Although you may not know her face, you might know her voice if you’ve ever called NRPA’s customer service line. Brenda Beales serves as NRPA’s member services specialist, a position in which she responds to members’ inquiries, coordinates the annual awards program and manages the highly regarded Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame. However, her job at NRPA has evolved greatly in her 16-plus years with the association.

“I came with the building,” Beales laughs, referring to the headquarters move from Arlington, Virginia, to Ashburn, Virginia, in 1997. “My first day was the first day the new building was open for business.” Initially, Beales worked with the former Mid-Atlantic and New England Regions as well as the American Park and Recreation Society Branch (now the Administrators’ Network). She later worked with the Citizens’ Branch as well before shifting departments and working as an executive assistant and board liaison.

Beales first learned about NRPA as a citizen volunteer for the Lucketts (Virginia) Community Center, where she volunteered for 14 years as fair director. When asked why she has stayed with NRPA for all these years, Beales replied, “I believe in our mission and our vision, and I appreciate the work that our members do in their communities.” She lives in Lucketts with her husband and has two daughters, one granddaughter and one grandson.

Danielle Taylor is the Senior Editor of Parks & Recreation Magazine.