RALS Branch

Chair

Carla Benavides
M-NCPPC, Prince George’s County
Carla.Benavides@pgparks.com

Carla Benavides is a Health and Wellness Coordinator for the Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George's County and has been an active member of the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association for over a decade, contributing her expertise in various board and committee roles. Recently, she served as the Board Secretary for the MRPA Executive Board. Now, she looks forward to leading the Recreation and Leisure Services Branch as its Chair, following her extensive involvement in branch committees and boards. Her excitement to guide the branch is evident as she plans to introduce new training programs and special events. With a focus on attracting fresh members, Carla aims to establish a lasting impact, shaping a promising future for the branch.

In her leisure time, Carla is an active member of her sorority, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., and enjoys time with her family, friends, and her dog Pumpkin, running Disney races, and riding her Peloton.

Vice Chair

Leigh Ann Eckenrode
M-NCPPC, Prince George's County
leighann.eckenrode@pgparks.com

Leigh Ann Eckenrode is the Beltsville Community Center Facility Director for the Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County and has been a member of the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association for about 15 years. She has served in many roles including Conference Co-Chair, Conference Socials Chair, RALS Chair, RALS Secretary, and is currently the RALS Vice Chair. I look forward to not only working with Carla, Nate, and Wendy, but all of you. We hope that you will get to know us and join us for what we think is going to be a great year.

In her free time, Leigh Ann enjoys playing softball, watching her nieces play softball, traveling, going to the beach, and visiting baseball stadiums all over the country.

Past Chair

DeVon H. Brown
dhbrown@harfordcountymd.gov

Finance Chair

Wendy Donley
M-NCPPC, Prince George's County
Wendy.Donley@pgparks.com

Wendy Donley is the Herbert Wells Ice Rink/Ellen Linson Splash Park Facility Manager for the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County. She has been an active member of MRPA and the RALS Branch for over 20 years serving on various committees including Conference Co-Chair and RALS Branch Chair. She has also served on the Local Host Committee for NRPA in 2008 and 2019. Wendy is currently on the Conference Committee and is the RALS Finance Chair.

In her free time, Wendy is an active member of the Ice Sports Industry and US Figure Skating. She enjoys time with her family and friends, figure skating, and traveling.

Programming Chair

Nate Sullivan
M-NCPPC, Prince George's County
Nate.Sullivan@pgparks.com

Nate Sullivan is the Deerfield Run Community Center Facility Director for the Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County and has been an active member of the RALS branch for the last 7 years, becoming both RALS Secretary and Member of the Year this past year, as well as serving as the RALS Programming/Event Chair for this year. He brings a fresh perspective and his unending enthusiasm to the RALS Branch and its membership while working closely with fellow chair members to put on both worthwhile information, new trainings and socials while preserving and enhancing RALS many historical and cherished traditions and events, with a goal to make sure RALS has something that appeals to anyone, regardless of position, location, field, etc.

In what little leisure time his wife and two adorable children allow, he enjoys cooking and learning new recipes, taking care of his multitude of pets, and is an avid gamer – both video game and tabletop.

Member At Large

John Kennedy ‘24

Edwin Rivera, CPRP ‘24

Jessica Cook-Thomas ‘25

Carlos Falcon ‘25