Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Zollinger.
Hi Megan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
During my junior high and high school years, I found my passion for event planning through involvement in the Student Council. This early experience ignited my love for organizing and executing events. Alongside this, my upbringing in sports and the outdoors naturally led me to pursue a college degree in recreation.
Post-college, my journey began at the Idaho Falls YMCA, an experience I consider foundational to my career. Working within a non-profit organization taught me invaluable lessons in budgeting and fueled my dedication to community service through recreation. As the YMCA Sports Director, I juggled various responsibilities from fundraising to overseeing childcare and summer camp programs. The demanding yet enriching five-year tenure significantly contributed to my professional development.
Realizing the importance of business knowledge in enhancing managerial skills, I embarked on an MBA journey with Utah State University. This decision led me to Utah, where I joined the Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation team. Balancing full-time work as a Program Coordinator with my MBA studies, I found immense value in applying classroom principles to my real-world experiences.
My time at Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation was both diverse and fulfilling, involving work across multiple recreation centers in different cities. Transitioning from a small non-profit to a large government entity granted me a broader perspective and a new skill set. Even now, a part of me remains connected to Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, where I honed my skills in organizing sports programs, tournaments, and events.
Following nine impactful years there, I assumed the role of Recreation Director for Pleasant Grove City. Working within a city entity presented a fresh learning curve, shifting my focus from program planning to engaging with people. Despite the change, I find immense joy in my role, especially in mentoring and fostering community growth within the realm of recreation. The essence of my current position lies in connecting with people, collaborating to serve our community better, and nurturing the careers of fellow recreation enthusiasts.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life seldom unfolds smoothly or easily, especially as a young rookie. In the early stages of my career, I grappled with immense stress caused by dissatisfied parents or coaches. However, within those challenges, I discovered effective ways to manage these issues, swiftly learning from what didn’t yield positive outcomes. These experiences of handling upset individuals laid the groundwork for my resilience in conflict resolution, shaping me into a stronger individual.
The decision to pursue an MBA stemmed from my realization that managing a recreation center parallels running a business. During my tenure at the Idaho Falls YMCA, I frequently felt the absence of comprehensive knowledge in areas such as budgeting, accounting, marketing, personnel management, and negotiation.
This deficiency created a struggle, a feeling of lacking crucial expertise. Nonetheless, this struggle ultimately propelled me towards one of my most fulfilling achievements—the attainment of my MBA. Additionally, this journey prompted a move to Utah, a transition marked by its challenges yet immensely rewarding. Now, having settled here, I cannot envision being anywhere else.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Everything within the Pleasant Grove City Recreation Center falls under either my direct responsibilities or those of my team. From overseeing building maintenance and cleanliness to managing the budget, handling marketing strategies, recruiting and training staff, designing programs, and collaborating with other city departments and the City Council for the future direction of Recreation in the city—these tasks represent just a fraction of our duties.
My present role involves fewer hands-on event and program organization skills, but what distinguishes me in this field is my meticulous attention to detail. In sports programs or events, innovation is often scarce, but I’ve discovered that meticulous attention to detail significantly enhances the experience for both parents and participants, ensuring a high-quality outcome.
An experience that stands out is my involvement in planning and orchestrating the athletic events for the 2018 Salt Lake Transplant Games of America—a week-long event reminiscent of the Olympics, overseeing multiple athletic competitions. This proved to be one of the most challenging yet proudest endeavors I’ve ever undertaken.
I think my strength lies in comprehending others, collaborating effectively, and fostering a positive work culture. It’s not always a smooth path; some moments demand challenging conversations or navigating tricky situations. However, fundamentally, I possess the capability to empathize with others, support their growth, and build a cohesive team that enjoys working and bonding together.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see the Recreation industry facing an uphill challenge. With the younger generations deeply engaged in technology, there’s a noticeable decline in kids participating in sports.
I believe we’re at a point where the recreation field must explore unconventional methods to encourage physical activity, thinking innovatively to get people moving in novel ways. While fitness and sports remain integral to communities, there’s a need to engage a demographic in ways we haven’t previously explored to ensure inclusivity and involvement for everyone.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: linktr.ee/pleasantgroverec
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PleasantGroveRecreation/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-zollinger-mba-cprp-16696244/
