July has flown by! It’s already the final week of National Park & Recreation Month. We’re proud to introduce today’s featured staff members, who both serve on our Parks team and truly embody the theme ‘We Rise Up for Parks & Recreation.’ Thanks for all you do, Tabitha and Jason!
Parks Service Leader Tabitha Baer: Family Connection
Tabitha Baer (pictured above) has faithfully worked as a Parks Service Leader for our department for seven years. She has served as an employee with the City of Kettering for over 20 years. Her dedication and attention to detail make her an incredible asset. Tabitha’s hardworking demeanor and professional skill is replicated in her son and son-in-law, Zach Baer and Chad Holland, and her nephew John, who previously worked with us (Zach and John are also pictured above). Tabitha has led by example, and Zach and Chad have taken the opportunity to work as seasonal groundskeepers, offering a tremendous amount of help and hours of work alongside their mom in our busy summer months. This family legacy builds a firm foundation for generations that we are proud to foster!
Parks Crew Leader Jason Sullivan: He Lives It
Jason Sullivan was hired in April 2022 and serves as one of our parks crew leaders. Jason grew up in Kettering and comes to us with a wealth of field experience from other park agencies, as well as his time working for a privately owned landscape company. Jason’s lifestyle truly encompasses his passion for parks, conservation and recreation. Jason is an avid park visitor, trail runner and skilled photographer. He has dedicated countless hours and miles of running local nature and bike trails and is recognized for capturing the most breathtaking wildlife in and around our Dayton area green spaces. A photo of his was recently featured on the cover of the Ohio Parks & Recreation Association’s quarterly magazine. Jason practices personal conservation and land stewardship in his own backyard, planting native pollinators and raising various butterflies to release back into the wild. It is typical for Jason to spend a few hours at a local park even after working a rigorous 8+ hour shift. Jason truly walks the walk, and we are fortunate to have him on our team!