Speaker

Rick Valdez

He/Him/His
Director
Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department
Tampa, Hillsborough County
United States

Native Floridian, Rick Valdez, is Director of the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department.

After attending and playing baseball at Hillsborough Community College, graduating with an associate in arts degree in Physical Education, Valdez then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree from University of South Florida. In addition, he has obtained and been recognized for the following achievements: Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (National Recreation and Parks Association); Patriotic Employer Award (Office of the Secretary of Defense); Honorary Deputy (Hillsborough County Sherriff's Office); Citizen Award (Hillsborough Conty Sherriff's Office) and Certified Youth Sports Administrator (National Youth Sports Alliance).

Mr. Valdez was appointed in the spring of 2018 to serve as the Director of Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation. Prior to his current appointment, he served as the Operations Manager for two years and Recreation Manager for three years.

As the Director, Mr. Valdez is responsible for overseeing the stewardship of the County's 170 parks, 53 recreation centers, 268 athletic fields, 120 playgrounds,12 neighborhood dog parks, six splash pads, eight indoor gymnasiums, and hundreds of outdoor sports courts. He also administers 373 full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff of 10 divisions within the agency. His mission is to enhance lives through people, parks, and enjoyable experiences. Valdez is a strong believer in quality customer service, responsive government, and the preservation of quality parks and recreational facilities. Director Valdez continues to use his twenty-six years of local government experience to raise the bar by leading Hillsborough County through Agency Accreditation (CAPRA), achieving the 2022 Innovation in Social Equity Award (NRPA), and Gold Medal Finalist Awards (AAPRA) in 2022 and 2023.

Valdez is a member of the Florida Recreation and Parks Association, the National Recreation and Park Association, and serves on the Board of Trustees for Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful. He lives in Tampa with his wife, Nalany and two children. He stays active in the community coaching youth sports and his hobbies include fishing and spending time with his family.

Contact:
valdezr@hcflgov.net
+1 813-299-8469


Social Media:
www.hillsboroughcounty.org/parks