Carl Brower grew up in Greensboro, NC and attended public schools, graduating from Grimsley High…
Mike has called Greensboro home since 1996. Mike graduated with a degree in Accounting from…
Bio to come.
Mary Magrinat has lived in Greensboro for over 50 years, having moved here in the…
Chris has served in leadership capacities nationally across academic medicine, teaching hospitals, health systems and…
Cindy Ramsay grew up in Alamance County, NC, exploring the woods around her home. She…
Tristan Bailey (She/Her/Hers) is a communications and marketing professional with a Master’s degree in Public…
Bio to come.
Phil Fleischmann serves as Director of Greensboro Parks and Recreation and as an ex-officio representative…
Paula has lived in Greensboro since 1995, with a brief hiatus spent in southern New…
Carl Brower grew up in Greensboro, NC and attended public schools, graduating from Grimsley High School. He attended NCA&T University before transferring to Louisburg College and receiving an Associate in Arts Degree in Parks and Recreation. While at Louisburg College, Carl was active in a number of organizations and served as class president. He went on to study at Barton College, where he remained active in many organizations and received his BS degree. Afterwards, Carl began working at N.C. A&T University in the Grounds Department, where he received numerous certifications and became the Superintendent of Grounds. During his career with NC A&T, Carl was involved in his neighborhood organization, graduated from Challenge Greensboro, and was appointed to serve on the United Way Allocation Committee, the Downtown Parks, Inc. Board of Directors, and the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Commission, serving as Vice Chair and Chair for a number of terms. Today Carl continues to serve the community as a member of East Greensboro Now, Greensboro Housing Development Partnership, the Guilford County Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Just One Foundation Board of Directors. Carl has a special place in his heart for Greensboro Parks and Recreation’s Windsor Recreation Center, where he grew up playing, and for Nocho Park, where he participated in Little League Baseball in his youth.
Mike has called Greensboro home since 1996. Mike graduated with a degree in Accounting from James Madison University and is a licensed CPA in North Carolina. He began his career with Arthur Andersen and was formerly an audit partner with Grant Thornton. Mike has been with VF Corp since 2013, including spending approximately 4 years in Hong Kong serving as the controller for the APAC region. He currently serves as VP, Enterprise Financial Reporting Controller.
In his spare time, he enjoys running on the beautiful trails around Greensboro and playing golf at Gillespie Golf Course. Mike and his wife Joanna are the proud parents of four sons, Drew, Tom, Jack, and Hank.
Bio to come.
Mary Magrinat has lived in Greensboro for over 50 years, having moved here in the early 1970’s to work as Executive Director for Eastern Music Festival. Later she developed her business, The Benefits Group, handling employee benefits for companies until 2011 when she sold her company and rewired (yes rewired and not retired). She then developed the Healing Gardens at Wesley Long Hospital 2013-17 where she continues as Chair. From 2016-19 Mary also led a renovation of Greensboro’s Interactive Resource Center campus and building.
Mary has been involved with Cone Health Cancer Center Advisory Board, Piedmont Land Conservancy, Public Art Endowment, GreenHill Center for NC Art, Authoracare, United Way and others. She has served in board leadership positions for several of these organizations. Mary was a charter member of Women’s Professional Forum where she has been actively involved since 1977.
Mary’s passions are family, friends, nature, art, photography and travel. Mary and her husband, Gus (a retired oncologist), love Greensboro’s neighborhood parks, especially their next-door Luper Park.
Chris has served in leadership capacities nationally across academic medicine, teaching hospitals, health systems and community hospitals, including roles as chief executive officer, chief strategy officer, chief innovation officer, physician practice/medical group executive and several operational positions. He joined Cone Health as its EVP & Chief Strategy Officer in 2022 where he leads strategy, planning, government affairs, innovation, ventures and the patient & consumer experience.
During his first visit to Greensboro, he stumbled upon Bog Garden at Benjamin Park, which quickly became a favorite location and highlighted the diversity of nature-focused settings within the neighborhoods of this very special city.
Cindy Ramsay grew up in Alamance County, NC, exploring the woods around her home. She always had a very strong connection with wildlife and the outdoors. She attended UNC – Greensboro and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. She later decided to become a teacher and received her master’s degree in teaching secondary science. She taught for four years at the high school level. Cindy joined Muddy Sneakers, a nonprofit, based out of Salisbury and Brevard, as an Outdoor Science Educator in 2017. She enjoys connecting science and nature and watching students’ curiosity bloom during field expeditions and virtual sessions. Cindy’s favorite park in Greensboro is Keeley Park due to its accessibility for all visitors and abundance of natural, forested areas.
Tristan Bailey (She/Her/Hers) is a communications and marketing professional with a Master’s degree in Public Administration from UNC Pembroke and a Bachelor’s degree in Dance and Public Relations from NC A&T. Currently, Tristan serves as the Head of Marketing and Communications at Guilford County Parks, where she oversees a range of initiatives including branding, graphic design, media relations, and internal communication.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Tristan is deeply engaged in the community, serving on the board of the Theta Nu Xi ONE Future Foundation and having previously served on the Fayetteville Millennial Commission. Her dedication to effective communication has been demonstrated through her roles at Cumberland County Public Information Office, Action Pathways, and Support Military Spouses, where she consistently excelled in conveying messages with clarity and impact.
Driven by a passion for excellence, Tristan brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic thinking to every project she undertakes. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her faithful canine companion, Petey.
Bio to come.
Phil Fleischmann serves as Director of Greensboro Parks and Recreation and as an ex-officio representative on the board of the Greensboro Parks Foundation. Over his career Phil has served in several operational and management capacities with the City of Greensboro, the Town of Chapel Hill, Mecklenburg County, and the City of Raleigh. In addition, he serves as an adjunct instructor in Community & Therapeutic Recreation at UNC-Greensboro. Phil holds a Master of Science degree from UNC-G Parks and Recreation Management and an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. Additionally, Phil is a Certified Park and Recreation Executive, the highest professional designation in the field. He lives in Greensboro and personally enjoys the variety of the parks, gardens, trails, and recreational facilities offered in the city. Phil believes that, “Supporting a strong and growing partnership with the Greensboro Parks Foundation is key to enhancing our diverse and impactful parks and recreation system.”
Paula has lived in Greensboro since 1995, with a brief hiatus spent in southern New Jersey and Philadelphia. Paula graduated with a B.S. in Political Science from West Virginia University and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She began working with local nonprofits in 2008, leading in fund development and community engagement. She has also served as a volunteer board member for several local nonprofit agencies. Paula was thrilled to bring this experience to Greensboro Parks and Recreation and Greensboro Parks Foundation in January of 2020. Paula especially loves exploring Greensboro Parks and Recreation trails and greenways. She and her husband Harry are the proud parents of three daughters who grew up playing on local soccer fields and participating in Parks and Recreation arts programs.