Suzanne Wolf

Suzanne Wolf has an extensive career in local government as a leader in Parks and Recreation, working in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. Suzanne is results-oriented with her creative, collaborative, and community-based leadership style that encourages a positive work environment and creates excellent working relationships with elected officials, labor associations, school and community groups, non-profits, and fellow municipal leaders. She has strong leadership skills and employs strategic, data, and technology-based solutions in parks and recreation services, human services, team development, negotiations, facilitation, mentoring, organizational development, financial sustainability, and community services. Her experience includes rural and urban settings.

Suzanne’s 20 years of experience leading parks and recreation included her role as the Community Services Director in the City of Fremont where she led the Parks Planning and Design, Park Maintenance, Environmental Services, Urban Forestry, and Recreation Divisions. Her team managed over 1,200 acres of park and open space, delivering recreation programs to over 15,000 households a year.  With 102 staff members, she operated a $45M operating budget and over a $40M capital budget. She and her team completed the Parks and Recreation Master Plan embracing the community vision for Fremont’s future. From implementing new customer-friendly recreation software to creating the first Urban Forest Management Plan, Suzanne is known for her strategic thinking.

As the Deputy Director in San Jose, she oversaw an operating budget of $23 million, 180 staff, and 54 community centers. She was also responsible for a network of over 100 non-profit, public, and private organizations in the delivery of services to the community including the nationally recognized Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force. As the Project Manager, she created key strategic plans including the original “Greenprint” for the Department, the Aquatics Master Plan, and a Community Sports Field Study for the 12th largest city in the United States. Under Suzanne’s guidance, the department increased revenue from 28% to 40%. Suzanne also led the effort to make San Jose’s signature park and zoo facility nationally recognized for its financial and environmental sustainability.

Suzanne has presented at national and statewide conferences with NRPA, ASLA, CPRS, ORPA, YMCA, and in China. She is proud of her speaking engagement in Beijing, China where she spoke with students and leaders on possible reuse ideas for the Olympic Stadium. Suzanne holds a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from U.C. Berkeley, her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Washington and is a National Recreation and Parks Association Certified Parks and Recreation Executive (CPRE). Suzanne completed the 2021-22 Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Program.