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40 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, November 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 23, 2004 Sjothun welcomed to Parks job By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Medford Parks Department staff were thrilled to learn Brian Sjothun was chosen as their new boss. "Everybody’s pretty excited here that he got the job," said Sue McKenna, parks and recreation supervisor. "Brian’s got a great sense of humor, he’s a lot of fun." They should know, he’s been the interim director since Scott Archer resigned to move closer to his extended family in August. "I think he’s doing a really great job," she said. Sjothun (a Norwegian name, pronounced "show tune") officially began the new position, with an annual salary of $67,800 plus benefits, on Nov. 16, according to Human Resources Director Doug Detling. Advertisement Sjothun grew up in Portland and Sacramento, Calif. He later moved to Woodburn, where he worked in parks and recreation for 16 years, and helped develop an indoor year-round aquatic center. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Warner Pacific College and a master’s degree in public administration from Golden Gate University. Sjothun, 41, and his wife, Rene Sjothun, have been raising her two daughters, Nicole, 22, and Stephanie, 19, both of whom are in college. He said he enjoys reading, and two recent reads he liked are the last Harry Potter book, and Mitch Albom’s "The Five People You Meet In Heaven." McKenna said just in the time since Sjothun’s been on board, the recreation program brochure has expanded from four pages offering a couple dozen classes to a 32-page catalog including an additional 40 or so classes. She said they’re offering a lot more classes for youth, especially toddlers. The extended class listing is just an example of improvements that have come along since his hiring in March as recreation superintendent, and she attributes such changes not just to his own good ideas but his ability to listen to others’ good ideas. "He’s very positive, likes to sit down and brainstorm and bounce ideas — he’s a real team player," she said. And it’s going to take an upbeat positive attitude to overcome the failed bond measure that was going to help turn a large, muddy property into a sports park. "The $10 million would have been a great start," Sjothun admits. The money would have been used to fund capital improvement projects, such as streets, curbs, lighting and parking within the 132-acre park on Highway 99 between South Stage Road and Lowry Lane. "Now we’re working with a consultant to do a feasibility study (for fund-raising)," he said. There are 37 other sites in Medford that the director is in charge of, ranging from 1,740-acre Prescott Park to a half-acre triangle of grass at Court Street and Central Avenue. With those other parks, Sjothun doesn’t want his attention to get swallowed up in the sports park. "We can’t forget the facilities we already have, and we have to improve those," he said. The city will be accepting applications for the parks superintendent position left vacant by Sjothun’s promotion. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities