| IPRA Today - Meet Dan! | Editorial link | www.ilipra.org |
Meet Dan LoCascio!
Employer: Park District of Franklin Park Position: Program and Facility Manager Educational Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management from Northern Illinois University and Masters in Recreation Administration from Aurora University. How long a member of IPRA? 12 Years.  Why is IPRA membership important to you? IPRA is important because of the support it provides. From networking to continuing education, it has been a major factor in building my knowledge base. Best thing about working in the field of parks & recreation? The smiling faces. We are very fortunate to work in a fun environment that you can take for granted until talking with people in other fields who are driven by different factors. In your opinion, what is the biggest issue facing parks & recreation? Play deprivation. I work with a lot of participants who are used to staying inside, mostly in front of the TV, computer, IPad, etc. They are used to being told what to do instead of figuring things out for themselves. What advice would you give a recent college graduate? Think long term. If you are fortunate to get a job right away, get involved in your district and IPRA committees. If you are working part time, do whatever is asked and more because experience is key. Tell us a little known fact about you! I was elected and serve on the School Board in District 84. What was your path to a career in Parks & Recreation? During summers in college, I cut grass for senior citizens in Leyden Township. In my senior year, Leyden opened a community center and I started working there. It was the perfect well-rounded experience because I ran classes, worked the front desk, answered phones and took registrations. After college I worked my internship at the Park District of Franklin Park, created my position and took on different responsibilities through the years. What is your favorite Parks & Recreation program you’ve been a part of? Park Pursuit! The planning is hysterical and gets pretty diabolical. During the event you see a different side of your peers as they breeze through a challenge or pull their hair out trying to complete goofy tasks! Who do you admire, and why? I person I admire most is my grandpa, who I call Papa. He is a "Renaissance Man" with a contagious personality and has seen a lot in his life. I absorb as much wisdom and stories as I can. |
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