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Employee of the Quarter: Stuart Saunders
Title: Recreation Manager
Hired: May 2014
Nominated By: Parks & Recreation Director Chris Higgins, who says Stuart should be commended for the countless recreational programs and camps he has led in his 10+ years with Bedford County.
Tell us a little bit about your career path up leading up to your current position.
I began my Parks & Recreation career in 2009 working for Campbell County Parks & Recreation, and then moved over to Lynchburg Parks & Recreation. I came home to Bedford in 2014 as Program Coordinator for Bedford County Parks & Recreation. I was recently promoted to Recreation Manager.
What do you do in your role as Recreation Manager?
I oversee all of our recreational activities in the department including athletics, youth/senior programming, and special events .
What do you enjoy the most about working in the Parks & Recreation department?
Having grown up here, I have made many life-long relationships in the community, and I love having that connection to the citizens we serve. I love talking with citizens at activities and events.
What’s your favorite Parks & Recreation event or activity to organize each year?
The Bedford Youth Fishing & Outdoor Experience that we put on each June. It’s my favorite because it takes the most planning and work to pull it off but when the day of the event arrives, and you see all the hard work pay off and the kids smiling and having a good time, it makes it all worth it.
What are the biggest challenges in your job?
I think the biggest challenge is finding volunteers for the events and activities that we coordinate. To successfully put on an event takes many hours of work. We rely on a great group of volunteers to assist us at events, and we are always looking for more helpful folks.
What types of new events, activities or initiatives are you working on behind the scenes?
One thing I am particularly excited about is the First Friday’s Concert Series we are trying to plan for this fall. We would love to showcase different genres of music at each event.
How do you stay busy outside of work?
I love spending time with my wife and two daughters. Whether it’s coaching my girls' soccer teams on Saturday mornings or going camping during the summer, I love making memories with my family.
Employee of the Quarter is selected by the County Administrator, Deputy County Administrator, and Assistant County Administrator through nominations from Bedford County staff.
