2024 MRPA Board of Directors

President: Michelle Okada, Woodbury

President-Elect: Eric Carlson, Apple Valley

Past President: Jerome Krieger, Blaine

Secretary: Tracy Petersen, Edina

Treasurer: Sonya Rippe, Plymouth

RSC Chair: Scott Heitkamp, Burnsville

East Metro: Kelly Distad-Arvold, New Brighton

East Metro: Mike Ramirez, Eagan

East Metro: Dan Schultz, Rosemount

Northeast Region: Amber Moon Peterson, Nisswa

Northwest Region: Lynn Neumann, Hutchinson

Southern Region: Joey Schugel, New Ulm

West Metro: Roxann Maxey, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board

West Metro: Jenna Smith, Victoria

West Metro: 
Jason T. West, St. Louis Park


Thank you to the outgoing 2023 MRPA Board of Directors:

  • Past President: Ross Demant, Wright County Parks
  • Secretary: Annie Olson, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
  • East Metro Region: Andrew Pimental, Eagan
                                    Becky Sola, Shoreview



    Thank you also to all members who were candidates during this year's election for their support of the Association.  Also, thank you to Nominations and Elections Chair, Ross Demant, for his leadership throughout the nominations/elections process.


2025 MRPA Board of Directors Profiles:



About the MRPA Board

The membership of the Board of Directors consists of persons elected by the professional membership as follows (current board consists of 15 members):

(1) President. The President-Elect from the previous year assumes the duties of President for a one-year term after being sworn in at the Annual Meeting of the Association. The President is the chief elected officer of the Association.

(2)  Vice President/President Elect. Elected by the professional members of the Association for a one-year term as Vice President/President-Elect and serves the following year as President. The Vice President/President Elect assumes office after being sworn in at the Annual Meeting of the Association.

(3)  Secretary. Elected by the professional members of the Association for a two-year term and assumes office for the first year on an even-numbered year after being sworn in at the Annual Meeting of the Association.

(4)  Treasurer. Elected by the professional members of the Association for a two-year term and assumes office for the first year on an odd-numbered year after being sworn in at the Annual Meeting of the Association.

(5)  Immediate Past President. Assumes this position for a one-year term after the Annual Meeting of the Association of the year immediately following his/her term as President.

(6) Regional Directors. Elected from the region they represent by members from that region for a two-year term of office. They assume the directorship after being sworn in at the Annual Meeting of the Association.

(a) East Metro. Representatives from Anoka, Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington Counties.

(b) West Metro. Representatives from Carver, Hennepin, and Scott Counties.

(c) Northeast Region. Representatives from Aitkin, Benton, Carlton, Chisago, Cook, Crow Wing, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Saint Louis, Sherburne, and Wright Counties.

(d) Northwest Region. Representatives from Becker, Beltrami, Big Stone, Cass, Chippewa, Clay, Clearwater, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac Qui Parle, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, McLeod, Meeker, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Renville, Roseau, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin, and Yellow Medicine Counties.

(e) Southern Region.  Representatives from Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Jackson, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Pipestone, Redwood, Rice, Rock, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Winona, and Watonwan Counties.

(f) RSC Chair. RSC Chair is elected by the entire membership of the Association for a two-year term and assumes office an odd-numbered year after being duly sworn in at the Annual Meeting of the Association.

Click here to view the historical list of Board Presidents from 1937-present


MRPA Election for the Board of Directors and Recreational Sports Commission

The MRPA election for the Board of Directors and Recreational Sports Commission (RSC) begins in November every year. MRPA uses the online platform, Election Runner, to ensure the integrity of the election. Election Runner will sends an email titled,
Vote in the Election: MRPA Board of Directors to MRPA professional members.  Agency, contributing and retiree members do not receive the email to vote. Please contact Michelle Snider with any questions at snider@mnrpa.org. This format offers an accessible way to vote every year. Thank you!


MRPA Bylaws_mark-up 2024-Board Approved 10.23.24.pdf

MRPA Bylaws_clean 2024-Board Approved 10.23.24.pdf

Minnesota Recreation & Park Association (MRPA)
200 Charles Street NE
Fridley, MN 55432

(763) 571-1305

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