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Kim McEntire
After an extensive search, White County has named Kim McEntire to take over the top job in the Parks and Recreation Department.
McEntire, who begins her new job today, brings a wealth of planning and organizational skills to the WCRD staff and has a been in the parks and recreation field for 20 years, most recently serving as the Banks County assistant director.
McEntire takes over the department from Joe Gailey, who stepped down in August. WCRD’s Deena Cowart and Corey Collins have been running the department as co-director’s in the interim since Gailey’s resignation.
McEntire received a sports management degree from Emmanuel College in 2003, and joined the Banks County recreation department while she was a student. She worked her way up the department ladder during her time with the department, all the way up to the assistant director’s position, and she said she’s ready to take on the top role with the White County program.
“I started as a program coordinator and worked my way up to the assistant director over the last 20 years,” McEntire, who is currently finishing up her master’s degree in Parks and Recreation management at Clemson University. “I felt like it was time to step up into a more of a leadership role.”
McEntire said she was immediately interested in the job when she learned of the opening.
“The departments are about the same size, and I felt led to apply for the job,” McEntire said. “I know a lot of staff already, and it’s a great core staff to work with. There are a lot of good people on staff. I just want to come in and help take the department to the next level.”
With McEntire starting the job today, she has a clear plan of what she wants to accomplish over the next three months.
“Over the first three months, I want to reach out and build relationships with the staff and community,” McEntire said. “I want to get to know the people in the school system. I want to so some community surveys and town hall meetings to find out what people would like to see done in the department. I hit the ground running, and I want to get to know the community, see what we need to do to improve our department.”
McEntire hopes to expand the department, providing services and program for the entire community.
“We want to offer something for everybody,” McEntire said. “Obviously, youth sports are a huge part of it, and we want to improve that, but we also want to offer programs for all ages and do some special things.”