Daly City Parks and Recreation Department

Leighton Ahpo: When examining the core values of the parks and recreation profession, one can see how it translates what Leighton Ahpo brings to the City of Daly City. Fun and celebration, personal development, service to community, and diversity of experience are just some of the examples of what Leighton is about.

There is never a time when Leighton does not put fun and celebration into his programs. Coordinating two of our very popular camps throughout the summer, Leighton not only adds unique and adventurous activities for the campers, but he keeps the staff excited and involved. Leighton serves as a mentor to both his staff and campers. He inspires them to reach their full potential in creativity and personal growth. Leighton also demonstrates service to community as he volunteers his time every year to coordinate Santa Calls. Last, but not least, Leighton illustrates what diversity of experience means, as he gets his staff and youth to think outside the box, experience new things and get involved with the community.

Leighton is an asset to the City of Daly City’s Parks and Recreation Department and is one who definitely deserves to be recognized.

Greg Johnson: Greg Johnson is not just a grant writer for the City of Daly City’s Parks and Recreation Department, he is a model recreator, as he spends quality leisure time with his family and inspires co-workers to secure quality living through recreation in their lives. Greg is a role model for the recreation profession, serving several terms as the mentor committee chair for the CPRS District IV Board and presenting the mentorship program at both the CPRS conference and the Bay Area Institute. His dedication and passion to “bridge the gap” between youth and professionals in this field is highly appreciated. Greg has been a creator of experiences as he worked to secure a skate park in our city and several tot lots. Greg plays a supportive role in our recreation division as he has gone outside his primary job responsibilities to assist with various duties such as distributing flyers to schools and libraries, visiting schools to share about mentorship and recreation opportunities, and completing Santa Calls to the children who were not home on the designated days to receive phone calls. Greg is truly a great mentor to many students and professionals and it is with great pleasure that we recognize his contributions to both the City of Daly City’s Parks and Recreation Department and to the District IV Board.

John Said: John has assisted in coordinating and the promotion of our Youth Baseball and Softball Programs for the last five years. He meets with baseball and softball parents and coaches to ensure that they understand that the program is intended to be fun for the children. John lays down guidelines to ensure that the parents and coaches understand that the sport is intended for the children’s benefit and not for the winning and losing egos of the parents.

John puts in endless volunteer hours to inventory and distributing uniforms, working with parents, training coaches, umpires and assigning staff to make the program a success.

With all the things that John Said has accomplish with our youth programs, he also has a real full-time job as an auditor for the state. He works with numbers and names but not really with live people. The pleasure he get from seeing a child participate in sports, to see his or her smile in his words is “priceless.”

John quotes, “For those of you who do this as a full time job, I just hope you realize how lucky you are. I just want to thank you for letting me into your world.”

John Said has shown excellent leadership in our youth sport program. Parents respect his leadership and many participants look to him for guidance and assistance. The City of Daly City Parks and Recreation Department is proud and thankful to have John Said as a positive role model for all to live by.

Thanks John, a man who worth more than words.

David Zetzer: David Zetzer is a well-rounded recreation employee. Strengthening community image and sense of place, David is in charge of our newest community center and his main focus is getting the community involved. In addition, David has helped to coordinate events such as the Black History Festival and the Haunted Pool. David continues to bring the community together, increasing cultural unity, facilitating community problem solving and providing recreational experiences.

David also promotes safety and security for our aquatics program. He not only runs our lifeguarding classes, but he trains our aquatics staff and ensures that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to do their job effectively. Most importantly, David Zetzer is someone you can depend on. He does not hesitate to step outside his regular responsibilities to assist others with their programs. David is a valuable resource, as he truly knows what the meaning of recreation is and has the energy and creativity to explore new ideas and bring them to our city. One successful program he brought to our city this past summer was co-ed dodge ball. David continues to think outside the box and is very creative and artistic with marketing programs. It is with great pleasure that we, the City of Daly City’s Parks and Recreation Department, recognize David Zetzer for his passion and dedication to our community and to the recreation profession.

City of San Carlos

Kathy Giraud: Kathy has expanded the City of San Carlos’ recreation programming, registration revenues, and participation levels through her focus of introducing new programs and new practices to build success. Kathy tracks trends and develops new programs to address the trends and interests of our community. She continues to work with staff of LERN and Class to develop new ideas and implement best practices in San Carlos. Through her efforts, the San Carlos Parks and Recreation Department has experienced a 53% increase in registration revenues over the past 2 years. Kathy is also the Class software system manager for San Carlos. The San Carlos RecConnect Internet registration program is now in its 2nd year. Registrations performed on the web via RecConnect have increased to 40% of all registrations! In addition, Kathy was instrumental in bringing our Special Needs program registrations into the Class Software system this year, and has been working with Class staff and San Carlos Athletic Unit staff to beta test new Class League Software, a much desired program that will be available to agencies in 2004. Kathy’s ability to see the “big picture” and her openness to new ways of operating, together with her team focus, have led to more efficient operations and increased revenues in San Carlos. We are fortunate to have Kathy Giraud working with the San Carlos Parks & Recreation Department- Thank you Kathy!

Frank Rivera: Frank has developed a Standard Operating Procedure manual for each of the park sites under his care. These manuals are then used by the maintenance workers under his direction to assist them in the care and maintenance of every item in their specific areas of responsibility. They include detailed information on the irrigation system, trees, turf, shrubs, and flowers for each site. The information includes how to mow, prune, fertilize, and water the entire flora. The manual helps guide experienced and inexperienced workers alike in their daily tasks and it reduces the amount of time employees spend researching questions on specific sites. The manuals also expedite repairs on irrigation systems and equipment. This project has been a large undertaking that highlights Frank’s drive, initiative, and abilities.
Congratulations Frank!

Linda Scannell: Although she has only worked part-time for the City of San Carlos for 15 months, everyone she comes into contact with each day has felt Linda’s positive impact. She was hired as an Office Assistant at the Kiwanis Community Center Front Desk, where she currently works in addition to new assignments at the Youth Center, Senior Center, and Smart Tots Program and as City Hall Telephone Receptionist, working a varied schedule to say the least. If a job needs to be done, Linda is there to learn it, make it her own, and complete it. She has proven to be so competent and reliable that other City departments have been clamoring for her help. Linda has outstanding customer service skills, a great personality, spirit, and style, boundless initiative, and embodies the best qualities of our profession. Linda, we wish you continued success with San Carlos Parks & Recreation and we thank you for your commitment to “creating community.” You truly make a difference!

City of Sunnyvale

Gonzalo “Moses” Mendoza: Moses Mendoza works full-time at the Sunnyvale Senior Center as a Facility Attendant. He demonstrates outstanding customer service and works hard to maintain a large facility. He was instrumental in helping with moving from the old Senior Center site to the new Senior Center on the Community Center campus. He works well with other staff and is loved by the seniors. He is polite, patient and goes out of his way to help others. Moses has been especially helpful in training other staff on how to set up the facility, clean the facility, and use the audiovisual equipment. He is willing to help wherever needed and he is very reliable and conscientious in his work. Moses is highly resourceful, talented, and creative in his work and strives to solve problems effectively. He is a vital member of the Senior Center staff! Thank you Moses!

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