The following article was published by Springfield business Journal on March 19, 2024.
The Springfield Park District has appointed Nathan Essex as the director of recreation and marketing, effective March 18.
Originally from Farmington, Illinois, Essex relocated to Sangamon County in 2002.
Before joining the Springfield Park District, he served as the principal of Auburn High School from 2012-2023, and as assistant principal for three years prior to that.
Drawing upon his extensive background in education, Essex said he is "eager to leverage his expertise to enrich the recreational experiences offered by the Park District and foster a sense of unity and vitality within the community."
“We are excited to welcome Nathan to our team here at the Springfield Park District," said executive director Derek Harms. "We are confident he is a great fit and will provide a fresh viewpoint to the staff and operations at the District.”
Essex is a graduate of Quincy University and holds post-graduate degrees from University of Illinois at Springfield and Illinois State University.