A Meeting of the Minds

 Hello everyone!

This week I was able to shadow the administration division, more specifically the acting superintendent of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Allowing me to meet the Chief of Staff, the heads of Resource Management, Visitor and Resource Protection, Facilities, Commercial Services, and even the superintendent of Tule Springs. They allowed me to attend the leadership team meeting where they have a weekly assessment of what has been going on with the different divisions at LAKE. Discussing topics such as fire danger present here due to years of severe drought and extreme heat. Sadly, due to the sensitive nature of many of the meetings I cannot go into full detail about everything discussed. In a nutshell, it was a day full of extensive meetings, calculated discussions, and executive decisions.

One of the most significant being the meeting with the Colorado River Steering Committee. 

They are an interstate water administrative agency established by action of five state legislatures and Congress with the enactment of the 1948 Upper Colorado River Basin Compact. The Commission’s role is to ensure the appropriate allocation of water from the Colorado River to the Upper Division States of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico and to ensure water is released in accordance with the 1922 Colorado River Compact to the Lower Division States of Nevada, Arizona, and California and to the Republic of Mexico. 

Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum at her desk

My meeting with Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum gave me some insight into the types of sacrifices and hard work required to be an effective leader. She was not afraid of telling me the types of difficulties that come with her position either. While the title of superintendent brings acclaim and accomplishment, it can be a sort of "thankless" position since they are the ones expected to make the tough calls. With an extensive career in the park service, Ms. Creachbaum got her exposure to major leadership roles with the park service through the Bevinetto Congressional Fellowship. It was a program designed to provide those selected the opportunity to see how Congress operates and works with legislative affairs. Whether it be parks such as Olympic, Grand Canyon, or Haleakala; however, she has to strive to what is best for the park with the federal budget provided. The most profound thing she told me was the idea that sometimes we should walk through the doors opened for us, even if it is not always the most perfect fit. Since it is those opportunities that oftentimes pave the way towards long-term success. I will definitely keep those words in mind as I continue to pursue a career with the NPS. Who knows, maybe one day if I keep working at it I can have my own desk too!

A sanctioned photo at Creachbaum's desk