February 17, 2022
Contact: April McCampbell
P: 260-427-6024
C: 260-241-1932
Manager of Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Longtime members Rick Samek and Dr. Pamela Kelly Step Down
Fort Wayne, Ind. – At the February 17, Fort Wayne Board of Park Commissioners annual election of officers and organizational meeting, officers were elected to the following positions:
- William Zielke, President
- Justin Shurley, Vice-President
- Steve McDaniel, Board Secretary
Also announced at the meeting, Rick Briley and Cory Miller joined the board as its newest commissioners, replacing current board president Rick Samek and Commissioner Dr. Pamela Kelly, who are stepping down from the board after very successful tenures working with the parks system.
“The team is extremely grateful and appreciative of the work Rick and Pam have done as part of this board,” said Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel. “They have seen our department through major changes and growth, including the revitalization of facilities like the McMillen Park Community Center, and the construction of new parks like Franklin School Park and the very successful opening of Promenade Park as phase one of Fort Wayne’s riverfront development. They have certainly contributed a great deal to the quality of life for our community and we all thank them for their service to Fort Wayne.”
Rick Briley was born and raised in central Iowa, volunteered and served in the Army, and moved to Fort Wayne from Olympia, Washington nearly 40 years ago. Rick has a varied work background including owning a gas station, fighting forest fires in Washington State, working in a sawmill, serving as a Branch Manager of a Financial Institution, driving a semi for North American Van Lines, and then working as Manager of Fleet Development/ Driver Training for North American Van Lines. He is currently retired and loves to travel with his wife Lucy, having visited each of the lower 48 states, and many National and State Parks along the way. Rick has been actively involved with Fort Wayne Sister Cities, visiting Takaoka, Japan, Plock, Poland, Gera, Germany and Taizhou, China (twice!). He also served on the Board of Zoning Appeals for 4 years.
Cory Miller was born in Wurzburg, Germany in 1973, while his Father served in the US Army. Upon moving back to the United States, he graduated from Bellmont High School in Decatur, Indiana in 1992. In 1997, he graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Architecture. Cory is a registered architect in eight states and became partner at Elevatus Architecture in 2015. As a practicing architect, Cory has been involved in many local, state, and national projects including the Electric Works campus, the Bradley Hotel, Boys and Girls Club of Fort Wayne, among many others. Cory has a strong commitment to the community and has volunteered countless hours to local organizations including Daybreak Children’s Shelter, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana, Friends of the Parks of Allen County, and the Downtown (Fort Wayne) Design Committee. He currently resides in Fort Wayne with his wife, Brooke, and their four children.
McDaniel added, “Rick and Cory both bring an immense amount of experience and dedication to the growth of Fort Wayne, and we are excited to have their support as our parks and facilities continue to develop. We welcome them to the Board of Park Commissioners and can’t wait to start working with them.”
###
