Jane Adams is a highly motivated and organized professional with thirty years of association management experience with state and national membership associations. Jane possesses strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Jane retired as the Executive Director of the California Park & Recreation Society, Sacramento, California, in May 2014 after 26 years of service. CPRS is the largest professional park and recreation state association in the country with over 4000 members. Jane was a member of the CPRS Vision, Insight, and Planning (VIP) Committee which prepared the only strategic plan for the parks and recreation profession. The VIP Plan, Creating Community in the 21st Century, successfully led park and recreation agencies throughout the country to adapt to a changing society. Jane led the development of a statewide branding campaign based on market research, Parks Make Life Better!©, which brought continuity and visibility to park and recreation agencies statewide. Over 40% of park and recreation agencies in California now use the slogan in their marketing and communications.
Jane actively sought collaborative opportunities throughout the state and nationally. She networked regularly with State of California agencies, nonprofit organizations, and others to advance CPRS’ mission. She spoke frequently to CPRS districts and sections, local park and recreation agencies, state and national organizations. She is trained in public speaking, attaining the CTM (Competent Toastmaster) from Toastmasters International.
Since her retirement Jane consults with associations and nonprofits on board governance and strategic planning and she speaks at state and national conferences. She became the Executive Director of the American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration in December 2016.
Jane is a member of the National Recreation and Park Association and the California Park & Recreation Society. She is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois and she received a Master’s Degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. She received the Garrett G. Eppley Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana University, the Hero’s Award from Playcore, Inc. and CPRS’ Distinguished Fellow/Hall of Fame Award. She lives in Sacramento with her two pups. An active cyclist, Jane rode her touring bike, Lucy, from San Francisco, California, to Yorktown, Virginia, in 2014 and in 2017 she rode through the Canadian Rockies starting in Missoula, Montana, and ending at Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. She birds (her specialty is Sandhill Cranes), volunteers, reads, and loves to cook for family and friends.