City of DeBary Parks and Recreation Director receives 40 under 40 honor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 20, 2021

Shari Simmans

Communications & Government Affairs Director

City of DeBary

(386) 601-0200 Email: ssimmans@debary.org

City of DeBary Parks and Recreation Director receives 40 under 40 honor

DeBary, Florida – The City of DeBary’s Parks and Recreation Department Director, Jason Schaitz, has been selected as a 2021 40 under 40 honoree for Volusia/Flagler Counties in the Young Local Government Professional category. 

The program, run by the Daytona News Journal, recognizes forty young professionals selected from all nominations received within the two counties.  From this group, a top award winner in each category will be chosen by a panel of judges.  The Categories include:

Young Professional of the Year

Young Local Government Professional Award

Young Private Sector Professional Award

Young Nonprofit Professional Award

Young Small Business Professional Award
Young Civic Leader Award

Most Charitable Young Professional Award

Rising Star Award

Schaitz was selected for his leadership in revitalizing the City's Parks and Recreation Department, instituting better budgeting processes and creative and innovative programing. While typically Parks and Recreation programming can have a negative impact on a municipality's budget, Schaitz's financial management, including grant awards, greatly minimized costs to the City, allowing for expanded programing. Further, the new programs he and his team have implemented means greater participation across a broad spectrum of residents.

“We are thrilled that Jason has been recognized for the tremendous efforts he undertakes daily for our citizens. From our award winning parks to new and adaptive programming, Jason has led DeBary's team in creating events and activities for DeBary families” stated City Manager Carmen Rosamonda. “As the pandemic shut down our normal activities, Jason quickly pivoted the department to develop exciting at home activities, allowing hundreds of DeBary children to participate in safe, socially distanced fun.”

Schaitz and the other nominees will be hosted on March 12 at the awards banquet, where the top award winners in each category will be announced.   

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The City of DeBary was founded in 1993. Located on the St. Johns River, the City offers a unique urban community, highlighting its history, ecotourism, and small town living.