Bettie L. Yahn-Kramer, CPRP, has worked for over 32 years in the parks and recreation profession. Graduating from the University of Missouri with a B.S. degree from the College of Agriculture, she began her career at Jackson County Missouri Parks and Recreation as Horticulturist. Working her way up through the system over a 23 year period, she was Director for 9 years. In 2001 she accepted the position of Director at St. Charles County Missouri Parks and Recreation, where she currently is still having fun! A relatively new department established by a vote of the people in 1997, she oversees land acquisition, master planning, capital construction, and park operations. Land acreage for the growing regional park system has more than doubled during her tenure, with nine parks open to the public. She has held leadership positions in local, state, regional, and national organizations including the Missouri Park and Recreation Association and the National Recreation and Park Association. Bettie has served as President, Vice-President and Secretary of MPRA; Secretary and President of the Parks and Natural Resource Section of MPRA; NRPA’s Great Lakes Regional Council Chair, Chair-Elect, and Secretary; and was an elected member of the NRPA National Forum for two terms. She has worked on and chaired numerous committees for both organizations.
Bettie served on the Missouri Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness and Health, the Missouri State Senior Games Board, and was Chair for the University of Missouri School of Natural Resources Advisory Council. She is an invited participant to the Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Council for the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. Locally, she in on the Board of Directors for the Open Space Council for the St. Louis Region, the St. Charles County Historic Advisory Board, and St. Charles County Greenspace professional organization. Previously, she was an invited participant to the Illinois Governor’s Forum on Parks and Recreation, and the National Symposium X for Parks and Recreation Administration.
She has been the recipient of the Missouri Park and Recreation Association Fellow Award, the MPRA Park and Natural Resource Section Distinguished Service Award, and the St. Charles County Government Exceptional Manager Award.
Bettie and her husband Tony reside in Weldon Spring, Missouri with two large Labrador Retrievers.