Article Contributed on: 11/6/2009 2:02:12 PM
A new director has been picked for Lakewood's Community Resources Department, which manages the City's recreational centers and programs, cultural and arts facilities and programs, golf courses, family services and parks and open space.
Kit Botkins will start as the director on Nov. 9. Lakewood City Manager Kathy Hodgson picked Botkins from a slate of seven finalists following a nationwide search that began in September. Prior to this, Botkins has worked for Lakewood for seven years as the Recreation Division manager in the Community Resources Department and has more than 10 years experience in the recreation field.
"Kit is an experienced, dynamic leader, and I am pleased to name her as the new director," Hodgson said.
Botkins will manage more than 200 employees in eight divisions in a department with a $32 million budget. Some of her previous accomplishments as recreation manager include developing a new staffing system for the recreation centers that saved $20,000 a year and doubling participation in recreation programs in three years.
A vacancy was created in the director position when Hodgson, the department's previous director, was named Lakewood city manager.
"I'm humbled and honored to have been selected for this position. I'm very excited about working collaboratively with the dedicated staff in the Community Resources Department to continue offering our high level of services to Lakewood's citizens," Botkins said.
Stacie Oulton, Lakewood public information officer