Cuyahoga Valley National Park Superintendent Craig Kenkel will speak at the Akron Press Club on Thursday, Jan. 22. Lunch will be at 11:45 a.m., and the program will follow. There will be the opportunity for questions.
This event is co-sponsored by the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Kenkel was named superintendent in February 2014, succeeding Stan Austin. Before coming to the Cuyahoga Valley to start his new assignment in May, he was superintendent at the National Historical Park in San Francisco. Since his arrival he has bicycled the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath within the park and hiked its trails.
Kenkel began his National Park Service career in 1983 as an architecture intern at the Denver Service Center. He became a historical architect 1985. From 1992 to 2005, Kenkel worked at the Midwest Regional Office, transitioning from regional historical architect to regional chief of cultural resources.
He became chief of cultural resources at Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 2005. Kenkel served as acting deputy superintendent before becoming superintendent at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in 2010.
Harlan, Iowa, native Kenkel and his nine siblings were raised on a livestock and grain farm. He received his bachelor of arts degree in architecture from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, in 1985.
Details:
Speaker: Craig Kenkel.
Time: Buffet luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 22. Program follows.
Place: Quaker Station, 135 South Broadway (free parking behind the building).
Cost:
- $20 for Press Club members, $25 for non-members.
- Early bird discount of $15 for members and $20 for non-members for reservations made by Tuesday, Jan. 13.
- $25 for all reservations made after Tuesday, Jan 20 (members & non-members).
- Akron Public Schools Superintendent David James will give his annual State of the Schools address Tuesday, Feb. 24.
- Summit County Executive Russ Pry will give his annual State of the County presentation Thursday, March 12.