HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks_Recreation_Director_Kattreh_010313
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Emilie Kastner, Communications Assistant
Phone 952-826-0342 • Fax 952-826-0389 • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20-Year City Veteran Promoted To Parks & Recreation Director
Edina, Minn., Jan. 3, 2013 – Edina City Manager Scott Neal recently promoted 20-year employee Ann
Kattreh to the position of Director of Parks & Recreation. She is just the fifth person to hold the position.
In 2012, Kattreh worked as Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation under former Director John Keprios,
who retired Dec. 27, 2012. She first began working for the City in 1992 as Edinborough Park’s Special Events
Coordinator and from 2006 to 2012 she held the position of Manager of Edinborough Park.
During her time at Edinborough Park, Kattreh demonstrated leadership and innovation when she was
successful in transforming the facility – which had been operating at a loss – into one that finally began earning
revenue and recovering some of its losses. She developed the concept of repurposing the space occupied by
an indoor ice rink to construct an indoor play area, now known as Adventure Peak.
Costs totaled $225,000 for the construction of Adventure Peak in 2003 and the increased revenue from the
structure paid for itself in less than six months. Adventure Peak currently generates annual revenue in excess
of $600,000. Also under her direction, Edinborough Park birthday party packages earned $130,000 annually
and the Park hosted more than 1,200 birthday parties per year. She also was instrumental in the opening of
Peak Café, a concessions stand at the Park that offers healthier options and has become a model for
concessions operations in the community.
“Ann is a great leader. I always say she is the most emotionally intelligent person I know,” said Susie Miller,
General Manager of Braemar Arena, who worked under Kattreh for more than four years as Assistant
Manager of Edinborough Park. “She doesn’t get rattled. She is able to take a step back to make decisions that
are in the best interest of everyone involved. She is very creative and able to think outside the box.”
“I know that the City administration has the highest standards and Edina residents have the highest
standards,” said Kattreh, “and to me, it’s a challenge every day that I come to work to maintain those high
standards.”
Primary duties for the Director of the Parks & Recreation Department include budgeting and long-range
planning for recreation programming, enterprise operations, and parks and recreation facilities. The Director,
who serves as staff liaison to the Park Board, is responsible for recommending and facilitating park
improvements, developing park master plans in conjunction with neighborhood groups, and collaborating with
Edina Art Center staff and the Art Center Board, as well as various athletic associations to meet the
programming and facility needs of residents. In addition to overseeing Parks & Recreation and enterprise
facility staff, the Director also ensures partnerships with the school district, community organizations and
businesses are accommodating requirements of Edina residents.
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Kattreh holds a bachelor’s degree in recreation administration from Southern
Illinois University and a master’s degree in recreation administration with an
emphasis in sports facility management from the University of Minnesota.
For more information, call the Parks & Recreation Department at 952-826-0367.
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