Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Awards
Volunteer Experience
Affiliations
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Timeline
Generic

Rob Hanna

Castle Pines

Summary

Dynamic executive with a proven track record, excelling in strategic planning, operations leadership, regional partnerships and budget management. Achieved National Accreditation and the National Gold Medal Award while fostering stakeholder engagement and team leadership. Expert in operations management, driving organizational success through innovative partnerships and effective decision-making.

Overview

36
36
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Executive Director and CAO

South Suburban Park and Recreation District
Centennial
07.2015 - 02.2025
  • Provided leadership for South Suburban Park and Recreation District, overseeing operations across 46 square miles.
  • Managed 280 full-time and 1,500 part-time employees to maintain high operational standards.
  • Directed $100 million operational budget and $50 million in user fee revenue effectively.
  • Oversaw strategic planning, ensuring alignment with established policies and Board directives.
  • Implemented standards and controls to assure program quality and organizational stability.
  • Secured and managed grants, enhancing capital development through municipal partnerships.
  • Represented District at public meetings, promoting transparency and engagement with the community.
  • Achieved National Accreditation and received National Gold Medal Award for excellence in services.

Director

Town of Castle Rock
Castle Rock
02.1997 - 07.2015
  • Directed overall operations of award-winning Parks, Recreation and Golf Department.
  • Led planning, construction, and maintenance of parks, trails, and open spaces.

Associate

J. T. Dunkin and Associates
Dallas
01.1993 - 02.1997
  • Supervised development of landscape architecture projects for local governments, including park master planning and design development.
    Acted as speaker at public hearings and advisory boards to engage community stakeholders.
    Managed grant application process for state funding, benefiting municipalities throughout Texas.
    Coordinated construction management efforts to maintain project timelines and standards.

Landscape Architect III

City of Aurora
Aurora
01.1991 - 01.1993
  • Developed attractive, practical designs fulfilling community requests within budget limits.
    Composed construction documents and specifications for bid competitions.
    Led public meetings, showcasing site plans to Park Advisory Board for input.
    Managed park construction projects, ensuring compliance with both contracts and design objectives.
    Participated in annual capital budget preparation to facilitate project execution.

Summer Internship, Park Planner

El Paso County
Colorado Springs
01.1989 - 01.1991
  • Primary responsibilities included initiating, developing and coordinating park development and construction, supervised in-house construction projects, reviewing subdivision applications and prepared state funded grant applications.

Education

Bachelor - Landscape Architecture

Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Skills

  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Strategic planning
  • Budget management
  • Facilities management
  • Team leadership
  • Conflict resolution
  • Decision making
  • Project management
  • Operations management
  • Contract management
  • Stakeholder relations
  • Team leadership, training, and development
  • Relationship building
  • Crisis management
  • Partnership development

Certification

  • Professional Landscape Architect State of Colorado License No. 753 - current
  • National Recreation and Parks Association Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, 2000-2005
  • ICMA Senior Executive Institute Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia LEAD Program Graduate, 2008
  • Institute for Participatory Management and Planning Management Training on Consent Building Strategies, 1992
  • U. S. Department of Homeland Security FEMA Emergency Management Certifications IS800 National Response Plan IS200 ICS for Single Resource and Initial Action Incidents IS700 NIMS Introduction IS100 Introduction to the Incident Command System

Awards

National Recreation and Parks Association Gold Medal Class IV Grand Award – 2012 Town of Castle Rock Gold Medal Class II Grand Award – 2024 South Suburban Park and Recreation District, Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies Agency Accreditation – 2015 Town of Castle Rock Agency Accreditation – 2019 and 2024 South Suburban Park and Recreation District

Volunteer Experience

City of Castle Pines Planning Commission, Chairman, 2013, 2015

Affiliations

  • National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) Professional Member, 1990-present
  • International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Full Member, 2008-present

EXPERIENCE SUMMARY

Parks and Recreation Specific

  • Led two separate organizations in initial CAPRA accreditations
  • Led two separate organizations to receive NRPA Gold Medal awards
  • Developed and implemented first IGA with school district for joint use facilities
  • Developed and implemented first Master Plan, Strategic Plan and 5-year CIP
  • Developed and implemented first Deferred Maintenance Funding Plan
  • Participated in the development and implementation of first Impact Fee Policies
  • Developed and implemented multiple Master Plans, Site Plans and Strategic Plans
  • Negotiated numerous Development Agreements with master developers to ensure appropriate dedication of public property including parks, open space, fire stations and schools
  • Facilitated largest annexation of property into District
  • Received multiple GOCO and local county Open Space Grants
  • Extensive Project Management experience (new construction and renovations) $1m-$65m individual project budgets

Design, Construction and Management of:

  • Numerous Parks and Recreation Facilities
  • Open Space
  • Trails
  • Golf Course and Clubhouse
  • Sports Complex (ice, turf, tennis, pickleball, gymnasium)
  • Indoor and Outdoor Aquatics Facilities
  • Outdoor Amphitheater
  • Skateboard Facilities
  • Tennis Courts and Pickleball
  • Nature Center
  • Playgrounds
  • Waterways, River and Creek Corridors
  • Maintenance Facilities
  • Fire Stations
  • Police and Municipal Courts Facilities

  • P&R Master Plans, Strategic Plans, Management Plans, CIP and Feasibility Studies
  • Operations Policy and SOP development and implementation
  • User Fee and Cost Recovery Policy development and implementation
  • Volunteer Program development and management
  • Special Events, Festivals and Concerts

General Local Government Experience

  • $100 million Budget Development, Implementation and Oversite
  • Development of high performing organizational culture focused on excellence
  • Organizational Development and Structure Analysis
  • Employee Mentoring and Professional Development
  • Employee Recognition Programs
  • Interdepartmental Coordination
  • Intergovernmental Agreements and Regional Partnerships
  • Public Private Partnerships
  • Community Outreach and Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Financial Management
  • Downtown Development Authorities and TIFs
  • General Obligation Bonds and COPs
  • General and Enterprise/Special Revenue Fund Management
  • Sales, Use and Property Tax Revenue
  • Special District Elections
  • HR Management and Policies
  • Self-Insured Health Benefit Fund Management
  • Workers Comp Policies
  • TABOR and De-Brucing
  • Municipal Codes and CRS Title 32
  • Local, State and Federal Regulations
  • Land Use Policies, Development Review and Agreements
  • Building Codes
  • Impact Fee Development and Implementation
  • Annexation and Entitlement Process
  • Eminent Domain Policy and Procedures
  • Comprehensive Master Plans and Vision Plans
  • Economic Development
  • Sustainability Policies
  • Pavement and Asset Management
  • Fleet Management
  • Snowplow Operations
  • Colorado Water Rights
  • Stormwater Management
  • Risk Management
  • Emergency Management
  • Construction contracts and delivery methods (CMGC, Design-Bid-Build, Owner’s Rep)

Timeline

Executive Director and CAO

South Suburban Park and Recreation District
07.2015 - 02.2025

Director

Town of Castle Rock
02.1997 - 07.2015

Associate

J. T. Dunkin and Associates
01.1993 - 02.1997

Landscape Architect III

City of Aurora
01.1991 - 01.1993

Summer Internship, Park Planner

El Paso County
01.1989 - 01.1991

Bachelor - Landscape Architecture

Texas Tech University
Rob Hanna