05-14-2009, 08:10 PM
COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Parks and Recreation has honored Ohio State Parks Manager Bruce Carpenter, who oversees the Portage Lakes Region, for implementing the agency's long-term goals in his parks' day-to-day operations.
Carpenter received the Ohio State Parks' 2008 Service and Stewardship Award for achieving tangible results in areas such as customer service, resource management, professional development, infrastructure improvements and fiscal management. He manages one of the largest state park regions in Ohio encompassing Portage Lakes, Quail Hollow, Beaver Creek, Guilford Lake and Jefferson Lake state parks, and these parks reflect his commitment to efficiency and resourcefulness.
"Carpenter embraces customer service," said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. "Under his leadership, the region has added several special features that have helped attract new customers, including a popular skate park, dog park and geocaching events."
Carpenter manages a resource base rich in plant and animal diversity and one of the parks, Beaver Creek, in his region recently received Audubon Ohio's designation as an Important Birding Area. Another park in his region, Portage Lakes, through volunteer efforts, has established a system of purple martin houses and feeding stations.
Regional integration has been critical in the Portage Lakes Region. Carpenter has pooled staff resources to concentrate on regional priorities, allowing each park to benefit with timely completion of projects.
At the same time, Carpenter has stressed professional development to his staff. Three supervisors in his region have completed OCPM training, one has attending the Flickinger Academy and several frontline employees have attended job-specific training.
Managing for financial savings, Carpenter oversees an important in-house dock shop at Portage Lakes that has saved the division literally hundreds of thousands of dollars by refurbishing docks for other state parks.
"There are many valuable relationships that Carpenter has formed with his region's volunteers and friends groups that help enhance the parks with improvement projects, educational programs and special events," added Chief West. "Overall, he is friendly and maintains a good rapport with staff, volunteers, fellow managers and the community."
Ohio's 74 state parks encompass nine resort lodges, six golf courses, more than 500 cottages and 56 family campgrounds with more than 9,000 campsites. For additional information, visit www.ohiodnr.com.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.
Carpenter received the Ohio State Parks' 2008 Service and Stewardship Award for achieving tangible results in areas such as customer service, resource management, professional development, infrastructure improvements and fiscal management. He manages one of the largest state park regions in Ohio encompassing Portage Lakes, Quail Hollow, Beaver Creek, Guilford Lake and Jefferson Lake state parks, and these parks reflect his commitment to efficiency and resourcefulness.
"Carpenter embraces customer service," said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. "Under his leadership, the region has added several special features that have helped attract new customers, including a popular skate park, dog park and geocaching events."
Carpenter manages a resource base rich in plant and animal diversity and one of the parks, Beaver Creek, in his region recently received Audubon Ohio's designation as an Important Birding Area. Another park in his region, Portage Lakes, through volunteer efforts, has established a system of purple martin houses and feeding stations.
Regional integration has been critical in the Portage Lakes Region. Carpenter has pooled staff resources to concentrate on regional priorities, allowing each park to benefit with timely completion of projects.
At the same time, Carpenter has stressed professional development to his staff. Three supervisors in his region have completed OCPM training, one has attending the Flickinger Academy and several frontline employees have attended job-specific training.
Managing for financial savings, Carpenter oversees an important in-house dock shop at Portage Lakes that has saved the division literally hundreds of thousands of dollars by refurbishing docks for other state parks.
"There are many valuable relationships that Carpenter has formed with his region's volunteers and friends groups that help enhance the parks with improvement projects, educational programs and special events," added Chief West. "Overall, he is friendly and maintains a good rapport with staff, volunteers, fellow managers and the community."
Ohio's 74 state parks encompass nine resort lodges, six golf courses, more than 500 cottages and 56 family campgrounds with more than 9,000 campsites. For additional information, visit www.ohiodnr.com.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.