Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program

Margaret Browne has over 25 years of experience in policy, management, and financial analysis.  Ms. Browne was appointed by two mayors of the City and County of Denver to serve as the director of finance and management. During her tenure, she demonstrated an ability to lead strategic change initiatives, improve service delivery and performance, reduce costs, and resolve a diversity of management issues.  She played a key role in developing a capital funding policy for the City and County of Denver that received an Award for Excellence by the Government Finance Officers Association. 

Previously she worked in multiple positions within Denver city government including serving as budget director for seven years. Before joining the City and County of Denver, she was a research analyst for the Joint Budget Committee of the Colorado State Legislature. 

Ms. Browne holds a Masters of Public Administration from CU Denver School of Public Affairs, with an emphasis in urban affairs.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz.  She received a Gates Fellowship to the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University.

Chris has led projects across the country giving her the opportunity to gain firsthand perspective and knowledge of best business practices. She has championed an approach to service delivery tied to a strong statement of purpose, engaged staff and citizens, and flexibility to maximize services, supported by a blending of taxes, fees, and other forms of revenue. She strives to assure professionals are prepared to respond appropriately to well-meaning policy makers and constituents.

Over her career, Chris has developed a unique and respected approach to addressing challenging areas in our field through a focus on strategy, philosophical underpinnings, leadership, personal and organizational development, and relationship building. Her current role Senior Manager with BerryDunn builds on a strong foundation of 20 years as Business Owner and Senior Principal at GreenPlay, LLC and 24 years of Parks and Recreation administration with nearly half of that as Director of the City of Boulder, Colorado, Parks and Recreation Department. Armed with a teaching degree in addition to her P&R Administration degree, Chris has passionately helped move our profession forward, taking advantage of opportunities to serve in leadership and faculty positions ranging from non-profits and foundations, to the NRPA Rocky Mountain Revenue and Management School, and the National Association of Park Foundations. As a Certified Parks and Recreation Executive, a fellow of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administrators, and experienced consultant, she continues to help organizations remain relevant in our ever-changing environment. Living in Colorado with her husband Mike is extraordinary, and motherhood has been the joy of her life.

Robby Layton, PhD, FASLA, PLA is a founding principal and former President of the award-winning landscape architecture and planning firm Design Concepts, CLA, Inc. In 2019 he transitioned his ownership in the firm to the next generation of leaders and now focuses on his own consulting work and scholarly pursuits. His work spans four decades and addresses a wide range of challenges, all of which converge on the theme of creating community. His research work has focused on strategic planning for systems of parks, greenways, open space and other public amenities, with a focus on greenspace as a public health intervention.

In addition to his design practice, Robby has taught a number of courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He also writes for a variety of publications in the landscape architecture field and presents regularly at academic and trade conferences on a range of topics related to his areas of interest. He serves on the Operating Board of GP RED, a nonprofit organization dedicated to translating research into practice for the purpose of building better communities.

Education:

BLA, Texas Tech University, 1978
MLA, University of Colorado, Denver, 2002
PhD, North Carolina State University, 2016

Credentials: 

FASLA (Fellow, American Society of Landscape Architects)
PLA (Professional Landscape Architect)
CLARB (Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards Certification)

Sarah E. Moss, MPA, is a civic dreamer and doer and strategist solving policy and political puzzles.

Her professional experience ranges from local government, to political and public awareness campaigns, to serving as a White House appointee in the Office of Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice. She has given keynote remarks and workshops for Engaging Local Government Leaders, Priority Based Budgeting Summit, 3CMA, Colorado City & County Management Association, Colorado Lean Network, Colorado Conference on Volunteerism, Emergency Services Public Information Officers of Colorado, City and County of Denver, Denver Zoo, Arvada Fire District, Pueblo West Metropolitan District, and more. She created the Presidential Campaign Advance class for American University School of Public Affairs.

Moss is a two-time Bighorn Leadership Program fellow in energy and economic development, a Truman National Security Project security fellow, and a Colorado City & County Management Association member. A lifelong learner, she earned a Denver Peak Academy black belt in lean process improvement, yellow belt in Krav Maga, Executive Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver, and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Communication from American University.

Chris Nunes, CPRE is the Director of Parks and Recreation for The Woodlands Township, in The Woodlands, Texas.  In that position, a $38.2 million operational budget and is accountable for the management of 151 parks, 14 swimming pools and aquatic facilities, 220 miles of pathways, and 200 miles of streetscape.  He speaks around the country (over 480+ times) on topics including: business plans, contracting, creative programming, marketing, external funding, communication, leadership and succession planning.  In 2012, Chris was elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Parks and Recreation Administrators and in 2015 he received the National Distinguished Professional Award from NRPA and in 2016-2017 he was the President of the American Academy of Parks and Recreation Administrators and in 2019 The Woodlands Township was recognized by NRPA by winning the Gold Medal Grand Plaque Award for excellence in parks and recreation management. Chris also serves on the GreenPlay Red National Operating Board. Chris holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Management and a Master’s Degree in Sports Management from Springfield College in Massachusetts and a Doctorate in Parks and Recreation Administration from the University of New Mexico.

Teresa Penbrooke, PhD, CPRE is Co-founder of the CU Denver PREPP Online Learning Program. Shas 30+ years of public agency and business management, teaching, and research experience. She leads the Healthy Communities Research Group for GP RED (www.gpred.org), is a Senior Manager & Consultant for BerryDunn (www.berrydunn.com), and was the CEO & Founder of GreenPlay LLC for almost 23 years. Teresa teaches for associations and universities, writes curricula, books, and articles, conducts research, and consults on planning, preventive health, access to nature, education, and community engagement.

Dr. Starke is Assistant Professor of Public Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. Professor Starke's research includes specific interests in vulnerable and oppressed populations, public service education, and liberation. Prior to returning to the Wilder School as a faculty member, Professor Starke was an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Denver's School of Public Affairs. Professionally, Dr. Starke worked as a human services practitioner and qualified mental health professional engaging with  public, private, and nonprofit service providers. A native of Hanover County, VA, his greatest accomplishment to date is being a proud and doting uncle to several amazing humans.

Lisa VanRaemdonck serves as the Executive Director of the School of Public Affairs Institute and is an instructor in the Bachelor of Arts in Public Service program and at the Colorado School of Public Health. Her work is dedicated to supporting the intersection of the School of Public Affairs and public service professionals through group facilitation, strategic partnerships, leadership development & training, peer networking, capacity building and policy communication. She is Director of the Denver Community Leadership Forum and the Rocky Mountain Leadership Program. Lisa approaches her work with a focus on collaboration, systems thinking, building connections, equity and social justice. Prior to her role at the School of Public Affairs, Lisa served as Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials and co-directed the Colorado Public Health Practice-Based Research Network. She came to public service after a brief, private sector career in public relations and business-to-business marketing communications. Lisa earned a Master of Public Health and a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a special focus in journalism, from Michigan State University. Lisa has volunteered in animal shelters and animal welfare for more than 10 years.

Dr. Zook’s research is focused on domestic and international perspectives of nonprofit governance, civil society development, and linkages between nonprofit financial management and organizational strategy. She earned her MPA from the University of Kansas and PhD from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. Professionally, she has worked in state and local government, as well as the nonprofit sector. Her teaching focuses on public and nonprofit management, including courses such as social entrepreneurship, organizational management and behavior, strategic management and nonprofit governance and executive leadership. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and outdoor activities, and is a passionate sports fan, particularly soccer, football, basketball and baseball.