John Dargle, Jr., CPRE

Experience

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  US Army

  Jan 1985 - Jan 1995

  Captain

  An officer in the U.S. Army, Medical Service Corps, held positions as Chief, Medical Plans and Operations, 24th INF DIV, Division Medical Operations Center, Fort Stewart, GA; Operations Officer / Section Leader / Helicopter Pilot, 10th MTN DIV, 229th Medical Detachment, Fort Drum, NY; Platoon Leader / Supply Officer, 44th MED BDE, 690th Medical Company, Fort Benning, GA; Battalion Adjutant, 34th Medical Battalion, Fort Benning, GA.

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  Mecklenburg County

  Nov 1995 - May 2001

  Managed an operating budget of $2.2 million and capital improvements bond referendum budget of $8.7 million in a park district serving a population of 43,000 people. Supervised a staff of 41 full time and 80 temporary employees. Directed operations and maintenance readiness of 26 parks, three developed greenways, five recreation centers, boat rental harbor, three pools, 17 court tennis center, five field softball and four field soccer complex, and maintained a private-public relationship for a 12-field soccer complex, disc golf course, 18 hole golf course, a 4.5 mile mountain bike trail, and a four-court sand volleyball area. Administered contractual services for mowing, uniform, security, and land lease agreements. Monitored the implementation of a broad leisure program from athletics and sports to special events and recreation programs that addresses the demands of a culturally diverse customer base. Responsible for park project management, design and development, and examined park district capital needs and improvements. Show less Successfully organized countywide recreation and leisure activities. Performed work that involved planning, promoting, and developing a variety of recreational opportunities (programs, activities, camps, classes, events) for county residents at recreation centers, aquatic facilities, parks, and other appropriate sites. Recruited, interviewed, hired, supervised and evaluated part-time program staff, instructors, volunteers, and sponsors to facilitate program operations and promotional activities. Show less

  • Park District Supervisor

    Jul 1998 - May 2001

  • Recreation Coordinator

    Nov 1995 - Jun 1998
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  City of Fort Smith

  Jun 2001 - Jul 2003

  Director

  Planned, directed, and evaluated the recreation programs, services and maintenance of 26 city parks, two community centers, riverpark facilities, swimming pools, nature area, 275 landscaped streetscapes and medians, and 30-acre historic cemetery operation for the second largest city in the state with a diverse regional population of over 100,000 people along the Arkansas River. Prepared and monitored operating budget of $3 million and capital outlay in excess of $800,000. Led a department of 24 full-time employees and 42 seasonal/part-time employees. Served as staff liaison to the Parks and Recreation Commission and Oak Cemetery Commission. Show less

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  Athens-Clarke County

  Aug 2003 - May 2008

  Director

  Management responsibility of 80 full-time staff, 200 part-time/seasonal, and 220 contract labor employees, an operating budget of $7.2 million, capital improvement program budget of $450,000, and voter approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum to fund park projects in the amount of $22 million. Unified Government agency comprising of six divisions which include Internal Services, Natural Resources, Park Services, Arts, Athletics, and Recreation responsible for providing quality athletic, recreational, cultural, educational, and leisure programs at more than 41 parks, 2,500 acres, five swimming pools, an arts center and museum, historic urban theater, dance center, two nature preserves, lakeside campgrounds, public boat landings, nature center, zoological park, athletic complexes, park/school recreation areas, skatepark, four dog parks, two disc golf courses, five community recreation centers, and ten miles of greenway. Serve as liaison to seven affiliated citizen advisory organizations directly related to department services. Show less

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  Fairfax County Park Authority

  Jun 2008 - Jun 2013

  Executive Director

  Provide leadership and administrative oversight of 621 full time staff, 2,669 limited term and seasonal staff, and numerous volunteers contributing nearly 200,000 hours annually in support services. Handle $65 million operating budget and $50 million capital budget serving the most populous jurisdiction in both Virginia and the Washington D.C. metropolitan area with over 1.2 million people. Under the direction of a 12-member Park Authority Board, work collaboratively with constituents, partners, stakeholders, and government leaders and appointees to implement Board policies, champion the preservation and protection of natural and cultural resources, and facilitate the development of park and recreation programs and facilities. Oversee operation and management of 23,600-acre county park system with 422 parks, nine recreation centers, eight golf courses, an ice skating rink, 220 playgrounds, 668 public gardens, five nature centers, an equestrian center, 796 athletic fields, ten historic sites, two waterparks, a horticultural center, and more than 300 miles of trails. Show less

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  Milwaukee County Parks, Recreation, and Culture

  Jun 2013 - Dec 2017

  Director

  Provided leadership, administration, and fiscal accountability of a 15,325-acre county park system with 158 parks and 11 parkways. Headed department of 219 full time staff and up to 1,000 seasonal staff. Managed $47 million operating budget and $20 million capital budget serving the largest county in Wisconsin. Directed operation of 15 golf courses, Lake Michigan beaches and marina with 700 slips, 55 food and beverage locations, botanical gardens, horticultural conservatory, nature center, two community centers, disc golf courses, indoor ice rink, 300 miles of trails including the 120 mile Oak Leaf Trail, Farm & Fish Hatchery, 13 pools, 31 wading pools, 7 spraygrounds, 5 beaches, two family aquatic centers, 231 athletic fields, 8 dog parks, 113 playgrounds, 122 tennis courts, and a sportsplex. Show less

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  City of Atlanta, Parks and Recreation

  Oct 2018 - Sept 2023

  Commissioner

  Provided leadership, administration, and fiscal accountability of premier municipal parks and recreation system of 4,212 acres of land encompassing 376 parks. Head department of roughly 450 full-time and 1,000 temporary employees and oversee an annual operating budget of more than $43 million. Serves as an ambassador to the community and other governmental agencies and liaison for the department with the Mayor and City Council. Responsible for highly diverse services and operations at 27 recreation centers, four natatoriums, 15 outdoor pools, eight spraygrounds, 133 playgrounds, 162 tennis courts, five tennis centers, 109 basketball courts, 5 sand volleyball courts, 176 athletic fields, 9 mini soccer pitches, two skate parks, 144 pavilions, five golf courses, one sports complex, two nature preserves, two nature centers, eight dog parks, 1,800 linear miles of street trees, Historic Oakland Cemetery, along with 209-acre Lake Allatoona Resident Camp, and operational maintenance of the popular Atlanta Beltline. Show less

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  City of Greeley

  Aug 2022 - Sept 2023

  Director

  Headed department of 155 full-time and approximately 1,000 temporary employees and oversaw an annual operating budget of more than $33 million. Provided leadership of seven divisions to include Administration, Parks, Forestry & Cemetery, Recreation, Golf Services, Cultural Affairs, 145-acre Island Grove Regional Park, and Natural Areas & Trails. Oversee operation and management of over 600 acres of parkland and 2,000 acres of natural areas, 42 parks, and 30 miles of trails to include the regional Poudre River Trail Corridor, three community recreation centers, 1,900 seat performing arts venue, an art gallery, history museum, farm learning center, living history museum complex, Ice Haus, Active Adult Center, two outdoor pools, three skate parks, two 18-hole public championship golf courses, five athletic field complexes, three dog parks, historic 65-acre cemetery, and responsible for landscape maintenance of 22 acres of land at 23 public ground sites and downtown plazas, and 36 right-of-way parkways and/or street medians and planting beds with 13,000+ trees. Responsible for hundreds of culture and recreation programs, services and special events including the Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation (AIR) program, year-round Farmers’ Market, Arts Picnic, Festival of Trees, Neighborhood Nights, and the City’s extensive Public Art Program. Maintained staff liaisons for eight City Council-appointed citizen advisory committees, including the Golf Advisory Board, Island Grove Regional Park Advisory Board, Rodarte Community Center Advisory Board, Museum Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Youth Commission, Greeley Art Commission and the Union Colony Civic Center Advisory Board. Show less