Rosie Forgione, Stacie Linley, and Tom Linley joined me on the Tailgate to discuss our final thoughts on our trip to Alaska. We spent four months, 12,000 miles, 2 RV's, and shared a lifetime of memories together. Join us on the Tailgate for North To Alaska IV. donald@tailgate-talks.comDe către Donald Forgione

Matt Cerkel joins Donald Forgione on the tailgate to discuss Rangering Past And Present. Matt is a Park Ranger and the President of the Park Rangers Association of California. Join them on the tailgate to learn how the Park Ranger Association of California is helping the profession. www.calranger.org https://www.calranger.org/certifications.html ht…

Ricky Gease, Director of Alaska State Parks, joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss Alaska State Parks. Ricky hosted Donald several times during his summer in Alaska and dives into what makes Alaska different and what is consistent with all recreation and park professionals. Ricky.gease@alaska.gov donald@tailgate-talks.com…

Warren Poplin Joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss Volunteer Management. Warren is the retired District Manager with the Florida Park Service with years of practical experience managing an extensive volunteer program.De către Donald Forgione

Mike Simmons joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss Problem-Solving, Decision Making, Communications, and Achieving Results. It’s a great conversation that leaders need to hear. Mike helps business leaders and founders FIND Clarity, STOP Second-Guessing the Work They Do, and take the Next Logical Step by making fearless decisions. He is a…

Rosie Forgione, Stacie Linley, and Tom Linley join Donald Forgione on the Tailgate for the third installment of North To Alaska. If you have not listened to the first two episodes, you might want to check them out before listening to this episode. Enjoy. donald@tailgate-talks.comDe către Donald Forgione

Roger Phelps, with STIHL Inc., Joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss their relationship with the recreation and conservation communities. Roger Phelps joined STIHL Inc. in 2001 as the Corporate Communications Manager. In that position, he is responsible for creating and telling the STIHL story through integrated event marketing, strategi…

Rodney Franklin, Director of Texas State Parks, joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss what is next for Texas State Parks. Coming off a successful Centennial celebration, winning the gold medal, and the passage of Proposition 14, establishing a $1 billion trust fund to acquire and develop new state parks across Texas. The transformative i…

Derek Christoffel joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate for an exciting ride-along discussion. Derek is a Park Ranger with the Plymouth County Conservation Board. Plymouth County Conservation manages over 2,700 acres of oak timber and river bottom forest, native and reconstructed prairies, wetlands, ponds, and lakes. With numerous miles of unpaved …

Pat Wright joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss park management. Pat is the Park Manager of Montgomery Bell State Park located SW of Nashville, TN. Pat is a 40-year veteran of Tennessee State Parks. Pat.Wright@tn.gov donald@tailgate-talks.comDe către Donald Forgione

Jessica Dolin joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss the benefits of gift shops within our operations. Jessica is the Retail Merchandizer for West Virginia State Parks. Jessica.L.Dolin@wv.gov Donald@tailgate-talks.comDe către Donald Forgione

Rosie Forgione, Stacie Linley, and Tom Linley join Donald Forgione on the Tailgate for an update on their journey to Alaska. donald@tailgate-talks.comDe către Donald Forgione

Brent Leisure returns to join Donald Forgione on the Tailgate for a discussion from Director to Director. Brent is the retired Director of Texas State Parks, and Donald is the retired Director of Florida Stae Park. Both gentlemen rose through the ranks in their respective large park systems. Brentleisure1@gmail.com Donald@tailgate-talks.com…

Ludie Bond and Ash Ehlers join Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss the benefits of family members working in the same department. Ludie is a Wildland Mitigation Specialist and a Public Information Specialist for the Florida Forest Service. Her Daughter Ash Ehlers is a Forest Ranger with the Florida Forest Service. Many trades have been passe…

Kyle Bernis joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss Safety In Action. Safety is an essential aspect of our day-to-day operations. donald@tailgate-talks.comDe către Donald Forgione

Tom Linley joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss their trip to Alaska. Tom is a returning guest, seasoned park professional, and full-time RVer. They discuss the adventure and the challenges of embarking on this long trip. North to Alaska is a song by Johnny Horton that was popular in the 50’s. tom@tomstarservices.com donald@tailgate-tal…

Lauren Emmert and Cole Ross join Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss generational differences and Similarities. Lauren is a Park Ranger at Winchester Lake State Park, and Cole is a Park Ranger at Round Lake State Park. Both of these park professionals work for Idaho State Parks. Lauren.Emmert@idpr.idaho.gov Cole.Ross@idpr.idaho.gov donald@ta…

Richard Edwards joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss the personal, professional, and common sense side of the American Disability Act, Unerversital Assccesability, and just doing the right thing. Ric is the ADA Director for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and is a wheelchair user. Ric’s insight into this critical subject is …

David Landis returns to joins Donald Forgione with a Tailgate Takeover to discuss Leadership. David is a retired Fighter and Paramedic from Indianapolis, Indiana. His company, Playing with Possibilities, provides strategic growth advisory services and coaches for personal transformation. Find him on LinkedIn or at David@davidladis.me donald@tailgat…

Angelina Stancampiano joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss Tribal Relations. Angelina is the Shoshone District Interpretive Ranger for Wyoming State Parks and a Tribal Member. Angelina and Donald share experiences and suggestions to start, and grow relationships with tribal entities. Angelina.Stancampiano@wyo.gov Donald@tailgate-talks.c…

David Landis joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss Self Mastering Skills To Live By. David is a retired Fighter and Paramedic from Indianapolis, Indiana. His company, Playing with Possibilities, provides strategic growth advisory services and coaches for personal transformation. Find him on LinkedIn or at davidladis.me david@davidlandis.…

Join Donald Forgione on the Tailgate as we delve into the crucial work of Park Ranger Associations. These associations serve as pillars of support for park professionals nationwide, offering various forms of assistance and fostering a sense of community among those dedicated to preserving our natural treasures. donald@tailgate-talks.com…

Warren Poplin returns to join Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss the Principles of Authentic Leadership. Warren is a retired District Manager for Florida State Parks and a life long conservation and recreation professional. He is a former Coast Guardsman who lead his team to success during many stressful situations. An Authentic Leader who …

Warriors To Rangers; Service To Service Are you finding it challenging to fill your vacant positions? Join Eric Hougland and Donald Forgione on the tailgate as they discuss the Skill Bridge program. This program is provided to service men and women to help transition them from military life to civilian life. Eric is the Professional Development Coo…

The Staircase To Stewardship Concept is a great way to think about visitor engagement. Ky Harkey joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss this engaging concept. Ky Harkey founded The Visitor Experience to spread joy and protect public lands through wildly successful visitor experiences. Ky honed his approach to Visitor Experience Design dur…

Join Dani Schneider on the Tailgate with Donald Forgione to discuss Leadership and the State park leadership School. Dani is a Regional Operation Manager for Vermont State Parks and this years Class Representative for the State Park Leadership School.De către Donald Forgione

Join Donald Forgione as he sits on the Tailgate again with South Carolina State Park's Book Club. Members of the Book Club include James Revis, Regional Chief; Alexandra Mariona, Assistant Park Manager; Michelle Cunningham, Park Manager; Nate Johnson, Park Manager; Kathryn Gompers, Park Manager. The Book Club is reviewing The Ecotourism Provider's …

Join Donald Forgione on the Tailgate as he learns about South Carolina State Park's Book Club. Members of the Book Club include James Revis, Regional Chief; Alexandra Mariona, Assistant Park Manager; Michelle Cunningham, Park Manager; Nate Johnson, Park Manager; Kathryn Gompers Park Manager. The Book Club is reviewing the book "The Ecotourism Provi…

Donald Forgione's old truck is at the Kentucky State Park Managers Conference at Jenny Wiles State Resort Park. Kentucky State Parks is celebrating their 100 year anniversary. Donald Forgione will be the Keynote Speaker at the conference. Leadership is so important in any organization and Donald will share his thoughts on the importance of Trust, C…

Jerry Dugan joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss overcoming challenges and finding fulfillment beyond the rut. Let's face it: Sometimes, We find ourselves in a rut and need practical solutions to climb out. Jerry is the Author of the book Beyond The Rut and the host of the popular podcast of the same name. Join Jerry and Donald on the T…

Linda Lanterman joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss a new Kansas State Park. Acquiring property for a new or existing state park is not an easy task. Even if the property is donated, the process can be daunting. Linda is the Director of Kansas State Parks and shares her journey and excitement of a new State Park.…

Lauren V. Davis joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss the importance of branding to your operation. Lauren is the owner of Lauren V. Davis Creative and works with entrepreneurs and organizations with branding expertise. She is a popular speaker and the host of the Real Personal Branding Podcast. Lauren can help your park, friends group, …

Tommy Turk Joins Donald Forgione on the tailgate to discus the great benefits of hiring seasoned workers. Todays hiring challenges call for a renewed focus on older workers with a lifetime of experiences. Come sit on the Tailgate with Tommy and Donald.De către Donald Forgione

Brent Leisure returns to the Tailgate to discuss the State Park Leadership School and the importance of leadership training. Brent is the retired Director for Texas Tate Parks and a Regent at the School. brentleisure1@gmail.com donald@tailgate-talks.comDe către Donald Forgione

Donald Forgione sits on the Tailgate and tells impactful stories that inspires us to pay attention to the little things that can make big impacts for your staff and community. Happy Holidays Donald@tailgate-talks.comDe către Donald Forgione

Amanda Drake and James Revis join Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss the value of parks. Self sufficiency is an important goal of many agencies. Learn how employing the strategy of dynamic pricing has helped South Carolina State Park and their visitors. adrake@scprt.com jrevis@scprt.com donald@tailgate-talks.com…

Marshall Markley Joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss the joys and challenges of managing a railroad company town as a state park. Marshall is the Superintendent of Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in West Virginia. The park has restored an entire town including many historic train engines that operate still today. Join Marshall Markley …

John Redd joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate and shares stories of the Oregon Trail. John is a Park Ranger at Three Islands Crossing State Park in Idaho. Three Island Crossing was a major route crossing the Snake River on the Oregon Trail. Join John and Donald on the Tailgate on a trip on the Oregon Trail.…

DOWN THE SERVICE ROAD EPSODE - Join Donald Forgione as he Tours F.D. Roosevelt State Park in Georgia with the Park Manager Desmond Timmons. Join them as they discuss maintenance, staff recruitment and retention, cabins, campgrounds, and special places in the park. desmond,timmons@dnr.ga. donald@tailgate-talks.com…

Larry Fooks joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss Providing A Great Campground Experience for our campers. Larry has served in Arkansas and Florida State Parks and is an avid camper. Join them on the Tailgate as they share their experiences providing and participating in camping.De către Donald Forgione

Valerie Cockerell joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss Valerie's new book, Manage Like A Mother. Valerie was born in France and worked at Disneyland Paris. She transferred to Walt Disneyworld in Florida and held many leadership positions. She worked at Downtown Disney, Epcot Center, and the Disney Cruise Lines. Join Valerie and Donald o…

Tailgate Takeover - Tom Linley returns to the Tailgate and reverses the rolls and is asking the questions to Donald Forgione. In this interesting and funny episode, we get to learn more about the host of the show from a colleague and friend of almost 40 years. tom@tomstar.com donald@tailgate-talks.com…

Tom Linley Joins Donald Forgione again on the Tailgate to discuss Employee Recruitment To Retention And Everything In-Between. Tom has over 30 years of experience building exceptional teams and shares his talents with us on the Tailgate. Tom is the CEO and Owner of Tom Star providing business services nationwide. tom@tomstarservices.com donald@tail…

Tailgate Takeover - Bri Sabin returns to listen and tell Ranger Stories on the Tailgate. Bri is the Assistant Park Manager at Lucky Peak State Park in Idaho. Bri's passion for her park is so much fun to listen to. bri.sabin@idpr.idaho.gov donald@tailgate-talks.comDe către Donald Forgione

Bri Sabin joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss the challenges and success stories of Interpreting your park near an urban area. Bri is the Assistant Park Manager of Lucky Peak State Park in Boise Idaho. Come sit on the Tailgate to hear the great things happening in Idaho State Parks. bri.sabin@idpr.idaho.gov donald@tailgate-talks.com…

Jody Mayberry Joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss a presentation that Jody lead at the National Association of State Park Directors Annual Conference. Jody is a former Park Ranger for Washington State Parks and is the host of the popular podcast, The Park Leaders Show. www.parkleaders.com donald@tailgate-talks.com…

Jeff Cown joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate and provides a glimpse of Jeff's career of environmental stewardship in Georgia. Jeff has held many positions along his journey but always kept focus on protecting the environment and leading his team. Jeff provides advice for those wanting to make a difference in our industry. jeff.Cown@dnr.ga.gov do…

Tailgate Takeover - Renee Raney joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate again for a Tailgate Takeover. Renee is the Chief of Interpretation and Education with Alabama State Parks. Today Renee asked Donald for his two most unique hobbies and Renee shared hers. renee.raney@dcnr.alababa.gov donald@tailgate-talks.com prairiecreekconservationcemetery.org…

Renee Raney joins Donald Forgione on the Tailgate to discuss impactful interpretive skills that she uses to deliver amazing results. Renee is the Chief of Interpretation and Education with Alabama State Parks. Renee.Raney@dcnr.alabama.gov donald@tailgate-talks.comDe către Donald Forgione

TAILGATE TAKEOVER - Today Kyle Bernis and Angelina Stancampiano return to sit on the Tailgate with Donald Forgione. Kyle is the District Manager and Angelina is the District Interpretive Ranger for Wyoming State Parks. They recently visited the National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center in Carr, Colorado and shares their experience. This serv…