Eastern National 2024 Award Winners
Photos (Left to right. Use the arrows to navigate): Daniel Stephens – Lead Park Ranger/PIO/ATR/HWO at DeSoto National Monument, Eve West – Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services at New River Gorge NP&PRES, Jerri Marr – Superintendent at Colonial NHP, Loren McLane – Supervisory Park Ranger at Fort Smith NHS, Maryann Jones – Senior Accounts Payable Specialist at Eastern National, Kellen Allen, Virginia Hughes, Anthony Trusso, Renee Maher, Jacquelyn Schultz – Events Branch Division of Communications and Events for the National Mall and Memorial Parks.
FY2024 Superior Performance Award Winners
The Superior Performance Award recognizes outstanding partner support of an Eastern National agency. They are awarded annually to the top four outstanding partner personnel, regardless of agency size.
Jerri Marr, Superintendent at Colonial NHP. Jerri Marr expresses her commitment to our partnership in many ways. She is constantly exploring new ideas to increase visitation, diversify sales, and enhance the visitor experience, and she has been instrumental in the development of merchandise to accompany the new exhibit and expanded stories at Yorktown. Jerri requested regular monthly meetings with regional and store management and invited EN team members to attend NPS All Employee meetings, resulting in a cohesive team environment with more closely aligned goals and values. Jerri enjoys bringing special guests and dignitaries to our locations at Colonial NHP to “showcase our great partnership.” Jerri’s unwavering support and excellent communication with store staff and regional management are true examples of commitment to partnership and supporting EN’s educational mission.
Eve West, Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services at New River Gorge NP&PRES. Eve West’s leadership was pivotal in navigating the significant transformations at New River Gorge Park and Preserve this year. With extensive remodels at Canyon Rim, Thurmond, and Grandview Visitor Centers, she ensured EN’s retail operations adapted smoothly, including some shifts to Sandstone Visitor Center. Eve communicated early and often about all opportunities and challenges, demonstrating an exemplary commitment to partnership by actively engaging with EN team members to align retail with the park’s educational mission. Her involvement was crucial in every aspect, from product selection and store design to enhancing interpretive elements across all centers. Eve’s dedication to blending educational interpretation with retail operations has significantly strengthened the partnership, resulting in improved visitor experiences and significant sales growth across all locations.
Daniel Stephens, Lead Park Ranger/PIO/ATR/HWO at DeSoto National Monument. Dan Stephens exemplifies superior leadership, communication, and problem-solving, while remaining focused on the success of our partnership, even in the most challenging circumstances. Dan’s leadership was especially critical during the devastating 2024 hurricane season, when multiple storms caused catastrophic damage to DeSoto NM. Despite the overwhelming challenges, Dan took decisive action to save merchandise from floodwaters, carefully inventorying and categorizing products before loading them for transport to safety. His willingness to prioritize this effort amid widespread destruction in the park speaks volumes about his commitment to EN’s mission and bottom line. His actions have had a lasting impact, ensuring the resilience of EN’s operations during a time of crisis.
Loren McLane, Supervisory Park Ranger at Fort Smith NHS. In preparation for upcoming museum and park store renovations at Fort Smith NHS, Loren McClane invited a small EN team to join NPS staff on a week-long tour of Native American museums and cultural sites in Oklahoma. There, they had an opportunity to meet with site leaders and experience thematic products, to better understand how the Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw nations interpret their tribal history and the Trail of Tears. EN staff were then invited to continue learning through a series of tribal history classes led by the Cherokee Nation. Thanks to Loren McClane’s considerate inclusion of EN team members, the take-aways will help advance education and interpretation of these sensitive topics through future product development.
The Charles S. Marshall Unit Award
The Charles S. Marshall Unit Award recognizes an outstanding agency that has achieved noteworthy teamwork in promoting and aiding the historical, scientific, educational, interpretive, and operational activities of our partners through EN agency operation. The 2024 Award recipient is the Events Branch Division of Communications and Events for the National Mall and Memorial Parks: Kellen Allen, Virginia Hughes, Anthony Trusso, Renee Maher, Jacquelyn Schultz.
FY 2024 Special Achievement Awards
Special Achievement Awards recognize exceptional performance in store operations and partner relations.
Ken Rose, Operations Manager at Highland Light, for serving as a Regional Trainer on the LightSpeed Task Force and seeking out new ways to enhance his store’s value to visitors while increasing sales. Last summer he kept the store open later for lighthouse sunset tours.
Missy Renner, Site Manager at Pilot Mountain State Park, for steadily increasing sales each year since opening in 2020, assisting multiple Southeast Region sites with onboarding and other support, and serving as a Regional Trainer for LightSpeed conversion.
Danica Buehren, Regional Manager Virginia and Ohio, for collaborating with park partners and the merchandise team for the new store opening at Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers NM, while closing two stores whose leases ended. She also served as a key member during our system conversions, supporting our manual store operations.
Erin Sweeney, Inventory Planner, for her incredible attention to detail, impressive institutional knowledge of products and vendors, and enabling our stores to remain stocked while transitioning from the outdated system to the new system.
Ashley Shortal, Store Manager at Castillo de San Marcos NM, Fort Matanzas NM, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and Fort Caroline NM, for successfully advocating for new products that align with our Belonging mission in support of new interpretive programs at the park.
Tori Ramey, Buyer, for providing expertise and sophistication to the product assortment over four regions. Tori addressed Belonging through items that reflect expanded storytelling while keeping mission delivery and revenue growth top of mind when vetting and pitching new items.
Christy Fisher, Assistant Store Manager at Lincoln Home, for leading the conversion at her store and participating as a STAR team member while her store manager was helping other stores that didn’t have a store manager.
Kristin Hylton, Store Manager at New River Gorge NP&P, for adeptly managing the strategic shift of retail operations to the Sandstone Visitor Center, and its conversion from a manual store to POS operation, while ensuring an uncompromised visitor experience and increased sales.
Juli Clark, Human Resources Project Manager, for her exceptional contributions to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment at Eastern National. As a Belonging Coordinator, Juli has been a vital cheerleader and driving force behind the success of the Belonging Committee.
Brian Downey, Site Manager at Blue Ridge Music Center, for his dedication, leadership, and technical expertise profoundly impacting both the Mabry Mill and Blue Ridge Music Center operations. Brian’s contributions have ensured operational success and fostered a collaborative and supportive work environment.
Amy McClure, Site Manager at Fort Smith, for her participation in a week-long tour of Native American museums and cultural sites, and then attending a series of tribal history classes led by the Cherokee Nation to share with other EN team members.
FY2024 Positive Impact Awards
The Positive Impact Awards recognize exceptional performance in support of EN’s longterm stability and mission through the organization’s point-of-sale (POS) system conversion.
Amber Houske, HR & Training Manager, for taking on a project management role at a pivotal point in our ERP conversion to help take it to the finish line with her outstanding management and organizational skills. She worked tirelessly across all departments, often after business hours, to coordinate meetings, testing, process documentation, training, and implementation.
Latisha May, Training Specialist, for working behind the scenes to build training programs and resources for our field teams when Amber stepped up to lead more project management.
The Eastern National IT Team: Scott Grabus, James Winter, Tee Jay Green, Jordan Kuhn, Joe Duggan, Nick Zagame, Mia Scruggs, for completing the the POS and Retail ERP conversion. Each member of the IT team played a valuable role in coordinating equipment, training, troubleshooting, and rolling out the new system. To finally cross the finish line on a multiyear project with so many stops, starts, and left-hand turns is something to be celebrated.
FY2024 Distinguished Service Awards
Distinguished Service Awards recognize significant active service at a high level of excellence that has resulted in substantial contributions to EN.
Maryann Jones, Senior Accounts Payable Specialist, was awarded a Distinguished Service in December 2024 as she prepared for her retirement after 21.5 years with the Finance Department.
Susan Shroeder, Board Member, completes her term in April 2025 and will be stepping off Eastern National’s Board of Directors. Susan was presented with a Distinguished Service Award for her service as the secretary, helping to steer the organization through the pandemic and the implementation of strategic priorities. She most recently helped to recruit the new Director of Outer Banks Forever and guide the advisory group through the transition.
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