NEW National Gold Medal Award Ambassadors

             

Ambassadors

 

Gain inspiration, practical guidance, and a clearer path toward your own 
National Gold Medal journey.

 

Informational Webinar 12/04/2025

New!! Connect with the National Gold Medal Award Ambassadors

Discover what it takes to rise to the top. National Gold Medal Grand Plaque recipients are eager to share the strategies and insights that propelled them to parks and recreation highest honor. 

Learn how they:

  • Selected and empowered their Gold Medal team
  • Transformed application questions into a compelling, cohesive story
  • Identified key data points that supported their narrative 
  • Created a standout Finalist video that captured their agency’s story and the judges’ attention

2026 National Gold Medal Award Ambassadors (as of December 10, 2026) with the year they received the Grand Plaque:

Class I (population 400,000 and over)
Johnson County Park and Recreation District, Kansas (2025)
    Jeff Stewart, CPRP
    (913) 826-3404 

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Minnesota (2024)
    Ben Johnson, Communications Manager
   (612) 463-1413

Class II (population 150,001 to 400,000)
Arlington County Parks and Recreation, Virginia (2025)
    Jules Pei, Management Analyst, Strategic Planning
    (703) 228-4755

South Suburban Park and Recreation District, Colorado (2024)
    Mindy Albert, Strategic Initiatives Manager
    (303) 483-7010

Class IV (population 30,001 to 75,000)
Park District of Oak Park, Illinois (2025) 
    Jan Arnold, Executive Director
    (708) 725-2020

Class V (population under 30,000)
Dickenson Parks and Recreation, North Dakota (2024) 
    Benjamin Rae, Executive Director
    (701) 456-2074
    
Armed Forces Recreation Programs (Worldwide)
US Army Fort Carson, Colorado
    Ryan Noble, Family and MRW Director
    (719) 216-2959