiple roles for a decade. As Bike Pittsburgh’s Business Program Director, he developed a bike friendly business program that integrated consulting services with commuter choice programming, working with companies like Google, Alcoa, and BNY Mellon. Fineberg helped bring attention to Pittsburgh’s cumbersome bike parking regulations that have since been modernized and expanded. He has authored two books – Three Rivers on Two Wheels and Urban Biking Companion – to help bicyclists safely navigate his hometown of Pittsburgh.

Paul is originally from Minneapolis, MN where he also attended College. Paul holds a BA in English and BS in Sociology. He has always been interested in land use, building code, civic engagement and has been a transportation advocate for almost 10 years.

Dr. Palacios is responsible for promoting the value of recreation for people of all ages and abilities. She provides training, continuing educational opportunities, professional development, and research that supports recreation and play while generating partnerships and alliances in the field. She joined the PlayCore team in 2013 after obtaining a PhD in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from NC State University. Before joining PlayCore, she was an instructor at NC State University in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Department. She is currently serving as NRPA's Chair of the Conference Program Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for Dix Park Conservancy. Inés is based out of Raleigh, NC.