Recording / Celebrating Your Community’s LWCF Award and Completion

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.