Live / Community Connectedness Through Aquatic Design and Programming

From January, 2005 – February 2013 she was the Deputy Director for the Wisconsin Park & Recreation Association, a premiere Park and Recreation Associations in the nation. She was responsible for membership development and recruitment, coordinating educational development, development of marketing initiatives including the design and maintenance of the Association website, negotiating and implementing contracts and agreements, and generating revenue and corporate sponsorships.

Juliene Hefter received her Bachelor of Science in Recreational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse and holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Quality from Marian College. She has a long and illustrious career in aquatics and park and recreation administration, and has been the Manager of Recreation Services for the City of West Bend, Park and Recreation Director for the City of Horicon, Supervisor of Recreation & Aquatics Director for the Fond du Lac School District, and the Park and Recreation Director for the Village of Germantown.

She has served in a number of leadership positions with both state and national organizations, including being the Chairperson for the National Recreation and Park Association’s 2005 National Aquatic Conference, Member and Chairperson of the Aquatic Facility Operators Board of Directors, 2007 General Chairperson of the National Aquatic Management School and National Aquatic Conference, 2007 President of the National Aquatic Council, Chairperson of the Wisconsin Park & Recreation Association’s Recreation Section, Chairperson of the Southeast Park and Recreation Council, and Vice-Chairperson of the Washington County park and Open Space Technical Advisory Committee. She was also the President of the Association of Aquatic Professionals from 2011 – March 2013.

Her distinguished career includes being the recipient of the Wisconsin Park & Recreation Association’s Professional Award of Merit, the Recreation Professional of the Year, Aquatic Professional of the Year, and the recipient of the Public Policy Innovation Award. In 2007 she was named to the “Top 25 in Aquatics” by Aquatics International. In 2015 she was recognized by Aquatics International as one of the top 10 Aquatic Advocates and in 2017 she received the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Paragon award.

She is a renowned speaker and author on a variety of management and administrative topics, including A Hands On Approach to Corporate Sponsorships, Sexual Harassment Training for Part-Time and Seasonal Staff, Public Perception of Lifeguards, Marketing and Promotions, and Team Building and Special Events.

Juliene provides consulting work and expert witness services in aquatic related areas. She sat on the Sounding Board for the development of the New American Red Cross 2012 Lifeguarding Program and assisted in the development of the Lifeguard Management curriculum. She also contributed to the development of the Starfish Aquatics Aquatic Technician Program and is also one of the founders of the Association of Aquatic Professionals.

Kirsten Barnes joins AOAP as the Assistant Director. As a graduate of the Missouri State University Recreation & Leisure Studies program, Kirsten’s career in recreation has included overseeing programs serving a variety of populations and managed facilities from golf courses and ice arenas to recreation centers and climbing gyms. Kirsten has been an aquatics coordinator overseeing municipal facilities, staff and programming, oversaw lifeguard management at 24 aquatic facilities and water parks with a private management company, and was a Recreation Director in the St Louis Area. She has been an industry vendor as the Director of HydroApps digital documentation software. Kirsten also works with recreation agencies to provide customized professional development and frontline trainings.

 
Kirsten has presented almost 100 education sessions at national and regional conferences. She is a Past President of the Missouri Parks & Recreation Association, served two years as the Marketing and Public Relations representative for the NRPA Annual Conference Program Committee and has been an AOAP Board Member.
 
Kirsten is Missouri born and raised and lives with her family in the mountains of Colorado.