Following their hearts: though leaving NRPA, two professionals says a passion for aquatics will keep them in field.(National Recreation and Park Association)(Interview)

The National Recreation and Park Association lost two well-known members of the aquatics industry last month when it consolidated several regional offices into its headquarters in Ashburn, Va.

Lili McGovern, manager of NRPA's aquatic services, and Shawn DeRosa, Northeast regional director, were among 11 full-time employees affected by the move.

During her five years at the organization, McGovern helped increase the size of the Aquatic Facility Operators course and coordinate the annual NRPA Aquatic Management School and Conference. DeRosa joined NRPA about two years ago and served on its AFO Board of Directors. He's 'also a member of the American Red Cross Lifeguard Management Development Team and, as a leading expert in aquatic risk management, is a popular speaker at industry shows.

Earlier this year, both McGovern and DeRosa were voted into Aquatic International's 2003 Who's Who in Aquatics, a list composed of the 100 most influential members of the aquatics industry.

To find out where life after NRPA might lead them, AI caught up with McGovern and DeRosa for a question-and-answer session.

You've both been so involved in aquatics these past few years, are you planning on staying in the industry?

McGovern I'm actually now national development director at Starfish Aquatics [a Savannah, Ga.-based resource for professional aquatic safety programs, life guard training and aquatic risk management services]. I called Jill White and asked her to be a reference and she said she'd be happy to be one, but would I consider working for her instead? I'll be coordinating their annual symposium [the 2003 symposium will be held this month in Snowbird, Utah] and working with their existing training centers.