Robert Uckele, Community Recreation Services Admin, Parks

Robert began working for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board in 2002.

What are three words to describe the City of Springfield?

Community, opportunity and family.

If you could switch your job with anyone else within the City, whose job would you want?

Parker the Penguin at Jordan Valley Ice Park. Parker is the ice park mascot. I mean, who doesn’t love a penguin?

What’s the best part of your job? 

The smiles and happiness of our customers and watching the kids’ eyes light up as we hand out a colorful, sweet snow cone on a hot day ... priceless.

What are you passionate about?

Our overall concessions operations: great food, great service and a clean atmosphere.

What do you admire about this organization?

Parks is a family. Everyone works to help one another from the top administration to our hardworking staff that make everything happen on the front line with a smile and a “thank you.”

What’s something that Springfield as a city should strive for?

Encourage the City’s promotion and hiring system to reward internal employees’ hard work with encouragement for advancement with a system that trains current employees for advancement into new positions.