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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 28, 2022
Contact: Kim Wells, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 804-217-1077, kim.wells@dcr.virginia.gov

New park manager at Leesylvania State Park

(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Kenny Ashdown with his kids)

Being an advocate for conservation with skills and interest in maintenance, Ashdown started his state park career in 2012 as a Maintenance Seasonal Ranger in High School at Westmoreland State Park. It was here where he began to work with many leader of the park system.

“This is where I first met Steve Davis, and at the time, I had no idea he would eventually be one of my best mentors in State Parks,” said Ashdown. “As soon as the bell rang, I rushed to the park to complete an application. I was brought on like many other rangers that summer and worked diligently next to Baine Self Jr., Travis Wyman and Tanner France who are all still employed with Virginia State Parks.”

After making such strong connections and having a passion for working in the park, he knew once he graduated that he wanted to continue this type of work throughout his life.

“After high school I found myself pursuing a career with State Parks,” said Ashdown. “At the time, Park Manager Ken Benson, mentored me in knowledge and character within state parks. I worked with many great mentors who have influenced me and helped guide me into my current Park Manager role including John Fury and Thomas Stevens. Throughout this stage in my career, I learned what it meant to be a Park Ranger and I helped create and lead the mentorship program for park rangers.”

Ashdown was promoted to Chief Ranger of Operations at Westmoreland State Park where he reported directly to Steve Davis. He learned numerous skills and worked closely with leadership teams that helped guide him through his career. After staying in this role for five years, he was promoted to Assistant Park Manager at Lake Anna State Park.

“I received some of the best guidance from Assistant Park Manger Steve Davis and Park Manager Russell Johnson,” explained Ashdown. “Ken Benson became the District Manager and allowed for great feedback on my progress and achievements with State Parks. I then applied for Assistant Park Manager at Lake Anna State Park where I was selected to start in June 2022.”

While in his new role he learned different perspectives on park operations and met some amazing people along the way. He worked diligently with Lake Anna State Park Manager Dan Quesenberry who taught him about busy park operations.

“Although this was one of my shortest tenures in a position, it allowed me to gain the much needed knowledge for promotions,” said Ashdown. “Dan really helped me learn about park operations and the more I learned, the more I was realizing that all my years of experience could eventually lead up to becoming park manager.”

Ashdown was right to feel comfortable in his new role and found himself invited for an interview at Leesylvania State Park that same summer. He was hired into his new role as Park Manager at Leesylvania in July. Ashdown has ideas he wants to implement at the park.

“I plan on bringing knowledge for technology to the park,” said Ashdown. “I plan on working with the team at Leesylvania to add a variety of programs pertaining to the history and preservation of land. The team is an outstanding group with fruitful knowledge and passion. They will be so fun to work with in this role. My thoughts on being Park Manager is to be a mentor to all positions and assist others with goals they have set just like I have been assisted by those before me.”

Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks’ activities and amenities or to reserve one of the more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-933-PARK or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.
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