Last updated: June 13, 2019
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Key Tips To A Successful National Park Service Career
Every day is another chance to make your dreams come true.
What is your name and job title? Kevin Tyler, Project Specialist for the Denver Service Center Transportation Division. I am duty-stationed at Natchez Trace Parkway.
What education and experience do you have? I have a Bachelor in Landscape Architecture from Mississippi State University (Hail State) with an emphasis on Golf Course Architecture. I have more than 20 years of experience in project and construction management. While in college, I spent several summers working for golf course contractors and fell in love with the construction side of the business. After graduation, I went to work for a design/build golf course architecture firm and worked on golf courses from Florida to Connecticut. I eventually settled in Mobile, Alabama and got married, started a family, and went to work for a large multidisciplinary design firm.
How did you first learn about Denver Service Center and what drew you to apply for your job? Strangely enough I visited Denver Service Center (DSC) as part of a college field trip we were required to take before graduation. I was interested in the work landscape architects were doing for the National Park Service (NPS) but never dreamed I would one day be working here. Necessity drew me to apply. I was working for a large multidisciplinary design firm that focused primarily on high-end development (condos, subdivisions, retail, etc.) and when the market took a downturn, so did our business. Over the next couple of years our office experienced substantial downsizing so I started looking for something more stable and a little different. I was fortuitous to find this position as it brought me closer to my home and family.
What is a typical day like? There really isn’t a typical day; they are all unique. We may be doing the same work day after day, but inevitably with the Natchez Trace Parkway projects there is a curve ball thrown to keep us on our toes. I enjoy problem solving which is a great skill to have when you are working with something that is over 80 years old, 444 miles long, and took 67 years to complete.
I spend much of my time on the Natchez Trace Parkway for site visits; it’s not uncommon to have projects 400 miles away from one another. I also spend a fair amount of time reviewing construction plans, scoping new projects, and attending project meetings with park staff and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) engineers.
What skills do you think are crucial to helping you succeed in your role and why?
- Give excellent customer service - When the park asks for something, be responsive. Provide them with your expertise to help them make the best possible decision. Represent their interest to the best of your ability and keep them informed as the project progresses.
- Be honest - Your word is your bond; do what you say you’re going to do. If you don’t have the answer then be honest enough to admit it and find someone who does.
- Be responsible - Represent the money as if it was coming out of your personal account. Be determined to get the best possible product.
- Build relationships - Always treat everyone with respect because the person operating a mower today may be chief of maintenance tomorrow. Develop relationships; work together to achieve the best possible outcome.
- Understand construction - Knowing the process the contractor will use to complete the project will help you plan your schedule, participate in project meetings, and keep the park apprised of construction progress.
What career advice would you give to someone who wants to follow a similar path? View every job as a stepping stone. I’ve had jobs where at times I wasn’t sure that I was learning anything but later realized they were crucial in my career development whether it was through the experience or the contacts I made. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Some of the best resources may be contractors, vendors, park staff, and peers. Learn as much about construction as possible. Knowing how to build something makes you a better designer. My experiences in construction exposed me to various methods and materials that have become invaluable to me. Keep up with the latest trends in the construction you are involved with, you may have an opportunity to implement these on future projects. Lastly, take a deep breath and smile, you work in a national park, one of America’s best ideas!
What is one of the bigger projects you are working on and what about that project might surprise people? At present I don’t have any big projects but there appears to be a Mega Project on the horizon. The Federal Highway Administration recently announced that Natchez Trace Parkway will receive a grant of $37,757,000 as part of the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) program. Two National Park Service programs will augment the grant funds for a total of just over $40 million. The NSFLTP Program was established under the Fix America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to address nationally significant projects within, adjacent to, or accessing federal and tribal lands. As the eighth most visited NPS unit in 2017, Natchez Trace Parkway welcomed more than 6.3 million recreational visitors. This project will improve the roadway condition for current and future visitors.