Following Conrad Sudduth’s retirement after 18 years as manager of Scotts Valley Parks & Recreation Division, department veteran Kristin Ard has taken the recreation reins for the city.

Ard has worked for the department since 1988, when she started as a part-time recreational aide. She became a full-time employee in 1995 and has done almost every job in the department, including recreation leader, site director and most recently senior recreation specialist.

“I’m excited to take on the role and really happy to work with everyone here in the rec division, the community and the city,” Ard said.

The city will not fill her vacated position, and Ard will continue as the senior recreation specialist even as she becomes the recreation division manager.

“I just want to keep things going as smoothly as possible,” Ard said.

She said she hoped to lead the department in a similar manner to Sudduth, who she worked for during from the start of her employment with the department.

“He was amazing,” Ard said. “I admired his openness and honesty.”

Ard said Sudduth excelled at finding his employees’ strengths and allowing them to do their work, and she hopes to support her staff likewise.

Scotts Valley’s summer camp program and swim lessons are in full swing. The department’s biggest event, the Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular, is also approaching.