Post-Conference Reflections from OPRA...
There’s nothing quite like walking into the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA) Conference and instantly feeling home. Every year, it’s a reunion of friends, colleagues, and kindred spirits who believe in the power of parks, people, and purpose. This year was no exception—so many familiar faces, so many laughs, and so many hugs that filled my cup to the brim.
And let’s talk about presenting! Getting to lead The Value of a Value session was an absolute blast. Nothing fires me up more than a room full of parks and rec pros who are passionate about making their organizations stronger. We dug into how values should be more than just words framed on a wall—they should be framing the way you lead. We tackled the real questions: Are your values shaping decisions? Do they show up in your culture? Or are they just… there?
At one point, while the group was working through some case studies, someone in the session had a lightbulb moment and said, “Oh wow— the organizational values really did just help me make a decision over the dilemma in the case study, not just from my personal values/perspective, rather from an organizational perspective.” And BOOM—that’s exactly the gap so many organizations have. Values aren’t just a feel-good exercise. They should be a filter for hiring, strategy, accountability, and every decision you make. If they’re not actively guiding your team, they’re just wallpaper.
And here’s the kicker—this isn’t just an isolated issue. After the session, I had conversation after conversation with leaders who realized their values weren’t fully integrated into their daily operations. It was eye-opening, but this is the work that shifts cultures from “good” to exceptional.
So, here’s my post-conference challenge (or just a challenge) to you:
• If your organization has values, are you using them?
• If not, what’s one step you can take this month to make them real?
• And if they don’t fit anymore, what’s stopping you from evolving them?
Because at the end of the day, a value is only as valuable as the way it shows up in your culture.
OPRA, you never disappoint. The sessions, the hallway conversations, the laughs with old and new friends—it’s all why this conference feels like home. And now that we are all settled back to our spaces, let’s make those values work! Up next, New Jersey, see some of you there!
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