Mary Voshell

Mary Voshell has nearly 25 years experience working in the Recreation and Parks field. After graduation from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Parks and Recreation Administration, Mary placed her roots in Delaware with a position as Program Director for Kent County Parks and Recreation. Mary has been with the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation for 18 years. And in that time has served as the Parks and Recreation Resources Specialist, the Parks and Recreation Resource Planner and the State Parks first Marketing Director.

Mary's current position, which she held for last 14 years, is the Chief for the Office of Business Development for Delaware State Parks. Mary and her team of five staff manage all fee programs relating to Delaware State Parks Operations and Maintenance Section including day fees, camping, cabin and cottage fees, special event and meeting facilities, concession contracts, agreements, e-commerce, and retail sales. Mary was instrumental in the establishment of the Park's centralized reservation system, the development of four meeting facilities in the state parks, and is on the development and operational team for an $8 million dollar renovation project at the Parks' exclusive 276 wet slip marina.

Mary has lead the State Parks in a customer service initiative that places emphasis on the value of front line employees. This spring she is focused on opening the new Water Park at Killens Pond State Park and opening the new Biden Environmental Training Center at Cape Henlopen State Park. Mary is a key staff person for proposed legislation to raise park entrance fees which she will talk about today. Mary is on the Board of Directors for the Kent County Convention and Tourism Bureau, is a member of the National Recreation and Parks Assoc. and the Delaware Recreation and Parks Society. She is the 1996 recipient of the Delaware Recreation and Parks Society, George T. Sargisson Fellow Award.

In her free time, she enjoys camping, hiking and going to the beach with her husband and two children.

MARY MAKDAD VOSHELL
Chief for the Office of Business Development
Delaware State Parks
Mary.voshell@state.de.us
302-739-4702