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Schoeber leaving for Colorado rec job
By Richard Reeder
This document was published online on Monday, August 11, 2008
Rob Schoeber is leaving the Cody parks and recreation department after 17 years.
The parks and facilities director will become Parks and Rec director in Grand Junction, Colo., where he'll work for former Cody city administrator Laurie Kadrich who now is city manager there.
“It's been a wonderful time here and I've been involved in so many good projects,” Schoeber said. “But this is a good opportunity to go to a larger, dynamic department.”
Schoeber began working in Cody for the Shoshone Recreation District in 1991. He transitioned to the city of Cody when the rec district and parks department merged in 2001.
“The merger of the two departments was a big deal for the city,” he said. “It has been beneficial to the city and was quite a transition.”
Schoeber joined the city as planning for the rec center and Paul Stock Aquatic Center was under way.
“I became heavily involved in the design and campaign for the rec center,” he said. “Then a couple of years later we were part of the beautification of the 13th Street Hill.
“We worked with the Stock Foundation and the LDS church,” he added. “It was a great improvement for the city and the rec center.”
Schoeber also worked on development of the skate park in Mentock Park, Canal Park below the rec center and the Wyoming Vietnam Veterans Memorial park on the Greybull Highway.
“It's been amazing to watch all this grow,” he said. “And now the ball is rolling on development of a soccer complex.
“That will not only be good for the soccer community, but Cody as whole,” he said of the complex planned west of the softball fields. “The economic development could be great.”
In Grand Junction, Schoeber will oversee 35 parks, two aquatic centers, two golf courses and more.
“I'll have 70 full-time employees and several hundred part-time and seasonal workers,” he said. “The arts and culture are a large part of the department's work.
“We have large forestry needs because of the number of trees and shrubs we take care of,” he added. “There's also a cemetery and a tennis complex that's being doubled in size.”
Schoeber said he learned of the possible opening in Grand Junction from a friend during a Rotary Club meeting.
“I began watching the national parks and rec Web site,” he said. “Once the job was posted I filled out an application and made it through to the finals.”
Six finalists were selected to go through a two-day assessment.
“Once I submitted my application I took a trip to visit and see what it would be like,” he said. “I was overwhelmed by the facilities and the friendliness of the people.”
More than 30 people were involved in the assessment for the finalists.
“They did a good job of involving department heads, community leaders and staff,” Schoeber said. “It was intense time of written and oral presentations.”
Schoeber said Kadrich's involvement played a big role in his choosing to pursue the job.
“Laurie and I always worked well together,” he said. “So it was a huge consideration in my desire to apply for the job.”
Schoeber's last day in Cody will be Sept. 10 and he begins work in Grand Junction on Sept. 15. He and his wife Vicki have two sons, Ryan, 13, and Corey, 10.
Cody city administrator Andy Whiteman said Schoeber will be hard to replace.
“He's been involved in so many things in the community,” he added. “He's become a real fixture here.
“But it's a good opportunity for him to move to a larger department. He'll do a great job there.”
Whiteman said the city will conduct a national search to replace Schoeber this fall.
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rick oshea wrote on Aug 13, 2008 6:18 AM: