As the holiday season unfolds, we at Grapevine Parks and Recreation want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made Carol of Lights truly magical! This incredible event was made possible by the dedication, teamwork, and effort of our amazing crews
The true highlight of the season, however, was our Employee Award Ceremony, where we celebrated the exceptional team members whose passion and commitment are the foundation of our success.
As we wrap up the year, we wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and time to rest and recharge. Thank you for an unforgettable season see you in 2025 (literally)!
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Meet Ana Rodenas: The REC’s New Membership Coordinator! Ana has been part of our team for two and a half years and is excited to step into this new role
Ana comes from a lively, loving family and has a furry sidekick named Chewy. She’s full of fun facts: her favorite food is salad, she never leaves home without her contacts, and she’s a devoted fan of The Office. In her free time, Ana enjoys sleeping, meal prepping, and tackling DIY projects While sports talk isn’t her strong suit, she does dabble in pickleball occasionally
Ana thrives on creativity, good sleep, and HTeaO pickme-ups, bringing her “okay, let’s do this!” energy to every challenge She loves houseplants, avoids mascots, and would pick “Boogie Wonderland” as her life’s theme song
Ana considers The REC her second home and looks forward to learning and growing with the team and community We’re lucky to have her enthusiasm, positivity, and dedication!
Meet Eden Hernandez, our Contract Compliance Technician in the Parks Maintenance Division!
A family man, Eden enjoys spending time with his wife Dennise, their three kids Jayden (15, soccer lover), Genesis (10, art and volleyball fan), and Genevieve (4, the family’s energetic sidekick) and their furry friend, Tilly.
In his downtime, Eden loves jogging, grilling, and watching Speed He lives by the motto, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” and brings a determined, energetic spirit to our team
Eden is excited to be part of Grapevine Parks and Recreation because of the limitless opportunities it offers Let’s give Eden a warm welcome and celebrate his contributions to our team!
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Meet Steve Merritt, our talented Skills Trade Technician in the Parks and Recreation Division! Steve is a dedicated family man, proud husband to Sheri, and dad to two daughters, Henley (15) and Carlie (12). He also shares his home with two beloved dogs.
Steve’s favorite meals come from his hunting and harvesting adventures, and he never leaves home without his trusty P-38 multitool When he’s not working, you’ll find him spending time with his family or exploring the woods A lover of football and a fan of Christmas Vacation!
Living by the motto, “Leave it better than you found it,” Steve brings a positive attitude and hard work to everything he does He’s excited to be part of Grapevine Parks and Recreation because of the amazing people he’s met along the way people he’d "move Heaven and Earth for ” Welcome, Steve!
Meet Denesha Factory, our dedicated Reservations Supervisor! Denesha is a proud mom to her son, Jamisen, and fur baby, BeauBeau
Her favorite snack is kettle corn popcorn, and she never leaves home without her earrings she says she feels naked without them! Denesha loves watching A Different World and Coming to America, and in her free time, you’ll often find her hanging out with her sorority sisters or dancing, her favorite activity
At work, Denesha is energized by good music, positive energy, and teamwork Her motto comes from Psalms 138:8: “The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever ” Fun fact: she’s the only registered voter in Texas with the last name "Factory"!
Denesha is excited to work with Grapevine Parks and Recreation as an opportunity for growth and to become a more well-rounded PARD professional. Welcome, Denesha!
THE APPLAUSE LINE
TEAM TO TEAM APPRECIATION
A big Shout out to Luke and Ana!
You both have done an amazing job joining full-time! Your positive attitudes and dedication have been truly inspiring throughout your years at The REC. - Mariah
Shout-Out to Grapevine’s Christmas Elves!
A big thank-you to all the incredible Christmas elves who work tirelessly every day to keep Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas®, looking amazing throughout the season From multiple daily checks to urgent fixes, your dedication ensures the lights shine bright, the décor stays perfect, and the magic never stops for over six weeks!
It takes a passionate team to deliver the level of holiday tradition and magic our community loves, and I’d like to recognize a few by name: Octavio for his constant and reliable help, Doug, Jonas, and Myke for always stepping up when needed and Sean for his expert forklift skills Thank you all for bringing the magic to life! - Randy Sell
Shout out to Emily, Blake and Mitchell:
I want to give a HUGE shoutout to Emily, Blake and Mitchell for helping the community events team get set-up this evening for Carol and killing it!
Their willingness to go above and beyond today truly helped make it such a successful set-up day We couldn’t have accomplished anything close to what we did today without them You truly have an incredible team thanks for sharing them with us! - Brooke Hubbard
A Huge Thank You to the Tech & Setup Team!
Shout-out to Justin, Morgan, Taylor, and Tony for ensuring everything communicates, plays, and sounds just right, night after night Your readiness to step in whether fixing issues remotely or coming in on short notice makes all the difference - Randy Sell
Thank you Hayden:
I want to give a HUGE shoutout to Hayden for helping the community events team get set-up this evening for Carol and killing it!
His willingness to go above and beyond truly helped make it such a successful set-up day!Brooke Hubbard
Thank you Jeremiah!
A big thank you to Jeremiah for your hard work and dedication in making the Christmas Capital of Texas shine bright Your efforts make a huge impact on our city and all who experience its magic – Randy Sell
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THE APPLAUSE LINE II
TEAM TO TEAM APPRECIATION
Shout-Out to Ana Rodenas!
Ana is absolutely crushing it as our new Membership Coordinator! In just a few weeks, she’s become a strong leader for part-time staff, nailed the part-time awards banquet, and is dominating membership incentives Friendly, helpful, and a total rock star we’re lucky to have her! – Emily Marecle
Thank you Luke and Ana!
I would like to give a shout-out to our newest Recreation Coordinators, Luke and Ana I have been so impressed with their work ethic in the short time they have been in their roles. They have both jumped right into learning their responsibilities and making meaningful contributions. Their eagerness to learn, grow, and improve processes has been truly commendable. I’m excited to see how they continue to develop in their positions. – Jennifer
APPRECIATION FROM PATRONS
Shout out to Joseph and Angelo:
I wanted to take a moment to recognize the actions of two exceptional City of Grapevine employees, Joseph and Angelo, who work in the weight room at The REC Recently, I witnessed them address a young man wearing a hat with offensive profanity about the Commander-in-Chief. Despite the individual’s disrespectful behavior, Joseph and Angelo handled the situation with professionalism, respect, and a commitment to the values Grapevine stands for. As a Veteran, I deeply appreciate their efforts to uphold honor and integrity in our community. Grapevine is a truly special place, and employees like Joseph and Angelo exemplify what makes it great.
Thanks to the team for all that they do to uphold the high standards that make Grapevine truly special
Sincerely, Nathan Joe Loftice
Thank you to the AA Team and those who helped out for Veteran’s Day lunch! I wanted to take a moment to share my heartfelt gratitude for everyone who made today’s luncheon so special. I didn’t want to miss the chance to say how much we all appreciated the delicious BBQ and the wonderful company! - Teri Rhodes-Cantu
Y E A R S O F
S E R V I C E
R E C O G N I T I O N
Scott Hardeman
Join us in celebrating Scott Hardeman, our dedicated Hospitality Manager, for 30 incredible years of service with Grapevine Parks and Recreation! Scott will be retiring on January 24, 2025, and we couldn’t be more excited to honor his legacy A family man and golf enthusiast, Scott’s contributions have been instrumental in shaping our department Known for his upbeat motto, "Cool Beans!" and love for Grapevine’s supportive community, we’re grateful for his decades of hard work and commitment Thank you, Scott, for your many years of service, we will miss you!
R S O F V I C E O G N I T I O N
celebrating Tony’s 20 years of th Grapevine Parks and n! Starting in 2004, Tony brought n for the outdoors and dedication nce, earning Parks Professional of n 2016. A devoted husband and ny’s hard work continues to Grapevine for residents and visitors nk you, Tony!
12/02 Justin Jordan
12/03 Eden Hernandez
12/08 Mariah Wallace
12/15 Megan Varner
12/27 Luke Clutterbuck
D E P A R T M H I G H
L I G H
Join us in spreading the exceptional indiv Parks and Recreatio
We are thrilled to an from our Christmas L
Hayden Garner:
James Duvall: B
Emily Marecle: B
Rachel Vise: He
Nathalie Mason:
Jeff Donaldson: Brooke Hubbard
Let's shower them w and well-wishes for our community
