Brian Berntsen Email & Phone Number

Issaquah, Wa

Currently manage and direct all aspects of the Parks and Recreation Department’s programs, policies, and facilities. Provide oversight and management to 6 Park divisions, 350 full and part-time employees, and over 700 volunteers. Oversee the planning, and upkeep of over 1,600 acres of community and neighborhood parks, natural open space, undeveloped parks, urban trails, and parkways. Coordinate and interact with multiple stakeholders including Issaquah School District, King County Park Dept., State Dept. of Parks, and State Dept. of Natural Resources. Create and maintain meaningful relationships with park users, elected officials, board and commission members, and non-profit agencies. Develop, plan, and provide oversight to the annual Capital Facilities Plan. Dramatically reduced the general fund subsidy for Julius Boehm Pool through operational and programmatic improvements. Develop multiple long and short-range goals, objectives, policies, and programs across 6 divisions of Parks. Delivered critical input to the 2009 and 2015 Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan. Study, monitor, and make recommendations against changes in city demographics and user needs. Developed scope-of-needs assessment and made recommendations for the selection of a consultant for the 2016-2017 Parks Strategic Plan. Work closely with Emergency Management Planning Group and Incident Management Team as Operations Section Chief and Incident Commander. Staff liaison to Issaquah Park Board and advisor to Washington State Parks and Lake Sammamish State Park HIGHLIGHT: Hand-picked by the Mayor and City Administrator to participate in the Leadership Eastside two-year Community Leadership Enrichment Program. Supervision of $525,000 Skate Park Project. Supervision of $3.5+ million Synthetic Turf Field Project and Master Site Plan Revision. Supervision of $1.87 million Confluence Park Phase II Project. Estimated completion end of 2016

City Of Issaquah

Supervised 3 Park divisions and managed 300 full and part-time employees and over 700 volunteers. Participated in the development, planning and implementation of budgets and operations for over $3.4M. Created and maintained close relationships with park users, donors, city and state administrators, and Board Members to continually improve services. Planned, coordinated, and implemented risk mitigation plans by working closely with the City Attorney, Risk Manager and the Washington Cities Insurance Authority. Acted as acting Director in the Director’s absence. Led all planning and operational activities including landscape design, architectural design, master planning and Capital Improvement Program development. Studied community needs and user feedback to create and implement new programs, venues, and facilities. Managed Park staff and delivered training in safety, quality control, inventory control, and compliance requirements. Managed and coordinated multiple capital improvement projects. Provided emergency management and oversight to Park staff. Worked closely with private and non-profit entities for contract negotiations and implementation of new programs. HIGHLIGHT: Project Planning Team for 2013 $10 million dollar Park Bond – passed with 77% approval. Project Planning Team for 2006 $6.25 million dollar Park Bond – passed with 76% approval. Oversight, supervision, and project managed $2.4 million Synthetic Turf Field Project completed in 2010 on time and under budget. Project planning team for Phase 1 of the Confluence Park Project including Master Site Plan development and construction. This $1.7 million project was completed in 2013 on time and under budget

City Of Issaquah

Managed 6 direct-reports 150 part-time employees, and over 400 volunteers in the Recreation Services Division. Planned and participated in the development of a $1.8M budget. Made recommendations for inputs into the Parks Strategic Master Plan. Assisted in the design and development of Park promotional material. Conducted new employee orientation and in-service training for staff and volunteers. Prepared and submitted program reports for facilities and parks. Received, reviewed, and addressed user feedback and made corrective action to shortfalls in programming. Monitored and reported on registration and attendance of classes, programs, events. Created and implemented standard operating procedures for operating policies and programs. Identified, engaged, interviewed and trained staff for the Issaquah Community Center and Pickering Barn.

Managed and mentored 3 direct-reports, 100 part-time staff and over 300 volunteers. Supervised 3 FTE’s, 100+ PTNR, and more than 300 volunteers. Identified, engaged, interviewed, hired, and trained new program staff. Delivered planning and coordination for new Community Center. Provided critical inputs to recreation program budgets. Planned, scheduled, coordinated, and assigned work to Park staff. Resolved problems and issued corrective action for all staff.

Education record

Bachelor'S Degree, Parks, Recreation And Leisure Studies