Meet Our Board
Tiffany White-LaPierre
Tiffany White-LaPierre (LA-PEE-AIR) is a Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) with nearly 20 years of experience in the parks and recreation industry. Her career spans across the country having lent her talents to organizations in California, Florida, Illinois and Texas, where she has held roles specializing recreation programming, facility operations, special events, day/overnight camps, after-school programs, teen programs, membership/guest services, arts & media, and consulting.
As an advocate of continuing education and service to the profession, Tiffany has earned a BS in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism, MS in Sport Management, MA in Management, and is currently earning her Doctorate in Education specializing in workplace learning, training, and instructional design. She has served on numerous boards and committees on the local, state, and national levels including the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) National Certification Board, Women in Parks and Recreation (WiPaR) Board, Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) Marketing & Communications Committee, and the Central Illinois Council for Leisure Experiences (CIRCLE) Board of Directors.
Tiffany currently resides in Redlands, CA, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles. When she is not working or studying, she loves to visit amusement parks (especially Disneyland!), spend time with her family, hang out at the beach, draw, paint, and create chalk art/hand-lettering designs.
Lori Berkes-Nelson
Lori Berkes-Nelson, M.S. Ed, CFRE,is the Executive Director of the Rockford Park District Foundation. She has been securing philanthropic support and enhancing awareness of the Rockford Park District's benefits to the community since 2014. The Rockford Park District Foundation was founded in 1979 and to date has raised more than $50 million dollars thanks to the generosity of friends and donors to support various capital projects and programs that serve youth. The Foundation is a 501 c (3) and is led by a 22 member volunteer Board of Directors.
Lori is a natural born networker who believes in the importance of intentional and motivational leadership. She has devoted her professional life to non-profit viability through successful leadership, board development, strategic planning, fundraising and marketing. She has over 30 years of non-profit management experience including leadership at Rosecrance, Golden Apple Foundation and Econ Illinois. Lori holds a Master of Science in Counseling from Northern Illinois University and has earned the credential of Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).
Molly Hetrick
Molly Hetrick is a Fundraiser, Consultant, and Trainer with extensive experience in Parks & Recreation and public libraries. She holds a Certificate of Fund Raising Management (CFRM) from The Lilly School of Philanthropy and a BS in Environmental Education from Penn State University.
Molly currently serves as Development Director for the Penns Valley Conservation Association and leads Molly Hetrick Consulting LLC. Previously, she was Director of Advancement at the PA Recreation and Parks Society and Manager of Philanthropy at Schlow Centre Region Library.
With a background as a Naturalist in the TN State Park system and Supervisor of a regional nature center in Pennsylvania, Molly also taught as Adjunct Faculty at Penn State. Since 2008, she has provided fundraising consulting, coaching, and training, specializing in donor-centered strategies, annual campaigns, and capital campaign readiness.
Alexis Larsen
Alexis Larsen, CFRE is passionate parks advocate with a profound appreciation of their transformative nature for communities across the country. Larsen serves as Five Rivers MetroParks’ Chief of Philanthropy overseeing the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation and serving as the agency’s liaison with the James M. Cox, Jr. Arboretum Foundation and Wegerzyn Gardens Foundation. She is responsible for major and planned gifts; solicitation of donors and sponsorships; annual fund campaigns; membership programs; special events; and management of corporate, foundation and government grant submissions. Larsen has a deep understanding of the economic challenges facing parks and recreation organizations across the county and is adept at growing people, driving outcomes, and setting progressive strategy. She is an expert in fundraising and board management as well as community engagement that builds and strengthens relationships with donors, community partners, local leaders, and elected officials. She has been responsible for fundraising more than $25MM dollars during her career for the organizations she has worked for and has more than doubled the fundraising at Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation in the two years she has been with the parks. Larsen is a graduate of Wright State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications. She is involved with the Association of Fundraising Professionals and holds a certificate in professional fundraising from Boston University. She is a proud graduate of Leadership Dayton and was named Public Relations Society of America’s Communicator of the Year in 2020 and a Women in Business Networking’s 25 Women to Watch in 2019. In her free time, she is the longtime food and restaurant critic for the Dayton Daily News with a weekly food column that has appeared in the Sunday newspaper for more than 12 years running.
Ally Effler
Ally brings near two decades of experience in fundraising, strategic planning and campaign management, with a focus on major giving and public-private partnerships. Prior to entering the parks profession, Ally led major and planned giving initiatives at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering, along with several multi-million dollar facility campaigns.
Over the last six years, as Chief Philanthropic Officer for Metroparks Toledo, Ally has played a leadership role in the successful establishment and growth of the Metroparks Toledo Foundation, helping to steward the park’s first capital campaign to build a public treehouse village. Today, her work focuses on guiding the Metroparks Toledo Foundation’s role in a $200M+ public-private campaign to construct Toledo’s first urban waterfront park and Riverwalk.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Miami (OH) and a master’s degree in public service management from DePaul University.
Similar to many park professionals, after work hours, she most often finds herself back in the parks. She enjoys hiking, biking and kayaking and visiting National Parks with her husband and two young boys and German Shorthaired Pointer, Mason.
Andrew Haliburton
Andrew Halliburton is a business transformation and strategic growth expert with over 12 years of experience driving innovation and operational excellence. As the founder of BMCX.IO and co-founder of Kairos, he specializes in helping organizations overcome growth challenges through strategic leadership and technological innovation.
Andrew has launched and scaled four companies in web development, marketing, video production, and product development, overseeing 48 product launches. He has led initiatives in AI, Machine Learning, blockchain, and Web3 technologies. As former COO of Devscale, he grew the organization from 3 to over 20 employees and 50 contractors, demonstrating his leadership and operational expertise.
His specialties include product strategy, leadership development, and guiding SMBs through critical growth phases with innovative business and technology solutions. He is also committed to community service, having contributed to the Policy and Operations Subcommittee for Camp Hobe' Inc.
Andrew holds dual Bachelor's degrees from Columbia University in Information Technology and the University of Arkansas in Broadcast Journalism. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, he enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and skiing with his family and dogs.
Matthew Rosebrock - Vice Chair
Matthew Rosebrock has been with the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission for over 23 years, currently serving as Business Development Manager managing the Charleston County Parks Foundation and Sponsorship & Sales Division. In addition to his local impact, he is Vice Chair of the National Association of Park Foundations and chairs its Strategic Partnerships and Resources Committee. He also recently served on the USTA - Southern Parks Committee, promoting tennis locally and across the region. Matthew enjoys an active life with his wife Marie. In his free time, you’ll find him relaxing with his cats, playing with his dog Henry, listening to records, or playing sports like basketball, tennis, and Frisbee golf.
Debbie Trueblood - Board Chair
Debbie Trueblood, MSW, IOM, CAE: Debbie is a Senior Consultant at Association Management Center. She has formerly served as the Executive Director for Illinois Park and Recreation Association, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Academy for Eating Disorders, Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine, International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals, and Illinois HomeCare Council (Interim). She has lobbied for Illinois HomeCare Council, National Private Duty Association, and American Osteopathic Association. She is a graduate of the Dunn Fellowship with the Illinois Governor’s Office, the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership, and the Institute for Organization Management (IOM). She is a Certified Association Executive. She has a Masters in Social Work from University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelors in Social Work from MacMurray College. She was a recipient of the Association Forum’s “Forty Under Forty” award. She served on the American Society of Association Executives Ethics Committee as Chair. As a consultant, she supports associations with governance, strategic planning, member engagement, ethics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work.
Daniel Rich
For over 25 years, Dan has worked in enterprise software and fintech. He is also active in the tech startup community and is an advisor for early and growth stage companies.
In the community, Dan is active in non-profit, humanitarian, and land conservation efforts serving as an advisor on several university and non-profit boards, actively participating in disaster relief and search efforts with the American Red Cross and a member of the San Diego Search & Rescue team. He has also been a campaign fundraiser and athlete participant with Challenged Athletes Foundation for nearly 10 years.
Dan lives in San Diego and as an avid outdoor enthusiast and waterman he enjoys biking, climbing, surfing, camping, backpacking, swimming, and meditating in nature.
Barry Franks - Board Treasurer
Barry Franks is Illinois Parks & Recreation Association (IPRA)'s Finance Director and has been with IPRA since 2009. He has two graduate degrees, in finance and banking, and has spent 25 years in non-profit management. His favorite IPRA event is Park Pursuit but loves seeing and interacting with members at all the events.
Gabby Vera, CPRP
Gabby Vera, CPRP, is a nationally recognized parks and recreation leader and currently serves as Director of Parks and Recreation for Lake Havasu City, Arizona. With over a decade of experience across urban, suburban, and regional systems in Florida, California, and Arizona, she has led initiatives in community programming, aquatics, youth services, park operations, strategic planning, capital improvements, and workforce development.
Gabby is known for navigating fiscal challenges and strategically managing multimillion-dollar budgets. She excels at identifying alternative funding sources through grants, sponsorships, and partnerships to expand access and impact.
Her experience—from front-line programming to executive leadership—gives her a strong perspective on building inclusive, innovative, and financially sustainable recreation systems. A passionate advocate for the profession, Gabby has presented at national conferences, contributed to NRPA publications and podcasts, and mentors through the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA). She holds a Master's in Recreation Management and is committed to creating resilient, community-centered park systems that foster connection and long-term stewardship.
Chad Smith
Chad brings over 20 years of experience in the public and nonprofit sectors. He currently is the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Oxford, Ohio. Having previously lead development efforts for MetroParks of Butler County as Deputy Director, managing corporate sponsorships, partnerships, charitable giving, and special park projects.
Previously, Chad was Executive Director of the Three Valley Conservation Trust, overseeing conservation easements, land acquisitions, and fundraising for Ohio’s third-largest land trust. He also held various leadership roles over 18 years with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Chad serves on multiple boards, including the Natural Resources Council for the Clean Ohio Grant. He is a Certified Public Manager (CPM) through The Ohio State University’s John Glenn School of Public Affairs and holds a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. Chad earned a B.S. in Business Management from Miami University and an A.A.S. in Natural Resources Management from Hocking College.
Outside of work, Chad enjoys traveling, hiking, and biking with his wife and three children—and volunteering as a coach for their football, basketball, and baseball teams.
Marissa Duffy
Marissa Duffy is an experienced municipal leader and community development professional with a background in parks and recreation, grant acquisition, and strategic planning. They currently serve as the Borough Manager of Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, overseeing daily operations, infrastructure projects, emergency preparedness, and economic revitalization efforts. With a Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management from Penn State, Marissa has secured grant funding for public projects and has led initiatives in conservation, recreation, and community engagement. They are an active member of various state and national organizations and are dedicated to fostering sustainable development and vibrant public spaces.
Keenen Stevenson, LCSW, ACNP
Keenen Stevenson, LCSW, ACNP, is a dynamic nonprofit leader, social worker, and former science educator with over a decade of experience in community engagement, education, and mental health. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Recreation and Sports Management from Indiana State and a Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago, specializing in mental health, advocacy, and environmental justice. Keenen brings expertise in data management, fundraising, strategic visioning, and project management.
With a background as a STEM educator and football coach, Keenen deeply values the role of parks and recreation in fostering social connection, physical health, and emotional resilience. To Keenen, recreation is vital throughout the life span. He believes as society advances parks and recreation need to be at the forefront with the shifts in leisure as generations age. Keenen is committed to using recreation as a tool to promote wellness and community development.
Chris Maitre
Brackenridge Park Conservancy appointed Chris Maitre as its new Chief Executive Officer on July 8, 2024, following a national search that lasted over a year.
Maitre brings more than 27 years of nonprofit experience. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of City Park Conservancy in New Orleans, where he oversaw day-to-day operations of the 1,300-acre urban park. Prior to that, he was Deputy Athletics Director at Tulane University, serving as both CFO and COO. He also spent 10 years as an adjunct professor in Tulane’s Business School, teaching leadership and management.
His expertise spans policy development, revenue growth, project management, programming, fundraising, and facility planning. Chris is passionate about park management and enjoys hiking and biking in state parks when he’s not traveling to visit his college-aged kids.
Douglas Youngblood (1950 to 2021)
In Memoria To Douglas Youngblood (1950 to 2021). Doug was a founding member of the National Association of Parks Foundations (NAPF) serving as Treasurer. Read more here.
