Published May 25, 2023
Get to Know Your New MetroParks CEO
Karen Hesser began her tenure as chief executive officer at Five Rivers MetroParks on May 1. She is no stranger to the agency, as she’s been with MetroParks for more than a decade, serving as the director of park services and legislative affairs and most recently as chief of operations. The staff at MetroParks want to share information about our new CEO so you can learn more about her.
How Karen got into the field of parks and recreation
Karen grew up as a parks and rec kid, riding her bike, climbing trees, and exploring Valley Forge National Historic Park (then a state park) in Pennsylvania. When she applied for a summer job during college with the county government, she was subsequently encouraged to take a role in park maintenance, working outside. At the time, she was pursuing a bachelor’s in English and thought, “This is a real job?” She was interviewed and started the job the next day. “They showed me the mower, and off I went to mow the park.” Needless to say, that summer job had a big impact on her – Karen switched her major and graduated with a degree in parks and recreation resource management.
How Karen’s career path evolved
She worked in park maintenance throughout college, then moved into an administrative role with the county conservation district. Due to the challenging economic conditions in the early 1980s, she took a part time job as a park ranger on nights and weekends. Karen transitioned fully into law enforcement when her immediate supervisor resigned. After serving as the chief park ranger for a few years, Karen took a role as a regional park manager, and then continued in administrative and leadership positions for the next 14 years. Karen then headed to Arizona in 2006, where she first met and worked with the leadership of recently retired MetroParks CEO Becky Benná. After six years in Glendale, Arizona, Becky convinced Karen to leave the sunny southwest to head to Ohio for a job at Five Rivers MetroParks in 2012.
Where Karen has traveled and what’s on her bucket list
Growing up in a U.S. Army family, Karen has lived in Germany, Japan, and the United States. She has traveled throughout western Europe, Ireland and the British Isles, and she was able to experience many regions in Asia, including Singapore and Bangkok. Where is she itching to get her passport stamped next? Scandinavia, Africa and Australia. Karen also loves to have her National Park Service passport stamped, as she has visited and hiked many of our national parks across the country. Karen only has yet to visit four states — Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota and Oregon — to reach the “Visit All 50” mark!
Karen’s favorite parks and trails
“That’s like asking who your favorite child is! It depends: When I have out-of-town guests, I take them to Germantown MetroPark’s silver trail. You can experience a lot of different habitats in a short amount of time, including prairies, creeks and forest. It is just beautiful.” The orange trails at Twin Creek and Taylorsville MetroParks are favorites of hers, too, as the views change seasonally when different wildflowers bloom.
What makes Karen excited for the future of MetroParks
Karen is excited about the agency’s work at Spring Run Conservation Area, such as the new construction of wetlands and plans to install a paved, accessible trail. As someone who appreciates birds but doesn’t consider herself a birder, Karen is pleased this natural area in Trotwood provides habitat for migratory fowl, creating a birder’s paradise. She also notes the new wetlands help create a more resilient environment in light of climate change, increasing the region’s rainwater storage capacity and reducing flood risks.
How Karen personally connects to nature
Hiking, putting her literal boots on the ground. For her, this gives opportunities to disconnect and reconnect – either with whomever she’s on the trail with or simply with her own thoughts.
What Karen’s priorities are for her first 100 days
Karen is already busy getting out into the Montgomery County community, attending partner meetings and listening to the community. She is doing that within MetroParks, too, by working with staff to better learn the areas of the agency with which she hasn’t yet had oversight.
As CEO, she has been referring to “Five Rivers – Five Things” to outline what she is focused on and passionate about moving forward. These are:
- Ensuring the agency’s comprehensive master plan — which is based on extensive community input — continues to be the driving force that guides MetroParks every day.
- Ensuring MetroParks’ three strategic plan priority focus areas remain front and center. Those are diversity, equity and inclusion; climate change mitigation; and sustained financial growth.
- Strengthening the agency’s CAPRA accreditation, which ensures MetroParks is providing our community with the world-class parks it deserves. Five Rivers MetroParks is one of only nine park and recreation agencies in Ohio to have earned this from the National Recreation and Park Association’s Commission on Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies — and one of very few nationwide to meet 100% of the 154 standards. MetroParks originally was accredited in 2016 and re-accredited in 2021.
- Staff wellness and engagement is her fourth focus, and she’s encouraging staff to engage with each other and our 18 clean, safe MetroParks. For example, 60 participants on five teams currently are competing in the MetroParks Trail Challenge.
- Karen also is committed to building on what MetroParks has accomplished regarding volunteer and philanthropic engagement and making sure MetroParks is connecting with our community in numerous ways. Between January and May 2023, volunteers already have contributed 7,785 hours for a benefit of more than $210,000 to the agency, helping MetroParks to meet its mission — more than double the amount from this time last year. And MetroParks offers a variety of philanthropic opportunities, including the Champions program, which is an easy monthly recurring payment.
Longer term, Karen has a passion to make sure everyone has access to parks and nature, and that they feel welcome in their MetroParks. From her position, inclusivity and accessibility are very important, which is why the agency’s strategic focus on diversity, equity and inclusion is critical.
