1. Sandie M. Renwick-Gilmer
Email: sandie.renwick@gmail.com
Education
1997-2001 Bachelor of Arts in History; Minor in Recreation Administration
Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL
Work Experience
2013-present Manager of Blackberry Farm and Early Childhood Education
Fox Valley Park District; Aurora, IL
• Responsibilities include:
o Facility operations at Blackberry Farm
o Management of all Blackberry Farm facility staff and park
district preschool teacher including four full-time recreation
professionals
o Development and implantation of Blackberry Farm facility
budget
o Interviewing, hiring, training, coaching and evaluation of staff
o Development of Blackberry Farm marketing plan for all
membership drives, programs, special events and general
facility operations
o Revitalization of all Blackberry Farm special events and
programming to accommodate new park amenities,
underserved age populations and increase of general park
attendance
o Oversight of park district preschool program
• Achievements include:
o Daily admission revenue increased by 35% from 2013 to 2014
and 10% in 2015 from 2014 due to expanded hours and
increased activities
o Membership revenue increased by 63%
o The Civil War Days event was expanded from only featuring a
small encampment of twenty Civil War volunteers and two
speakers to a full weekend of activities, including a battle
reenactment and over 100 reenactors.
o Rebranding of the museum gift shop that resulted in revenue
increasing 40% from 2013 to 2014 and is projected to achieve
a 40% increase in 2015 from 2014
o Overall revenue for Blackberry Farm has increased over
$250,000 since 2013. Areas of improvement: memberships,
daily admissions, camps, birthday parties, rentals, special
events, and gift shop revenue
2008- 2013 Program Manager
Naperville Park District; Naperville, IL
• Responsibilities include:
o Management of Early Childhood, Environmental Education,
Special Events, Birthday Party, Culinary Arts, Gymnastics and
Early Childhood Camp Program Areas
o Management of four Program Coordinators
o Development and implantation of programming budget
o Interviewing, hiring, training, coaching and evaluation of staff
o Development of marketing strategies for programs

2. • Achievements include:
o Increased preschool program enrollment by 50% in three
school years
o Developed an award winning nature preschool program and
curriculum
o Developed new marketing materials for the preschool that
included: new name, logo, school song and promotional
programs (open hours, tours, free trial classes)
o Increased Early Childhood Camp enrollment. Revenue
increased from $4,888 in 2008 to $96,000 in 2013
o Increased gymnastics participation by 30% in 3 years
o Creation of new annual special events including: Eco Fest,
Cinderella’s Ball, Candy Cane Lane and Mad Hatter’s Tea
Party
o Creation of the district’s first nature education and recreation
program
2004-2008 Recreation Supervisor
Bolingbrook Park District; Bolingbrook, IL
• Responsibilities included:
o Management of Early Childhood Program and staff
o Management of Dance Program and staff thru May 2005
o Developed and oversaw programming budget
o Interviewing, hiring, training, coaching and reviewing of all
Early Childhood staff
o Homeschool Program Coordinator
o Developed marketing strategies for all Early Childhood and
Homeschool programs
o Plans, organizes, budgets and runs all Early Childhood Special
Events, including Week of the Young Child- a week of free
activities for over 2500 children and their families
• Achievements Included:
o Developed a bi-lingual program to meet the needs of the
Hispanic population that includes once a week specialty
classes and a year long preschool program
o Assessment of early childhood programming needs. The
program was altered to achieve a 30% increase in special
program participation through offering new programs and new
programming times/days
2003-2004 Schaumburg Tennis Plus Assistant Manager
Schaumburg Park District; Schaumburg, IL
• Responsibilities included:
o Management of front desk, custodial, personal training,
birthday party and instructor staff
o All facility programming which includes: fitness, youth, early
childhood and adult general programs
o Birthday Party and Homeschool Program Coordinator
o Developed and oversaw programming budget
o Interviewing, hiring, training, coaching and reviewing of all
front desk, personal training and program instructor staff
• Achievements included:

3. o Development of the Homeschool Program Department, which
included networking and advertising within the area’s
Homeschool community
o Development of a new birthday party program to increase
birthday party revenue
o Increased programming revenue by creating and marketing
new classes
2002-2003 Member Activities Manager
Lifetime Fitness; Skokie, IL
• Responsibilities included:
o Leadership and management of the second largest Member
Activities Department in the country
o Interviewing, hiring, training, coaching, and reviewing all
Member Activities staff
o Maintaining and managing the Member Activities budget
o The establishment of professional relationships with vendors,
contracted employees and all club members
• Departmental Duties include the management, creation, marketing and
implementation of:
o Preschool, youth and adult programs and leagues
o Rock climbing and aquatic programs
o Sports, preschool and summer day camps
o Dance classes, art classes and Eastern Arts programs
o Special events and activities for members and children
including birthday parties, facility rentals and members-only
parties
• Additional duties included:
o Interim Aquatic Manager- January-May 2003, Club Manager
on Duty, Company College Recruiter, Aerobic Instructor and
Swim Instructor
1995-2002 Aquatic Facility Manager
Bolingbrook Park District; Bolingbrook, IL
• Responsibilities included:
o Management of indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities and staff
during public swim hours
o Management of lifeguards, guest services and supervisory
staff with regards to interviewing, training, supervision and
evaluation
o Management of customer care and facility operations
o Assistant Learn-to-Swim Supervisor
o Development, implementation and marketing of new aquatic
programs
o Ellis & Associates Lifeguard and CPR instructor
• Additional Duties Included:
o Ellis & Associates lifeguard, birthday party host, swim
instructor
Professional Memberships/ Committees
• Illinois Parks & Recreation Association Annual Conference
o Speaker- Hiring the Right Full Time Employee 2015
• Illinois Parks & Recreation Association Member (IPRA)

4. • Facility Management Section- IPRA
o Speaker for Roundtable- How to program your facility during
off-peak hours
• Recreation Section- IPRA
o Early Childhood Committee Member
 Developed quarterly newsletter to be distributed to
all IPRA early childhood departments to inform
supervisors of the committee’s upcoming events
 Speaker at IPRA annual conference in the Preschool
Directors Forum (January 2007 & 2008)
 Committee Chairperson 2008
o Board Member- Secretary 2008-2010
• National Association for the Education of Young Children member
• Western Open Committee- Wee Western subcommittee 2006 & 2007
(childcare division of the Western Open)
o Helped IPRA staff organize and plan the activities and daily
schedule at the Wee Western
o Volunteer Recruitment
o Supervision of PGA golfers’ children and volunteers during
the Western Open
• Aurora Noon Lions 2016
References available upon request