Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Munroe.
Hi Kristin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Gwinnett when kids stayed outside playing until the streetlights came on, rollerblading to Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men was the cool thing to do, and summer days were spent at pool. The local County Pool, SpringBrook, was my favorite place full of fun memories with family and friends and the water. The water has always been a part of my life. The water is fun when you add friends, exhilarating in the Georgia heat, and therapeutic. Revitalizing. No matter your age, background, obstacles in life, the water is where you find commonality and life-long friendship.
My sister, Ashley, brother, Jeremy, and our childhood friends were lovingly dubbed “Pool Rats” by the lifeguards. I would then become a lifeguard at the age of 15 for Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation. Lifeguarding is amazing. You connect with so many people, learn lifelong first responder skills, and spend the day with your toes in the water and face in the sun. At 21, I was promoted to full-time where I got to use my creativity to help program at the facility. I loved it. Watching others enjoy the water and learning life skills is so rewarding. I was inspired to continue to find new ways to reach others and spread the joy of swimming as well as the vital skills that would keep others safe in and around water. I completed my business degree and married the most wonderful man. We have 2 children and I have been lucky enough to continue working in Aquatics along the way and seeing the impact that our Aquatic programming has on the community. My team and I through the help of Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation, have been able to provide quality opportunities for the community to enjoy our facilities. Swim lessons for all ages, Splish-Splash-Read Nights with our library system, Dive-in movies, Swim with Santa, Swim Safely week to educate the public on water safety, and even a Drive-Thru Trick-or-Treating during the pandemic so kids could still participate in the holiday safely.
One of my favorite programs was provided by AngelFish GA for participants with physical and/or cognitive challenges who benefitted more in a non-traditional swimming lesson program. Seeing the participants thrive and learn in the water while having so much fun was so inspiring. A critical point for me was seeing one if the participants come to our Swim With Santa event where he could leave his wheelchair to enjoy the water carefree and also finally sit in Santa’s lap for the first time. I wanted to help do more. Teaming with them, we began a No Limits TryAthlon, Adaptive Swim party, and Special Olympics Clinics. We even began including some of these skills with the Lifeguards so they could better assist the participants, and others, in the facility. We are now in the process of taking this program and rolling out AngelFish Gwinnett and are so excited to continue this life-changing program. I am now a Recruiting Aquatic Coordinator for Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation and enjoy still being able to assist in award-winning and life-saving programming like this. I am also now able to share these experiences and opportunities to help recruit staff.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Aquatics, in general, has experienced a number of challenges in the last few years that has impacted all of us including continual pool chemical shortages and a nationwide lifeguard shortage. These have made it difficult to serve the community at a level that we have been in the past, however, we have been able to work through them. I am part of an amazing team that believes in facing obstacles together with the community in mind.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the Recruiting Aquatic Coordinator for Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation. I oversee the recruiting efforts for our section which mainly includes our Lifeguard teams. Gwinnett County has 5 year-round Aquatic facilities, 4 seasonal, and 2 interactive fountains. When fully operating, this requires 17 full-time positions and about 160-180 certified lifeguards in the off-season and around 300 certified lifeguards during the Spring-Summer seasons. We provide high-quality programs and offerings for the community. Our department does not just offer Aquatics to our community, it includes Recreation, Volunteer Resources, Cultural Resources, Community Engagement & Collaboration, Health & Human Services, Voter Registration & Elections, and Animal Welfare.
I have been in several Aquatic roles over my career which has allowed me to use my creativity in different ways. I have always held water safety as a high priority for the community, as does our whole Aquatic Team. The CDC reported over 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States each year and we aim to lower this statistic through our programs and events to help teach swimming skills, educate the community on water safety, and provide safe swimming and recreation environments. Drowning is preventable and I love knowing that what we do in Aquatics saves lives.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Use your passion to make a difference. Find others in your field and community who share your drive and help inspire others. I have been truly blessed to work with mentors and team members who are also passionate about serving our community and making a difference in others’ lives. They have also allowed me the room to be creative and have helped me grow my vision. It is much more rewarding to learn from outstanding individuals who encourage growth and opportunity. Listen to the community you serve and find ways to reach out to everyone – Inclusion is so important.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gwinnettcounty.com
- Instagram: gwinnettparksandrec
- Facebook: Gwinnett Parks and Recreation
