Melissa Shoemaker
Port St. Joe,Florida
Summary
Offering solid foundation in customer service with quick ability to adapt and learn in dynamic environments. Brings strong communication and organizational skills essential for delivering exceptional service. Ready to use and develop problem-solving and relationship-building skills in a new role.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Park Services Specialist
Florida Park Service
04.2021 - Current
- Managed park volunteer program using Vsys volunteer management software
- Liaison between park and Non-profit organization Friends of St Joseph State Parks
- Manager and content creator for Friends of St Joseph State Parks social media account, 9.1K followers
- Created and designed a new website for Friends of St Joseph State Parks through WildApricot
- Ran Point of Sale system at the park Ranger Station
- Coordinated park programs and events- creating advertisements, promoting through social media, creating flyers through Canva
- Participated in Sea Turtle monitoring program- surveying, marking nests, completing reports submitted to FWC
- Prepared monthly rotating schedule for volunteers
- Developed and updated work project lists for volunteers and staff
- Wrote and received grant through Florida State Parks Foundation
- Wrote and received grant for new Honda UTV through the Sea Turtle License Plate Grant Program
- Worked as part of a team and independently to maintain park for visitors- utilizing mowers, weed eaters, blowers, tractors, UTV’s
Park Programs Development Specialist
Florida Park Service
08.2016 - 01.2021
- Liaison between Division office and 37 parks in District 1
- Supervisor for Training Specialist and AmeriCorps position
- Awards Coordinator- encouraging, coordinating, and writing nominations for deserving staff and volunteers for District, Division, and DEP level awards
- Created Award Newsletter to highlight award recipients
- Provide reminders and guidance to ensure Citizen Support Organizations reporting requirements met timely and accurately
- Advise 37 parks in District 1 on Department and Division policies
- Assist volunteers with finding volunteer opportunities, troubleshooting, and technical assistance
- Facilitate required training such as sexual harassment awareness, customer service training, new employee orientation, etc
- Grant Coordinator for District- sharing opportunities, review applications, ensure approval procedures are followed prior to submission, provide guidance and prepare grant applications when needed
- Coordinated and instructed Basic Interpretive Training
- Interpretive and Marketing Chairperson for District 1- Review and submit park programs and special events for posting, provide resources to park staff to enhance park programs and events, provide support and guidance to make processes more efficient
- Created content, sought vendors, provided edits and work with Interpretive Services to develop professional interpretive panels for parks
- Assisted with development of Chainsaw Safety Training
- Coordinated Basic Maintenance Skills training for the District
- Provided reminders and guidance to ensure parks were meeting volunteer program requirements
- Developed and shared resources to help support District 1 Parks
- Attended Southeastern State Park Programs Seminar two years, gaining perspective and ideas from other state park systems
Park Services Specialist
Florida Park Service
08.2013 - 01.2016
- Coordinated and managed over 15 park events at the park each year
- Recruited volunteers to fill up to 14 volunteer sites year round
- Recruited local volunteers to assist with ongoing interpretive programming goals
- Created and managed a Facebook page for the Friends of St Andrews State Park, Inc
- Maintained existing and developed new partnerships with agencies outside of the FPS
- Wrote and received a National Public Lands Day Everyday Event grant
- Prepared a rotating monthly schedule for volunteers
- Provided volunteers training on duties, equipment use, and safety
- Led the exotic removal program, removing both exotic plants and animals
- Gained supervisory experience overseeing 500 volunteers annually
- Coordinated interpretive programming for hundreds of school groups visiting the park
- Have experience with the new Drupal system used on the new Florida State Parks website
- Led interpretive program planning meetings with park staff
- Worked closely with the parks Citizen Support Organization to ensure annual reports were completed
- Supervised two Parks, Tourism, & Recreation Interns from FSU during their field experience coursework
- Represented District 1 Parks at the Southeastern State Parks Program Seminar
- Worked as a part of a three-person district team to test the new Volunteer Management Database System 'Vsys'
- Assisted in the development and implementation of a district-wide workshop for all Vsys park-users
- Represented District 1 Parks at Marketing Committee Meetings
- Received training to become a Project Wet, Project Wild, and Project Learning Tree facilitator
Park Ranger
Florida Park Service
01.2013 - 08.2013
- Gained experience with administrative forms and reports including incident reports, vehicle logs, maintenance logs, ranger station reports, etc
- Acted as the head purchaser at Manatee Springs State Park
- Developed and conducted various interpretative programs and displays
- Successfully completed District 2’s Basic Interpretative Training
Park Ranger
Florida Park Service
03.2010 - 01.2013
- Gained experience with administrative forms and reports including incident reports, vehicle logs, maintenance logs, ranger station reports, etc
- Acted as the head purchaser at Manatee Springs State Park
- Developed and conducted various interpretative programs and displays
- Successfully completed District 2’s Basic Interpretative Training
Intern
University of Florida
01.2010 - 04.2010
- Gained knowledge of the park’s involvement within the community by attending Chamber of Commerce meetings, Springs Working Group meetings, and Citizen Support Organization meetings
Volunteer
Manatee Springs State Park
09.2009 - 12.2009
- Performed Ranger Station duties, greeting visitors, collecting fees, operating registers, checking in campers, registering walk-in campers, answering phones, operating radios, answering visitor questions, and verifying money at shift changes.
- Created forms and flyers for park announcements and programs.
- Assisted with field shift duties including cleaning day-use and campground facilities, emptying trash and recycling bins, cleaning up storm debris, removing litter, conducting campground site checks, completing freeze protection procedures
- Created the internship program plan for Manatee Springs State Park and implemented the program as the parks first University Intern.
Bakery Clerk
Publix Supermarkets
08.2005 - 06.2009
- Customer Service- welcomed customers, made product recommendations, and assisted customers with their selection.
- Prepared and packaged freshly baked goods and maintained product displays.
- Operated large rotating ovens, bread slicers, and mixers.
- Responsible for taking customer cake orders in person and by phone and submitting to the cake decorator.
- Worked as part of a team and independently, depending on day or night shift.
Youth Conservation Corp
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
06.2004 - 08.2004
- Worked as part of a four-person work crew performing park maintenance activities such as trail trimming and refurbishing over 100 gates on the property.
Housekeeper
Park Place Motel
06.2003 - 08.2004
- Maintained guest rooms and interacted with guests to ensure their comfort during stay.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Parks, Tourism, and Recreation with an emphasis in Natural Resource Management
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida05.2010
High School -
Chiefland High School
Chiefland, Florida05.2005
Skills
- Customer support
- Workflow management
- Volunteer management
- Service delivery optimization
- Strong work ethic
- Multitasking and organization
- Non-profit management
- Listening skills
- Customer service
Awards
- Director’s Award, Florida State Parks, 2019
- Employee of the Year, District 1 Parks, 2015
- Interpreter of the Year, District 1 Parks, 2015
- Employee of the Month, District 1 Parks, 08/22
- Employee of the Month, District 1 Parks, 03/15
- Employee of the Month, District 2 Parks, 06/12
- Employee of the Season, Manatee Springs Administration, Fall/Winter 2012
Timeline
Park Services Specialist
Florida Park Service
04.2021 - Current
Park Programs Development Specialist
Florida Park Service
08.2016 - 01.2021
Park Services Specialist
Florida Park Service
08.2013 - 01.2016
Park Ranger
Florida Park Service
01.2013 - 08.2013
Park Ranger
Florida Park Service
03.2010 - 01.2013
Intern
University of Florida
01.2010 - 04.2010
Volunteer
Manatee Springs State Park
09.2009 - 12.2009
Bakery Clerk
Publix Supermarkets
08.2005 - 06.2009
Youth Conservation Corp
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
06.2004 - 08.2004
Housekeeper
Park Place Motel
06.2003 - 08.2004
High School -
Chiefland High School
Bachelor of Science - Parks, Tourism, and Recreation with an emphasis in Natural Resource Management
University of Florida
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