Holli Browder, CPRP, CPO, AFO
Director
(706) 225-4658

Holli Browder is the Director of the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department. Formerly Assistant Director of the department, Mrs. Browder was the Recreation Services Division Manager from 2011-2013. As Recreation Services Division Manager she was responsible for and managed the staff, budget, and facility operations for the overall administration of the city's Recreation Services Division. The Recreation Services Division is comprised of the city's recreation centers, senior centers, cultural arts/britt david studios, and the area of therapeutics. Mrs. Browder began working for the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department in April of 2002 and prior to working in Columbus was an employee for the Phenix City Parks and Recreation Department where she was an Athletic Superintendent.

Mrs. Browder holds a BA in Communications from Columbus State University and holds the certification of a CPRP (certified parks and recreation professional). She has been a NYSCA (national youth sports coaches association) clinician since 1999. She is also a very active member of the GRPA (Georgia Recreation and Parks Association) and is a past member of the ARPA (Alabama Recreation and Parks Association). She is married to Tim Browder and is the proud mother to two children. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, watching and playing sports, and enjoys being outdoors.

Josh Browning
Athletics Division Manager
(706) 225-4506

Josh graduated from Northside High School in 2005. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Columbus State University. He married his wife Avery who is a MCSD teacher and the two have a daughter, Annalee. Josh has worked with the Parks and Recreation Department since 2008 and has been in the Athletic Division Manager since 2022. He supervises the day-to-day operations of the Athletic Division. He manages the adult recreation leagues, as well as helping coordinate various youth and adult tournaments and leagues held at parks and recreation facilities. He serves as a department liaison to District 8 Little League and the Columbus youth football league.

Sharon Calhoun
29th Street Recreation Center
(706) 641-5947

Sharon Calhoun is the Center Director at Fluellen and has 3 children and 1 granddaughter. She has been working for the City of Columbus Parks and Recreation and Community Schools Department combined together for 20+ years. Sharon is a graduate from Jordan High School and played on the first ever girls basketball team to reach the state championship. She is also a basketball coach /motivator of sports and loves it. Sharon's hobbies are enjoying her children and grandbaby, walking, going to church, reading and studying the Bible.

Enrique "Rick" Carrillo
Director of Haygood Recreation Center
(706) 322-7051

Mr. Carrillo has worked for Columbus Parks and Recreation for the past 12 years, serving in the capacity of activity leader, concessionaire for aquatics, and in his current position of Recreation Center Leader for our Recreation Services Division. Coach Carrillo is responsible for training and managing the Columbus boxing team. Coach Rick has been coaching boxing for 26 years and has traveled all over the USA with different teams. Two of his boxers completed in the Olympics tryouts, as well as, over thirty-five golden glove champions and over twenty-five junior Olympics champions. The Columbus boxing team competes in the Georgia amateur boxing association, Inc. The Georgia amateur boxing association (GABA) is a local boxing committee (LBC) of the USA boxing organization. Coach Carrillo serves as second vice president on the board. In 2007 the department had the pleasure of witnessing coach Carrillo being inducted into the Georgia amateur boxing hall of fame. Coach Carrillo lends his expertise to the sport by serving as head coach for Georgia traveling boxing team where the boxers compete on a national level. A native of Bronx, New York, Mr. Carrillo has been happily married for 34 years to Linda Carrillo. He has 5 sons and thirteen grandkids.

Angie DeNamur
Director of Lake Oliver Marina
(706) 653-4634

Angie is the Supervisor at the Lake Oliver Marina and she is responsible for the day to day operations. She is a native of the Columbus/Phenix City area and a graduate from Central High School. Angie has one son and three adopted rescue dogs. She enjoys rescuing animals and gardening.

Carolyn Evans
Director of Fluellen Recreation Center
(706) 641-5950

Carolyn started working with Parks and Recreation in 2015 as a Recreation Leader at Therapeutic Recreation. In 2018 she was promoted to Administrative Secretary and worked in that position until a promotion in March 2021 to Center Director of Fluellen where she is currently working.

Brian Fisher
Director of Pop Austin Recreation Center
(706) 225-3768

Brian Fisher is a native of Columbus Georgia and graduated of George Washington Carver High School. He participated in track and field and was a member of the Basketball team. Upon graduation he received a basketball scholarship to Savannah State University(SSU) where he would go on to be a four-year starter. In the Spring of 2002 he became a member of the distinguished fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha Incorporated. While pursuing his degree in Recreation and Park Administration he spent his summers working as a counselor for the National Youth Sports Program(NYSP). There he developed his passion to work in the field of recreation. Upon graduating from Savannah he worked as an Activity Therapist at both the Savannah RYDC and West Central Georgia Regional Hospital. Prior to this, he was a Special Education teacher who coached Boys’ Basketball and went on to win two middle school championships as a head coach and one High School State Championship as an assistant coach. He also coached Girls Basketball, Girls volleyball and Track and Field. After leaving education, he was the Center Supervisor for the Adaptive program in Macon-Bibb County, serving as the local coordinator for Area 7 Special Olympics. Currently he is the Director of Therapeutics for Columbus Parks and Recreation at Paul “Pop” Austin recreation center where he also serves as the Local Coordinator for Area 10 Special Olympics.

Patty Glaser
Employment Coordinator
(706) 225-4644

Patty Glaser is the Employment Coordinator for the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department. Patty is a native of Columbus, GA and a 1977 graduate of Kendrick High School. She has been with Columbus Consolidated Government since 2008, starting at Metra Transit as office manager and then moving to Parks and Recreation as the Employment Coordinator. Patty enjoys spending time with her family and wonderful grandkids, loves reading and going camping with her husband.

Becky Glisson, CPRP
Assistant Director
(706) 225-4658

Becky is the Assistant Director and is responsible for assisting with planning and implementing short-term or annual goals, objectives, and strategies for the department. She is also responsible for managing the daily operations of the department as related to work flow, policies and procedures. She began her career in 1996 as the Administrative Assistant to the Director and worked her way up through the department in various positions with the last position being the Department Finance Manager. Becky holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Troy University. She also holds a CPRP Certification (Certified Parks and Recreation Professional) and a is a certified CPO (Certified Pool Operator).

Becky has a daughter that is currently attending law school in Texas and she enjoys spending time with her family and fur-babies.

Tommy Groce
Park Services Division Manager
(706) 225-4189

Tommy is the Park Services Division Manager. The Park Services Division maintains approximately 60 park areas consisting of active and passive areas of recreation. This consists of approximately 2,000 acres of park land and athletic facilities. Tommy holds a Bachelor's degree from Troy University in business. He began with the city in March of 1993 as a seasonal pool supervisor. In August of 1993, he became full time as an athletic program supervisor until March 1999 when he was promoted to Athletic Program Manager. In 2004, he was promoted to the Park Services Division Manager. Tommy has two married sons, and seven grandchildren. Tommy spends his spare time playing golf, reading, and spending time with family.

Joy Hendrix
Director of Frank Chester Senior Center
(706) 225-3727

Joy has been employed with the Columbus Consolidated Government since 1977. She started working at the Lake Bottom tennis courts and after many years at the tennis courts, she moved to the Double Churches Recreation Center. currently, Joy is the Director of the Frank Chester Senior Center, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the center.

Christelle Johnson
Director of Edgewood Senior Center
(706) 225-3747

Christelle is the Director of Edgewood Senior Center. Christelle is married and has three children. She is a member of Wynnton Road Church of God, where her husband is also the Pastor. Christelle enjoys working with the seniors and bringing fun, new activities to them.

Janet Langan
Community Engagement Coordinator
(706) 225-4638

Janet has worked for Parks and Recreation for 17 years serving in the capacity of Recreation Leader, Recreation Specialist II, and Community Engagement Coordinator. Janet is a recipient of the Columbus Consolidated Government Peer Award and 2017 GRPA distinguished administrative staff support award. She is married to Michael Langan and is the mother of two sons. Janet enjoys traveling, the beach, college football and spending time with family and friends.

Sam Manning
Director of Northside Recreation Center
(706) 641-5941

Samuel has been with the Columbus Parks & Recreation Department since 2017 and currently serves as a Recreation Specialist overseeing operations at the Northside Recreation Center.

Samuel Manning grew up in Los Alamitos, CA. After graduating from Los Alamitos High School in 2009, he attended college at California State University of Long Beach and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 2012. Samuel’s civics background includes a college internship with the City of Stanton in 2012 and nearly six years (2009-2015) of service in the City of Los Alamitos as a Parks & Recreation Commissioner. In 2015, he moved to Lafayette, IN and later relocated to Columbus, GA. Samuel is married and has one son. Samuel is an active member of the River City Church of Christ. In his spare time, he enjoys games of tactical prowess, arranging and composing music, studying history, and cooking.

Ryan McCann
Finance Manager
(706) 225-4651

Ryan is a proud Army BRAT and graduate of Columbus State University earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance Degree. He has spent the majority of his career in the banking and finance industry with stints teaching high school and as the owner of a computer network and support company. Ryan and his wife are the parents 6 children.

Jared Owens
Park Manager
(706) 225-4506

Jared was born and raised in Columbus and is married to his wife Crystal, who is a K-5 teacher. They have two boys, Evan and Charlie. They recently purchased land and will be moving to Hatchechubbee, AL. They are a family that loves hunting, fishing and farm animals, all which they will be able to enjoy at their home. Jared and his wife and both play rec league softball and both boys play football and baseball. Jared has been with Columbus since 2008 and still enjoys his involvement with the department. Jared is a graduate from Troy University with a degree in Psychology.

Mark Ruzeski
Director of Cooper Creek Tennis Center
(706) 225-4186

Mark supervises the day-to-day operations of Cooper Creek Tennis Center. Cooper Creek is the largest public clay court facility in the United States and hosts every year. Mark is a 1988 graduate of Kendrick High School and a 1993 Parks and Recreation administration graduate of Columbus State University. He has been employed with Parks and Recreation for over 20 years. He started his career with the after school program the year it was created and began working at Cooper Creek Tennis Center in May of 1994. He has been the tournament director of over 50 tennis tournaments from 1996 - 2009. Mark enjoys playing tennis and North Carolina University.

Teresa Snellings
Recreation Division Manager
(706) 225-3045

Teresa has worked for Columbus Parks and Recreation for 21 years, serving in the capacity of concession manager at the municipal auditorium, box office manager for the Columbus Civic Center and in her current position of Recreation Division Manager. Teresa holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Georgia Southwestern College and a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Troy University. She is a Columbus Consolidated Government Peer Award recipient, a Columbus Consolidated Government proudly serving progress award recipient, a distinguished service award employee of the year for the department, and she has also received the national tourism excellence award presented by the Columbus Convention Bureau. Teresa spends her spare time reading, drawing, playing various sporting activities and spending time with family and friends. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Sam Thies
Community Schools Division Manager
(706) 225-4510

Sam joined the Parks and Recreation Department as the Community Schools Division Manager in 2021. Sam has extensive knowledge in after care programs, childcare operations, and years of experience in leadership. She has a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s in Education with a specialization in Family and Community Services. She has been a Georgia native most of her life and has lived and worked in the Columbus area since 2014. Sam was in the military for 3 years and met her husband while stationed in Fort Richardson, Alaska. They have 3 beautiful children.