Awards - NRPA People - Brief Article

Parks & Recreation, April, 2002

Michael Boyd, recreation supervisor at Oakland County Parks, was honored with the 2001 New Professional Award at the annual Michigan Recreation and Park Association Conference. The presentation took place on February 12 at the Grand Traverse Resort near Traverse City, Mich. Boyd, of Ortonville, is supervisor of two diverse recreation attractions at Oakland County Parks.

He trains 110 lifeguards for two waterparks and three beaches, and 26 employees for The Fridge, Michigan's first refrigerated toboggan run. Considering his staff hosts 93,000 guests and winter staff 16,000 guests, attitude is extremely important. Boyd emphasizes teamwork, decision-making, people skills and crisis management to his youthful workforce, primarily ages 16 to 20. "Mike is very deserving," says Sue Wells, Boyd's supervisor. "He's a real team player." Notified of the award, Boyd said, "I didn't even know I was nominated. It is an honor as well as a surprise!"