Wyoming State Parks Director & NASPD President Discusses Mentoring Goals & The Importance Of Listening
Domenic Bravo is a powerhouse. As the youngest President ever of the National Association Of State Park Directors [NASPD] while also spearheading the focus of his own state park system: Wyoming, Bravo commands focus and goal orientation but also is exceptionally thoughtful and insightful. His path has been one of intensity but also of passion and ambition. Bravo sat down in between panels at the NASPD Conference in French Lick, Indiana to talk to the Buzz about achieving goals, the philosophy of memories and understanding the journey.
The Buzz: Psychology and physicality is important to you and is intrinsic to the positions you serve in. It is about stamina…getting outdoors…that kind of stuff. Where is the balance?
Domenic Bravo: I think for me ever since high school...going backpacking with my friends and having obviously grown up in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico, even though my family’s Hispanic…hunting...camping…fishing…those were our mainstays. So that is probably why I approach it [that way]. It was about getting into a profession with something I loved . That is what it was. And then the physical aspect is just that piece to it. It is just one of those things that you think about it: “mountain man”…”getting back to nature”…”connecting with nature”…”living off of nature”. It is just a critical piece. And, for me, I think that, on the edge of it, what I feel outdoors is something I try to pass down to my children and show in my life. That is why what I try to embody as a director of State Parks in Wyoming and for this organization [NASPD] is trying to get everyone to feel what I feel when I am in those places.
The Buzz: When did that connection first come to you?
DB: I think I mentioned it when I was inside the conference…and people might find it weird using a pop culture reference…but it was a movie…seeing “Cliffhanger” with Sylvester Stallone. Right when you see that action movie…and you’re into action movies when you’re in middle school…you see [these people] climbing the rocks…exactly what I was doing…not to that level obviously….but you hear them say “You’re a park ranger?” And I thought “You get paid to do that?” Sign me up. And pretty much instantaneously finishing off my high school career… everything I would search and do research on at that time was how do I get a career doing those types of things. And so…that is what I spent my early career doing. When I was at Colorado State, I was a seasonal park ranger. How amazing is that? I was actually a Winter Ranger at Lory State Park so I was literally interacting with people I knew…hunters. Then I got my bachelors and my son was born…and I felt like I really needed to get a job…but I knew [I was thinking] “state parks”…there was no question. I didn’t apply for federal parks. I didn’t apply for county parks. I wanted state parks. And I applied to almost every western state that had an opening. I met with Utah. Montana had openings at the time. California. But Nevada was the first [one] that called. And I said “That’s where I’m headed”. I moved my 4-month old and my wife from Fort Collins to the middle of nowhere in the Union, Nevada area. I worked there for 4 years which was exciting. Got my masters. And then fairly quickly [as I stepped] into the law enforcement realm, I started doing a lot of stuff with the legislature. We started our own park ranger association…and we actually testified in front of legislative committees and stuff there in Carson City, Nevada. [I had also] a great mentor…Dave Marlow [former Deputy Administrator Of Nevada Division Of State Lands], Eric Johnson’s predecessor as administrator for Nevada State Parks. He was just amazing…talk about a great leader. I think all the state park directors have this. They want folks to come into that profession and know stuff. Dave kind of took me under his wing…and I joke…I even remember in one of my staff meetings, it said “administrator-in-training”. And I was like “When are we going to make this happen? That is what I want to do. I want to develop policy. I want to mentor and coach just like you have done other staff!”
The Buzz: What was the most important thing Dave Marlow taught you? Legislation is one thing…implementation is another.
DB: I think the biggest thing that Dave taught me was that when you actually listen…and say you are going to do something and you actually do it [it makes a big difference]. I think administrators beforehand and other folks…they may say that they have that “open door” [policy] and they were really going to listen to your ideas…but Dave actually did that.
The Buzz: But you have to have the courage to ask the right questions in the first place.
DB: I agree. And I think the other thing, which is why I love the state park industry, is [that] we’re bold enough to take the risk. So not only do we listen, [but] we’re bold enough to take action. You may not always see that in other government entities. You might not see that in health care or public safety. [With state parks], we will actually get out there and say “We’re going to try this. We’re going to experiment. It may not get the right results but we’re going to try this because we want to make a difference.” I think that was critical for me. But because Dave taught me how to listen, that is what I really try to do now with my staff. I listen to their ideas and try incorporate whatever they have going on. And when I try to bring about change, my staff will definitely say I am probably the most crazy person...they [actually] call me “visionary”...not sure that's a compliment (chucking).
The Buzz: Does that just have to do with the ambition of your ideas? The goal orientation?
DB: Actually everything I do, I go over the top. It's because I don't put boundaries on what we do. I never say we are in a box. There is no box. So we push the limits. For instance, I was only six months on the job and my staff were excited...I was coming in with “Let's do ‘youth programs’...” or “Let's do this...” And my staff came up with [the idea that] we were going to do a winter festival. I said “That's great!” We were going to do it in Downtown Cheyenne. I love it. They had these big ideas. We're going to manufacture this tiny little thing like they do at Disneyland and make some snow. I'm like “No. Let's take it bigger. Let's go get snow machines! We're going to make snow. We're going to pretend we are at a ski resort and make toboggan runs in downtown Cheyenne.” They said “That's crazy.” I said, “I know. But we can do it”. [And] we did it. I contacted the ski resort. They lent it us [the snow machine]. The city donated the water …and we were making snow. We did toboggan runs in downtown Cheyenne.
The Buzz: So it became all about partnerships and making those connections.
DB: I think it is even more than partnerships. I mentioned it one night [here]. [All] these folks are family. Even you... Anyone who does the type of stuff that you are doing is part of our bigger family in the industry. I mean you're telling a story. You're helping us tell it. Everybody who works on the issues...we're all connected in some way. We work on our relationships because at the end of the day, we have common goals. You mentioned about RVs. You can't sell an RV if you don't have a place to take it. These businesses here...they help us...the sponsors and the vendors and the exhibitors...it is not just that they are here to give us some money. That is not even close. At the end of the day, when they talk to us and you see them presenting, they have the exact same passion that we do. This is their livelihood because if we are getting the youth connected with the outdoors then maybe we should help you with a strategic plan. Or if you need to get connected with youth outdoors, you [might need] a better, more robust reservation system.
The Buzz: So what’s like then taking on the Presidency at NASPD? What motivated you to do that and what did you see as your responsibility?
DB: Priscilla [Geigis of Massachusetts State Parks] preceded me and she was there for 3 ½ years because of Ruth [Coleman] leaving from California. She was an amazing president and I think at the end of the day, it is coming in after her and knowing that we are in a great place. We are in a great place [in terms] of our core success but knowing we need to take it up a notch to a whole new level. Again, we're kind of at that precipice. I've talked about it the last 4 years. Our industry in general...you've heard the Centennial of the National Park Service...now we're looking at 100 more years. What are we doing really? I think we're just skimming the surface. That's what we're talking about. [This includes] the inclusion [discussion] which could be political. I'm not going to say it's not. I asked the question. Inclusion...sustainability...relevancy...all those things have been issues we have been dealing with for so many years. We are right at that [edge] where we need to jump over that chasm and think about how do we step up, not just this organization, but the whole America's State Parks movement to make sure we're delivering to all who come to visit us…not just what they need or what they want but because we know it will make a difference in the overall health and well-being and vibrancy of the nation.
The Buzz: You were speaking of aspects of relevancy...and diversity. The world in many ways in this sector continues to expand. Millennials for example…
DB: The relevancy in general has to do with the changing face of America. And if we are willing to make bold steps and changes in the way we do business...it's not just that we just lose the folks that come to visit us and are spending money on our parks and in our communities...but are they going to care? I mean that's the biggest thing. Even to our children. It's like I would say [to my son]: “Obviously you care for state parks but what about the national parks and all that stuff. You do care?” “Well yah Dad! We're grew up caring about those things!” “What about your friends?” “Well they don't really see some of this stuff.” And that hurts me because it makes me think: “Maybe I need to do[some] better messaging with our state parks”. We could do this and this and this…or maybe we are not listening to the right people. You say millennials. But even the next generation coming down...are we listening to what they have to say? How are we reaching them? And [what about] those folks that are probably closer to parks when you start talking about urban centers...what they do with their recreation time. Their parents [maybe] never thought that “when I have free time...I'm going to take you to a state park” And these are the biggest growing population centers. It is about that changing face of America and how we maintain relevancy. And then sustainability is going to be critical. And it can't be happening three years from now. It has to happen today. That is where I get excited about my leadership role. I am one of those. I push. I continue to push until we see some real relevant change. That is how I feel.
The Buzz: That passion and spontaneity seems to be some of your strengths. You also have to think logistics but you can’t move without passion.
DB: It's great that we had California [at NASPD this year]. California hasn't been at the table for a little while. If you have a chance to meet with Lisa [Mangat], you should. Her biggest thing that I think she says is, and she said it in one of the comments in the room earlier, was “All of us could work in anything else.” I mean we have the skills to be any government employee making twice what we make now but the thing is that we love that we make a difference. And that is where the passion lies. We love that we see significant change in the things that we do. Whether it is a smile from a little kid because you held a marshmallow roasting event or the fact that you have a user that called you and said “I can't believe you were able to accomplish and get that done for us! You care about us!” to a community where you may have just built a park like Missouri just did [with] Echo Bluffs State Park], [it’s all relative]. [With Echo Bluff] they now are going to have revenue generated in that region. You’re building jobs. You’re building community. And that is all on you...so why wouldn't you have passion.
The Buzz: Wyoming though is also yours. You help lead all the state parks but that's your baby.
DB: I love Wyoming. And my staff is beyond amazing. We have a small staff…but again… the passion...the things that you can do when people care is crazy. I'm almost to the point that sometimes it's like, you keep getting budget cut...how do you still produce results? We're almost a victim of our own passion.
The Buzz: That's why you think creatively and imaginatively like getting the snow machine from the ski resort for the winter festival…
DB: That is why I put a Walt Disney quote [in my opening remarks at the conference]. We dream big. We deliver as quickly as we can and for our customers. We have a ways to go still but I know we can achieve it and I think that is what drives me. I mean I have a lot of benchmarks I still want to hit.
The Buzz: Can you talk about the philosophy of memories [which you mentioned in your opening remarks] because, in the parks industry, you are in the memory making business.
DB: The big thing for me is that it is so impactful. I know the impact that I live...all those directors that I mentioned had an impact on my life and my career...and my own family...doing the things that we've done...and how that impacts my children and my wife. Our best stories come from many of the outdoor things that we have done as those outdoor pursuits. And those small adventures...even if it’s a hike after work…it is just one of those things that stick with your forever. But it is the stories that even go further than that. The memories you have in state parks and in the outdoors are transformative and that is what I would say is the big difference between anything else is that ,for many folks [including me], it changes everything...their path in life...the direction they are headed...and it sometimes gives clarity to things they didn't have before.
Tim Wassberg
A graduate of New York University's Tisch School Of The Arts with degrees in Film/TV Production & Film Criticism, Tim has written for magazines such as Moviemaker, Moving Pictures, Conde Nast Traveler UK and Casino Player. He enjoys traveling and distinct craft beers among other things.
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