We've previously introduced you to several of Virginia State Parks’ finest female rangers. This year, we want to take the opportunity to share some updates on our 2022 & 2023 Featured Rangers as well as introduce you to a few more.

Melissa Baker – Director, Virginia State Parks

Melissa Baker

What Women's History Month means to Director Baker: “As you may know, I am the first female Virginia State Parks Director. In fact, I have been the first female to serve in each of my professional jobs. But that's not really about me. The opportunities I have had were earned by all the women who came before me, paving the way in a traditionally male-dominated field. Many people have celebrated what they call my accomplishments, but I am not the one who should be celebrated. The recognition goes to the women who worked in this field when people didn't think women could. We all stand on the shoulders of those women who broke barriers and challenged perceptions. Those women are what Women's History Month is about.”
 

2024 Highlights:

Amelia Hulth – Park Manager, Powhatan State Park

Amelia Hulth has not always wanted to work in parks. Amelia’s first love was music. She loved being on stage and planned to focus on musical theater as her first endeavor in college. But, all it took was a summer working at an adventure summer camp in North Carolina to ignite a new passion. From then on, she knew her plan was to focus on outdoor education and recreation. She began studying parks and recreation at Appalachian State University. Soon after a 1,200-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail with her husband, she landed her first job with Virginia State Parks at Grayson Highlands State Park. She worked there as a park interpreter for three years.

In 2016, a full-time position opened at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site in Kentucky. She served there as a Program Supervisor and then was soon promoted to Park Manager at the site. In 2019, Hulth became Virginia’s first Assistant Park Manager of Administration at Pocahontas State Park. In 2022, Hulth was once again promoted to Park Manager but this time at Powhatan State Park, where she is currently serving.

“My job as a park ranger feels meaningful; I get to care for places that are special and help guests connect with what makes those places special. I know that we (park rangers) are making a difference in our communities and landscapes. When I look back at all of the different park experiences I have had, I am fulfilled and when I look towards the future opportunities and challenges, I am eager. “ said Hulth.

Amelia Hulth enjoying snow at the park.

Lauren McMillan – Virginia State Park’s first Cultural Resource Manager

In January 2023, Lauren took on the new position of Cultural Resource Manager. Virginia State Parks had never had a dedicated position solely for Cultural Resource Management. The position oversees archaeological sites, historic architecture, cultural landscapes and artifact collections and serves as the Tribal Liaison for all 42 state parks. The main goal of this job is to manage and protect our historic and cultural resources while balancing the recreational use of our parks. "I like to say that my job is to make the past usable in the present," says McMillan.

Previously, McMillan was an archaeologist, a university professor and a researcher. "I taught archeology, historic architecture, historic preservation and heritage tourism. I have always known I wanted to teach in one form or another; I was an officer in my high school's Future Teachers of America club! I very much enjoyed teaching at the university level, but after about a decade in the classroom, I wanted to 'do preservation' more; I wanted to be in the field working with the materials.

Until last year, I never had a career path in Virginia State Parks. My position is brand new; I am the first Cultural Resource Manager in Virginia State Parks. I was born and raised in Virginia, and while I have lived elsewhere, I always knew I would make it back to our great commonwealth one day. But parks were never on my radar; my career goals always focused on teaching. When I saw my current position advertised, I was drawn to the mission of conservation and recreation. I saw an opportunity to be out in the field managing historic and cultural resources and teaching in a different way." McMillan recalls.

"I get to work with so many rangers and visitors across the entire system, learning from them about their parks and resources and teaching them about best management practices for archaeological sites, historic buildings and cultural landscapes. Virginia State Parks has a wide range of diverse landscapes, resources and histories across the commonwealth. I have been to 35 of the 42 Virginia State Parks for work (more if you count my personal Trail Quest numbers)."
 

Ann Zahn – Tidal Region District Manager

When Ann Zahn graduated from college, she wanted to work outdoors on a tree farm but couldn't find a job, so she spent time working at a private park. That job and the iconic park ranger hat solidified that she wanted to be a park ranger. She was intrigued by the variety of opportunities in maintenance, interpretation and administrative work. 

She began her 36-year career as a Chief Ranger at Hemlock Haven Conference Center (Hungry Mother State Park) in the fall of 1988. This served as a crash course in construction, plumbing, concrete, meeting venue operations and various other areas before moving on to Twin Lakes State Park in August 1989. During this time, Twin Lakes also took care of the Sailor's Creek Battlefield site. She was promoted to Assistant Park Manager at the site until the spring of 1997. Zahn was promoted to Holliday Lake State Park as Park Manager for a few years and then on to Pocahontas State Park as Park/District Manager for District 4. She then transferred to District 1 (Tidal Region) as District Manager, where she currently serves.

Zahn says her favorite thing about park ranger life is, “the knowledge that I am helping to protect a special place and allowing others to enjoy it. I like being able to walk out my door, see nature (even if VA Beach) and the people I get to work with.”

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Updates from our past blog:

Annette Bareford – Eastern Visitor Services Specialist

The author of the previous blog recently retired and she deserves a shout-out, as well.

Until late fall 1999, Annette Bareford had worked in a variety of professions. She was the owner/manager of a restaurant and she also served as the dispatcher for her local sheriff’s office. In November 1999, Annette found her way to the position of Visitor Services Specialist with Virginia State Parks. The position focused on marketing and volunteer recruitment. Over the years, the position has undergone several changes but Annette never lost her love for the parks.

On February 1, 2024, Annette retired. Before the retirement was ever official, Annette was making plans to return to Virginia State Parks as a volunteer. She has a great love for the parks that she served for many years and can't wait to be back as a volunteer.

Saundra Tomlinson – The longest-serving park ranger in Virginia State Parks

Tomlinson worked for Virginia State Parks for 50 years at Natural Tunnel State Park. She worked from January 29, 1974 to January 31, 2024. Fifty years of service definitely deserves to be celebrated! 

Saundra Tomlinson

Anne L. Reeder – Park Manager, Holliday Lake State Park

Reeder served Virginia State Parks for 37 years. After starting her state park journey in May of 1987, Anne has decided to retire on April 1, 2024. Hats off to Anne on her notable career with Virginia State Parks.

Veronica Flick – Chief of Business Administration, Virginia State Parks

“In the agency and division, several women have inspired and even excited me. These women are confident in their actions and decisions and have the knowledge to back them up. They are the experts in their field and we are incredibly lucky to have them in the agency. They are who I hope to be ‘when I grow up’. Every encouraging supervisor or superior also quietly inspires me because they saw my potential, passion and work ethic – not my gender.”

Katherine Shepard – Chief of Education and Interpretation, Virginia State Parks

Katie, who started her career as a wage employee in our Natural Resource section 13 years ago, has been promoted to the Chief of Education and Interpretation at the Headquarters at Virginia State Parks. Among many other things, Katie is responsible for the staff who brings programs to life in our parks. Congratulations Katie on this new adventure!

Who inspires you at Virginia State Parks?

Now that you've met some of the women who inspire us, tell us who has impressed, inspired or made your visit special at a Virginia State Park.

Consider joining the team at Virginia State Parks!

You could be on your own career path like the women featured here. Find state park job openings here.