Shannon Nazzal Named New Calvert County Parks & Rec Director

 

 

 

 

 

A Calvert County news release (2017-07-03) announced that Shannon Nazzal will become the director of the newly created Parks and Recreation Department for the County, starting on July 24. Nazzal will take over the County’s top recreation position from Parks and Recreation Division Chief Paul Meadows, who has served in that capacity since 1985. From the news release:

Shannon Nazzal (Source: Calvert County Government)

Nazzal was most recently the recreation administrator of the Martin County Florida Department of Parks and Recreation. During her five years with Martin County government, she was responsible for managing a $2.5 million budget and had oversight of the county’s recreation, athletics, summer camps, after school care, senior centers, community centers, equestrian center, special events, volunteers and facility rentals. A native Floridian, Nazzal has also held leadership positions in the parks and recreation departments for both Tallahassee and Homestead city governments in Florida.

“I’ve been in parks and recreation for more than 12 years and I thoroughly enjoy my career,” Nazzal shared. “It is my passion to serve the community.” She added she was instantly drawn to Calvert County during her interview process. “It is a beautiful area and I am thrilled to be joining the Calvert County government team and am thrilled my children will be enrolling into such a great school system.”

“We are excited to welcome Mrs. Nazzal to our team, and her family to Calvert County,” said board President Tom Hejl. “I am impressed with her strong enthusiasm. She has a clear understanding of government and the fact that we are public servants who are trusted stewards of our citizen’s tax dollars.”

Nazzal earned her master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida International University and a master’s degree in Physical Education from the Florida State University. She was the 19th person to become a certified parks and recreation executive through the National Recreation and Parks Association, of which she is also a member. Nazzal will relocate to Calvert County with her husband of 15 years, Mohamed and their 8-year-old daughter and 9-month-old son.

The [Board of County Commissioners] announced a reorganization plan in April 2017 designed to improve overall government operations and services to the public. Part of the reorganization included separating the Division of Parks and Recreation from the Department of General Services to form the Department of Parks & Recreation. The new department places stronger emphasis on program management and will absorb from the Department of General Services oversight of aquatics,  parks (including the Division of Natural Resources), recreation and the Chesapeake Hills Golf Course.

Learn how parks and recreation facilities can generate revenue and support local economic development  at the 2017 MACo Summer Conference panel “Parks & Recreation: A Healthy (and Wealthy) Investment.

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: