Shakopee Snapshot: Spring 2024

PARKS & RECREATION From teen lifeguard to Parks and Recreation Director Meet Shakopee’s new head of the parks department, Kelsi McNutt

Kelsi McNutt was less than thrilled when her parents ‘voluntold’ her to attend lifeguard training class during spring break when she was just 15 years old, but without becoming a lifeguard, McNutt may not have become who she is today: the City of Shakopee’s new Director of Parks and Recreation. “I now reflect on that decision to attend lifeguard training with grati tude as it served as the catalyst for my career trajectory,” McNutt said. McNutt comes to the City of Shakopee from neighboring Chaska, where she was the Community Center Manager for the last five years. Prior to that, she held a variety of roles in recreation departments, pri marily focusing on aquatics and facilities management. McNutt is a certified lifeguard still today. “I truly enjoyed my job as a lifeguard and swim instructor, which I worked all through high school and college. As I explored other career paths, I was always drawn back to the field of Parks and Recre ation,” she explained. Parks and Recreation departments have always stood out to McNutt as the one city department entrusted with delivering fun and leisure services to the community, which makes her job even more enjoyable. “Being able to lead a department in providing this service for a com munity has been a career goal of mine for a long time,” McNutt said. “Throughout my career, I’ve found great satisfaction in serving the central ‘hub’ of a community.” It’s no small leap to change careers and move from Texas to Minne sota. But for Alex Anderson, the city’s new community engagement coordinator, that leap was exactly what she was looking for. “I just transitioned out of working in higher education. I wanted to have a job with a greater reach with the people I serve. Community engagement is just that type of position I was looking for.” Anderson has a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Texas in Arlington and spent the last 10 years work ing in higher education. She was most recently a senior academic advisor at the University of North Texas. This background in education helped her build strong career skills that translate to community engagement. “Many of my jobs involved connection and relationship building and that is the heart and soul of what the community engagement coordi nator does,”she said.“Moving to a new state means I want to meet peo ple and form a community, and living in and working for Shakopee is the perfect way to do that for both my personal and professional goals.” Anderson steps into this new role with high expectations and hopes. “I want to continue to nurture the current relationships the city has with local businesses and residents but also create new and dynamic ones that keep pace with how Shakopee is growing and changing.” One way she plans to cultivate growth is through building on Shako pee’s already excellent community participation. “Bringing more voices to the table encourages new ideas for engag ing our community in creative ways,” she explained. “The more the

Though she’s excited to hit the ground running, McNutt said her top priority for the first year in her role will be to listen and learn. “I am excited to learn about the Shakopee community, various city departments, the parks and recreation team, and how we fit into making Shakopee a great community to live in,” she said. Kelsi McNutt was most recently the Community Center Manager for the City of Chaska.

Shakopee’s new Community Engagement Coordinator is ready to build and strengthen connections

members of our community that come to events, volunteer, and make connections with our local businesses, the more Shakopee goes from just a place we live to a city we love, and that is a shift in mindset I think is important for everyone to have.” As she has begun to build relationships with our businesses and resi dents, Shakopee has already made a positive impression on Ander son. One of the biggest impacts? How people outside the Shakopee community talk to her about all Shakopee has to offer. “From Valleyfair or the Renaissance Festival, to all the small shops and new development and how nice the city is kept; so many people have spoken so well about this town and how great of a place it is.”

Alex Anderson comes to Shakopee from Texas, with a background in higher education.

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