Member Biography


Cindie Sullivan

Cindie Sullivan, CPRP, is the retired Assistant Director of the Somerset County Park Commission (SCPC), with 40 years of parks and recreation experience. Cindie served as the chief operating staff member responsible for the park facilities and programs, and provided leadership to Human Resources and Information Technology.  During her tenure at SCPC, Cindie was instrumental in helping to develop the agency’s 20-year Capital Facilities Plan, and the development of agency-wide master plans and specific park and facility development plans. Cindie also served as liaison to the consultant to develop the ADA Transition Plan and implementation. Cindie managed the agency-wide marketing plan, which won an NRPA national award. The park system has won numerous awards for its environmental education center, equestrian center, golf courses, gardens, therapeutic recreation center that provides programs for children and adults who have developmental disabilities or Aspergers, as well as many regional scale general use parks and conservation areas/preserves. Prior to this, Cindie worked for 10 years in Campus Recreational Services at Rutgers University, and as a Recreation Therapist for the Center for Cognitive Rehabilitation at Rutgers University Medical School.

Cindie served as a member on National Recreation and Park Association committees and boards, including the Annual Congress Program Committee, the American Park and Recreation Society Board of Directors, Chairperson of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council, and member of the NRPA National Forum's Diversity Committee. Cindie also participated in the NRPA Annual Legislative Forum for a dozen years. Cindie has also served in leadership roles in the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association as the Chair of Annual Conference Program Committee for 30 years, and served as Chair of the Education and Professional Development Committee, Chaired the Professional Certification Board, and the Therapeutic Recreation Advisory Council.

In the community, Cindie served on a Regional Center Partnership Smart Growth Coalition, served on the Board of Trustees of the non-profit County Park Foundation, and as a member of the local Tourism and Convention Council.  Cindie previously was appointed by Governor Tom Kean to serve on the State of New Jersey Board of Recreation Examiners, and served on a steering committee of the local United Way. 

Cindie has led Strategic Planning initiatives for Rutgers University Youth Sports Research Council, the New York State Recreation and Park Society, the National Association Sport and Physical Education & USA Coaching, Hunterdon County Park System, and New Jersey Recreation and Park Association, and within the Somerset County Park Commission.

Cindie has a Master’s Degree from the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration, with emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation from Rutgers University. She is a Member of Kappa Delta Phi, the Education National Honor Society. She also completed the American Management Association Professional Training the Trainer Course.

She is a recipient of the NRPA American Recreation & Park Society Presidential Award; the NRPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Council Michael B. Berman Fellow Citation; and the NJ Recreation and Park Association's Administrator of the Year Award.

Cindie enjoys traveling, touring US National Parks, the world, and the beach. She also enjoys exploring parks, reading, trying new restaurants, and cooking new recipes, and attending concerts and college basketball games. [current as of January 2023]