In our 6th episode of the Parks and Recognize Podcast, our VP of Marketing at Xplor Recreation, Datis Mohsenipour, spoke with Tyler Agee, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Duncanville, Texas.
Tyler’s journey in parks and rec started long before his more-than-15 years of professional experience. Growing up with a father who was a recreation center supervisor, Tyler was immersed in the world of programming and events from an early age. He shares how this unique upbringing shaped his passion for the field, offering insights that only someone with his background could provide. And, with an impressive educational journey—most recently earning his MBA—Tyler brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.
In this episode, we dive into Tyler's early exposure to the industry, his career growth within his organization, and his candid thoughts on tackling imposter syndrome in the profession.
Tune in to the podcast or check out the interview transcript below!
Listen to Episode 6 of Parks and Recognize:
Prefer to Read the Interview? See Below.
Datis: Is there any period in time that you could travel to, past or present? What would it be, when would it be, and why?
Tyler: This may actually be an unpopular opinion, I'm going to say the 1960’s to 70’s. I feel like that timeline, probably when my parents were younger, being born and thought of, those times were a lot simpler. Not trying to take back all the progress that the world has made, but I feel like those times were a lot simpler, I think it would be an amazing time to be alive and experience the world change and see all those things and see that stuff in person, I think would have been a pretty, pretty, amazing part of your life.
Datis: For those listening in today who haven't had the pleasure of meeting you, can you tell us a little bit about what you do and where you do it, Tyler?
Tyler: Absolutely. Currently I serve as the Assistant Director for Parks and Recreation at the City of Duncanville. I focus more so on the park maintenance side of Recreation, so all of our outdoor facility maintenance, our park management, maintenance, athletic fields, irrigation, horticulture, plant vegetation, litter control is now up under me, which is a totally new role from what I spent most of my career doing, more so on the programming side of things. But now, I love this side of the profession. Getting to know my staff providing the service to the community, making sure everything is prepped and prim and beautiful and well-kept has been a learning experience at the very least, but definitely an eye opening experience to understand how things are done on this side of the profession. I've truly enjoyed it.
Datis: I know previously you were in more of a programming focus role, how long have you been actively working in parks and recreations?
Tyler: I started working in Parks and Rec and I say working, I was probably 15 when I got my first job, but before that I was kind of always a rec kid. I spent numerous years inside the rec center, inside the inner workings of community center operations. Before that, I just happened to be there, but I started when I was 15. I'm now 31 so I would say about 15 years of experience in aquatics, rec programming now facility park maintenance and operations. Quite some time, I actually wish all of those years counted towards retirement, but at this point in time they're still racking up. I'll be here a little while.
Datis: So having spent half your life in parks and rec and been in rec for much of your childhood as well, what was it that led you to a career in Parks and Rec?
Tyler: I would have to give all of that credit to my father, Tommy Agee. My dad, when I was growing up, he played professional football for the Dallas Cowboys and after he retired from playing football he was looking for other opportunities, and he took a position as a Community Center or a Recreation Center supervisor. So, ideally when he started in that role, so did I. From that point on, spending all my time with him in the summers after school, on weekends, helping him with all the programs, that was kind of my ‘in’ into parks and recreation. Being with him, spending time with him, I thought I was just hanging with my dad, but ideally what I was doing it gave me an opportunity to learn those inner workings, soak up all the knowledge, see behind the scenes what it took to put on a lot of these events, programs and different things like that. I got to give him the biggest shout out for, I guess getting me started down this path in parks and rec.
Datis: Can you tell us a little bit more about what community means to you specifically?
Tyler: Oh, absolutely, I'm going to piggyback a little bit more off my dad growing up in parks and rec. I was able to see him impact individuals, groups of people and in such positive ways. He came into a rundown, non-affluent community and basically was the catalyst to change in that area. Starting with the youth, making sure that they knew about respect and making sure that they knew that that he was there for them, even the employees. I have so many, I guess additional siblings now, that he hired, working in parks and rec that I used to hang out with, see as an older sibling that I look up to, hang out with. I guess community to me is just fostering those connections and relationships, the support through the experience that Park and Rec provide, that's what it kind of means to me and resonates with me.
Datis: Tyler, those folks you've mentioned, those kind of siblings of yours, are many of them still in parks and rec?
Tyler: What's interesting enough, they are not all in parks and rec, but they are really involved in city management. A lot of them took different civic routes. Judges, clerks, lawyers, public works, they're all still very heavily involved in sports. A lot of them are coaches. They're doing quite well for themselves, so I will say that again, that connection and those relationships, I think getting involved in recreation for them has changed the trajectory of their lives as well as opposed to what could have been if they hadn't been involved like they were.
Datis: What kept you specifically on the parks and recreation path?
Tyler: Oh man, that that's a good question. I think when I started working as a lifeguard, I definitely wouldn't have banked on still being here, like still being in parks and rec. I guess growing up, being able to create a lot of those same experiences for you and other people, as my dad did, I saw a lot of what he did. Kind of coming through in what I was doing and I really loved that it, you know it kind of sparked a passion for me growing up. I ended up wanting to go to college to be a pediatrician. But I felt it might have been a little bit too long of a school journey for me. I don't know if I'm OK with that, and then I’d only be technically dealing with sick kids, so do I really want to do that for a long time? I ended up changing my major in sophomore year and ended up taking the sports and leisure services route for a degree and haven't looked back since. I got involved in intramurals and rec management and have loved every step of it.
Datis: Share a couple of your proudest moments in your career as a parks and rec professional and tell us a little bit about what made them so special that you.
Tyler: I will say that I personally kind of struggle more so with a lot of like impostor syndrome in my current role then then I probably should. Understanding that hey, I'm here, doing well, doing what I'm supposed to, so coping with that has been a journey. I will say that probably some of my proudest moments would be passing just about any certification that I have to take. So, the CPRP, the Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, Certified Playground Safety Inspections. Passing those tests is a huge accomplishment in our profession, and I've done both. It definitely was no easy feat, and I must pat myself on the back for doing that. Though I guess some other accomplishments would be I just recently graduated with my MBA in business, so that was a huge thing for me. I appreciate my family for supporting me. Every job I've had has been supportive, so those are things that I'm definitely proud of, but I guess the biggest moments is, I've worked for quite a few organizations at this point in time. Connecting with the people, my employees. Once I gain their respect as a leader, I know being so young in the field and such, I guess, high positions, it's been a struggle to kind of connect and get people to kind of follow me. They don't see the experience or trust that I'm going to be the best leader, but I guess once I get over that hump of gaining their trust, I guess that's probably my biggest or my proudest moments in this position. I've worked with people from 60 about to retire, to 22-23, just now starting off in their career and I can tell the difference from when I first get into a new position to when they are all in. They're like, OK, I see what you were trying to get me to do. I trust that you have got my best interest at heart and I'm here to help you make your job easier so that you can make my job easier. It's just been a wonderful thing to see that in so many different places, that's probably my biggest moment.
Datis: Can you take a moment to maybe talk a little bit about what MILS is, how you got involved and what that means to you?
Tyler: Absolutely, MILS is the Texas Recreation and Park Society branch for minorities in leisure service. That's what MILS stands for, and ideally it is a platform for individuals that have a minority background that come together and connect and see each other in roles and positions and network amongst the state of Texas. I think representation plays a huge aspect in the success of a lot of different people. Seeing somebody like you from your background, from your area that struggles with the same things that you struggle can catapult someone's career seeing that they overcame it and now believing that I can also overcome those things as well. I think that's what MILS stands for and which is part of the reason why I wanted to get involved in it. Thanks to Sydney Elliott and Monty. Monty Whetstone is probably the first person I met, and that was probably three or four years ago. Who got me involved in MILS, so big shout out to them.
Datis: Is there any more schooling to be had or are you done with that one a little bit more time?
Tyler: Absolutely not. I think I am hanging up my cap and tie.
Datis: What can we expect you to be doing during your very little spare time?
Tyler: For the most part, I'm going to be spending a lot of time with family. I know I do put a lot of work into my profession, my professional career, but I also have to keep in mind that those four little ones need me as well. They need me at home, and I am ecstatic to be involved in their lives. I love being a father, love being a husband. So those are two things that I definitely want to pour into, if not more than I actually pour into my career. Luckily for me, I have a very understanding family that the things I do at work impact the community as well, but also, giving as much time and effort to them as well participating in PTA and being there for sport events and plays and dance recitals and stuff has definitely been pretty amazing as well, I enjoy all of those things. That's probably what I'll be doing. If not, kicking back, watching some TV, talking to friends or something like that, the Dallas Mavs are doing pretty good in the playoffs this year, we've been keeping up with that.
Datis: Do you think any of the younger generations of Agee will be parks and rec professionals?
Tyler: Oh, I surely hope so, that would be a nice to have a couple generations of them just continuing this legacy. I'm hopeful, I'm not gonna push it on them too much, but I feel like as much as they're involved, like I was involved, they'll probably start leaning towards it eventually.
Datis: Is there any advice you want to share with anybody who's listening in today?
Tyler: I think what is going to resonate with most people is, a quote that if you're doing something that you love to do, you'll never work a day in your life. I can't remember the first time I heard that, but I'm almost positive my dad told that to me way back when, and that has kind of stuck with me. Make sure what you’re doing, in this field or another field, another profession, is not only making you know enough to make a living but making you happy. It's pouring into you, what you're pouring into the community. I think that's going to be the biggest thing I leave with everyone. I love what I do, I love impacting people, love working with my staff and employees. And at the end of the day, it makes me feel fulfilled doing this work, it’s not stressful or overwhelming. Although the job can be when I think back to why I got into this and how it impacts others, it just grounds me to let me know that I can keep going and keep doing what I'm doing, so that's what I would leave with the up-and-coming generation of people looking to get into this field or even people involved.
Datis: Well, hey, Tyler, I'm always thankful for any time with you. I'm grateful that we got the chance to meet at NRPA, through our good friend Sydney Elliott, and really look forward to seeing you again at this year's conference or hopefully sooner. Thanks again for all that you do to foster community, both in your local community and for your peers across Texas State and the nation even.
Tyler: No problem, sir. Thank you again for having me, and give yourself a pat on the back as well, sir. So I appreciate you for starting this platform to, shed some light on what we do.
Wrapping it up:
Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes as we continue to spotlight remarkable parks and rec professionals. Want to share your story on a future episode of Parks and Recognize? Contact xr_marketing@xplortechnologies.com.
