WRPA 2019 Annual Conference and Tradeshow

Future-Proofing Your Organization

Thursday, April 11 | 9:00am - 10:15am

Session Description:

Is your agency ready for the future? Technology, Energy, Globalization, Generation Z! These forces are changing the world as we know it and it’s critical participants position themselves to remain relevant in the future. This session will share how to cultivate “futurists” within organizations, help forecast trends, develop forward thinking solutions, and help recreation and parks stay innovative and relevant in the changing world. Future proofing starts now!

Apply best practices for establishing participants’ internal think-tanks or “futurists” including recruiting members and disseminating research.
Utilize new techniques and information sources to keep a pulse on how the world is evolving.
Identify ways to weave a forward-thinking philosophy into the whole organization to break assumptions and stay innovative, nimble, and relevant.

Speakers:

Keith Hobson, Director of Business & Facilities, Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District
Katherine Stokke, Interim Operations Analysis Manager, Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District

About the Speakers:

Keith has been with Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District for 17 years. Prior to entering public administration, he spent 10 years as a practicing CPA with a focus on business planning. He is active with the Special Districts Association of Oregon, serving on both the Board of Directors and the Legislative Committee. Keith has a Bachelor of Accounting from the University of Oregon, and a Master of Public Administration from Portland State University.

Katherine has worked for Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) in Beaverton since 2008. She is the chair of the THPRD Future Trends Team and an original member. Prior to her career in the park and recreation industry, Katherine worked for four years as a strategic planning analyst for a semiconductor company in Hillsboro, OR, and as an intern at a pharmaceutical tech company in Mountain View, CA. She holds degrees in Business Economics and English from Santa Clara University and has her MBA from Portland State University.