A public reception will be held for finalists for the position of Director of Parks & Recreation for the City of Manhattan on Monday, November 4,from 5:15 –6:15 p.m., in the City Commission Room, City Hall, 1101 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan.
Each candidate will provide a brief introductory statement followed by informalintroductions and questions. The reception is hosted by the City of Manhattan and members of thepublic are invited and encouraged to attend and visit with the candidates.
There are four finalists for the position of Director of Parks &Recreation
§ Chris Curtis –Mr. Curtis holds a Bachelor degree in Recreation from Emporia StateUniversity, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Kansas State University, and aMaster of Education degree in Sports Administration from the University of Kansas. He hashad additional training at the Rocky Mountain Revenue and Management School (2004-05)and at the North Carolina State School of Sports Management (2000). In the course of afifteen year career in municipal recreation, Mr. Curtis has managed sports leagues for theCity of Lawrence and was a Program Specialist for the City of Salina. Mr. Curtis served asthe Recreation Superintendent in Dodge City, Kansas for seven years and, most recently,since 2008, has been the Recreation Superintendent for the City of Salina.
§ Eddie Eastes –Mr. Eastes holds a Bachelor degree in Physical Education and Recreationfrom Kansas State University. He is CPRP certified (Certified Park and RecreationProfessional) and AFO certified (Aquatic Facility Operator). After college, Mr. Eastesworked in the recreation field in Manhattan, Kansas and Pratt, Kansas before becoming theRecreation Director in Kingman, Kansas from 1984 to 1987. From 1987 to 2005,Mr. Eastes served as the Golf Course Superintendent at Park Hills Golf Course in Pratt,Kansas. Since April 2005, Mr. Eastes has worked as the Park Superintendent and theAssistant Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Manhattan, Manhattan, Kansas.He has served as Manhattan’s Interim Director of Parks and Recreation since May 2013.
§ Stephen Herrig –Mr. Herrig holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health, PhysicalEducation, and Recreation from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. He is CPRPcertified (Certified Park and Recreation Professional) and received additional training at theNRPA Directors School (2008-09) and the NRPA (National Recreation and ParkAssociation) Revenue and Management School (1997-98). Mr. Herrig worked as a YouthCenter Manager (1987-88) and then as a Recreation Specialist (1987-91) for the U.S.Government at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Moving into the municipal sphere, Mr. Herrigserved as Recreation Supervisor for the City of Leavenworth, Kansas from 1991 to 2006.Since 2006 to the present, Mr. Herrig has been Recreation Complex Manager for the BlueValley Recreation Commission in Overland Park, Kansas.
§ Mike Lueck –Mr. Lueck holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Math Educationfrom the University of Missouri –Columbia, and a Master of Science degree in SportsManagement from Western Illinois University. He is CPRP certified (Certified Park andRecreation Professional). Mr. Lueck was an Assistant Program Director at the St. CharlesCounty YMCA in St. Peters, Missouri from 1993-94. Moving to the municipal setting, heworked as Recreation Coordinator for the City of St. Peters from 1994 to 2001. From 2001to 2006, Mr. Lueck served as Interim Director/Recreation Superintendent for the City ofO’Fallon, Missouri. Mr. Lueck became the Director of Parks and Facility Services inHutchinson, Kansas in 2006 and continues currently to serve in that capacity. The four finalists were selected following a nationwide search. An internal interview and selectionprocess will be conducted on Monday, November 4, 2013.
