FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 17,
2001
Florida State Parks Director
Fran MainellaBecomes Director Of The National Park Service
TALLAHASSEE -- Fran
P. Mainella, who directed Florida’s award-winning state park
system for the past 12 years, was sworn in today as the 16th
Director of the National Park Service during ceremonies in
Washington, D.C.
Mainella, 54,
becomes the first woman ever to hold the national parks post. She
was nominated for the position by President George W. Bush June 4
when the President visited Everglades National Park. The U.S.
Senate confirmed her appointment July 12. As National Park Service
Director she will oversee 384 national parks, which attract more
than 287 million visitors annually.
"Fran’s
appointment to this important position reflects the excellence she
has brought to her work as director of Florida’s state park
system," said Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Secretary David B. Struhs. Struhs’ agency includes the Division
of Recreation and Parks, which manages Florida’s 156 state
parks. "Those of us who’ve worked with her know she’ll
bring the same professionalism and dedication to carrying out
President Bush’s initiatives to restore our national
parks."
Under Mainella’s
leadership, Florida’s state park system became a national model
for its volunteer and partnership programs, including: Recruitment
of 5,000 volunteers, who last year provided 838,000 hours of
service, the equivalent of 403 full-time employees; over 1,900
public-private state park partnerships, enabling the Florida Park
Service to do more with less; and formation of 70 citizen support
organizations for state parks, including the statewide Friends of
Florida State Parks, Inc.
During her tenure,
Florida’s state parks received numerous awards for excellence,
obtaining the ultimate recognition in 2000-01 by winning the
National Recreation and Parks Association/National Sporting Goods
Association National State Park Gold Medal, recognizing Florida’s
state park system as the best in all 50 states.
Mainella, a
Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, has dedicated her
entire professional career, spanning more than three decades, to
recreation and parks.
Prior to becoming
Florida state parks director, she was Executive Director of the
Florida Recreation and Park Association, Director of Recreation in
Lake Park, Florida, and served in a number of other management and
teaching positions in the recreation and parks field. She earned
her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees at the
University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State College,
respectively.
Mainella is former
President of the 23,000 member National Recreation and Park
Association; past President of the National Association of State
Park Directors; Member, Florida Commission on Tourism; Florida
Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; and numerous
other professional and civic organizations.
Effective
immediately, Secretary Struhs has appointed Mike Bullock (the
current Assistant Director) to serve as Acting Director of the
Division of Recreation & Parks. Mike is thoroughly
knowledgeable of park operations and will provide the necessary
leadership to guide Florida’s parks system through this
transition period.
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