Dr. Ted Flickinger
has been the President/CEO of the Illinois
Association of Park Districts (IAPD) for the past 23 years. He works daily with
more than 380 agencies that employ more than 42,000 individuals and fall under
the policy direction of 2,100 locally elected park and recreation board members.
Flickinger has 41 years of
experience in leadership, supervisory, administrative and educational positions
in the park, recreation and conservation profession. He was a former park and
recreation director of an Illinois park district and city park and recreation
system in Ohio. His agency was the winner of the National Gold Medal Award. He
was a college professor before becoming Regional Director for the National
Recreation and Park Association. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master
of Science degrees in Park and Recreation Management from Southern Illinois
University. Flickinger received his Ph.D. with specialization in Natural
Resources Management from Ohio State University. He is a Certified Park and
Recreation Professional (CPRP) and Certified Association Executive (CAE). In
1990, Flickinger was honored through the College of Education to be the
commencement speaker at Southern Illinois University. In 1994, Flickinger
received the SIU Alumni of the Year Award, and the Illinois Association of Park
Districts received the NASORLO (National Association of State Outdoor Recreation
Liaison Officers) Award for the most outstanding nonprofit park and recreation
association in the United States. He was appointed by the Governor of Illinois,
George Ryan, to key task forces including Governor Ryan’s Transition Team;
First Lady Ryan’s Futures for Kids Advisory Panel; the Department of Public
Health’s Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Task Force; and Governor Ryan’s
Families and Children Leadership Subcabinet.
Flickinger has served in
many capacities for various professional organizations including the following:
•
President, Illinois Society of Association Executives (2001)
•
President, National Recreation & Park Association (President-elect
1997-98; President 1998-99; Past-president 1999-2000)
•
Board of Directors, National Society for Park Resources (1994)
•
Board of Trustees, National Recreation and Park Association (1990-2000)
•
Member, National Recreation and Park Association Great Lakes Regional
Council (1970-76;
1980-present)
•
President, National Forum for the National Recreation and Park
Association (1998)
•
Chairman, National Recreation and Park Association Public Awareness
Committee (1997)
•
Chairman, National Recreation and Park Association Legislative Advocacy
Task Force (1996)
•
Former Board Member/Chairman, National Recreation and Park Association
Western Revenue Management School (1993-94)
•
Former Chairman, National Recreation and Park Association Congress (1983)
•
Member, American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration
(1977-present)
•
Member, American Park and Recreation Society (1965-present; Board of
Directors 1983-85; President-elect 1986-87; President 1987-88)
•
Member/former Board of Directors, Illinois Society of Association
Executives (1983-86)
•
Member/former Chairman of the Board of Directors, Illinois Travel &
Tourism Council
(Board of Directors 1985-present; Chairman 1993-94)
•
Past-president, Ohio Parks and Recreation Association, Executive Board
(1969-77; President 1975)