Valerie Naylor is the recipient of the 2013 Stephen T. Mather Award for her steadfast leadership and persistent dedication to National Parks. Her persistent dedication has been put to the test against industrial pressure from the Bakken Oil Boom on the borders of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

For the past four years, managing this beautiful national park has been an exercise in relentless dedication to monitor the intrusion of industry towards the border of the park. Ranger Naylor has negotiated with oil companies to minimize intrusion on the border and view from within the park.

After building a reputation for being relentless, respectful, and tenacious in protecting the park, Valerie is retiring from the National Park Service on October 31st.

Ranger Naylor shares a story about the time Theodore Roosevelt spent in the Badlands of North Dakota, within what is now the National Park which holds his name. This story reminds us that every park is to someone what the Badlands were to Theodore Roosevelt. Each park has the potential to change someone's life. Knowing that, how can you not put all you have into making your park the best it can be?

Valeria Naylor gets that. And that is why, come November 1st, it is going to feel like something is missing from the National Park Service.

Personal accountability is the foundation of leadership. If you don't get personal accountability right, nothing else in leadership works as well as it should.

This is why QBQ by John G. Miller is one of the most important leadership books I have read.  I read this book at lease once each year and have given more copies of this book away than any other book.

QBQ stands for the Question Behind the Question. Asking the right questions will change your outlook and give you personal accountability for any situation.

In this episode, John explains how asking the right questions can lead us to greater personal accountability and better leadership. Practicing QBQ principles will have a ripple effect in your leadership, productivity, and even your family life.

If you have not read QBQ, consider doing so. You can buy it here. It will change your view on your job and the role you play.

Jason Harrod provided the music for the Park Leaders Show.

Naomi Torres is included on Richard Rojas' short list of All Star Champions of change. When someone makes it onto a list like that, I know I want to talk to her.

Naomi is the Superintendent of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. She began her career as in interpreter at Alcatraz and has spent her career with the National Park Service in the Bay Area of California.

As the Superintendent of a trail which passes through property and jurisdictions outside of National Park Service property, Naomi has developed and maintained many healthy partnerships.

Naomi also discusses the need for Parks to reach out to communities of color. If we don't reach out the communities, the faces seen working or recreating in our parks will not become more diverse.

As I talk to leaders and managers from parks, Disney came up more than once as a source parks could look to for best practices and new ideas on how to operate a park.

I took the hint and brought Disney to the Park Leaders Show.

Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World. Lee was responsible for training 7,000 leaders at Walt Disney World. Imagine the challenge of training 7,000 leaders to carry the same mission and values out into the work force.

Although retired, Lee still teaches at the Disney Institute and gives presentations all over the world. He is the author of Creating Magic and The Customer Rules. These books give a look at leadership and customer service from inside Disney.

If you are serious about leadership and improving your culture, this is an important episode of the The Park Leaders Show. Lee discusses hiring, how the values of Disney are lived by thousands employees, and what it takes to be successful.

If you are reading this in email click here to listen to the episode.

Lee Cockerell, Leadership Speaker - Demo Video (click to watch on YouTube)

Sarah Milbourne recently became the Park Manager of Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland. Sarah is the product of a Park System which invests in employees.

She bursts with enthusiasm for her agency, her park, and her new role as Manager.

Sarah discusses the transition of becoming a Park Manager at a park where she already worked as a Park Ranger. She explains her desire and push to become a Park Manager and what she learned along the way. Sarah offers great insight to anyone who aspires to become a Park Manager. We also discuss how Maryland State Parks works to build employees early in their career so they can reach their potential.

Maryland State Parks also has assists their employees recognize and embrace diversity in park visitors. Through training and a deliberate culture built by Maryland State Parks, Sarah views her role, and her park, as a piece of a whole agency working towards the same goal.

If you are reading this in email click here to listen to the episode.

If you use iTunes, you can find the Park Leaders Show here.