The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has invited Adina McCollough, the Village of Park Forest's recreation supervisor, to speak at its upcoming conference in Atlanta this week.

The annual gathering, this time in Georgia's capital city, will bring together more than 8,000 professionals from the parks and recreation industry. They will have the opportunity to share knowledge and discuss the future of the field. McCollough has confirmed her participation in a panel discussion focusing on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the industry.

"I'm excited to share the stage with other like-minded people and talk about how A.I. can transform our field," McCollough said. "From making parks safer to boosting creativity and sustainability, there's so much to discuss. I can't wait to be part of this amazing event."

McCollough has been with the Village for over ten years in various roles. She started her career as a youth services coordinator at the Park Forest Library. From there, McCollough came to Village Hall and started a new position as a teen services coordinator, and she was promoted to recreation supervisor in 2018. She said going to the annual conferences helps her and her colleagues become innovative and bring new ideas to Park Forest. 

"We learn a lot from other professionals from all over the country," McCollough said. "This week, we will discuss the benefits of A.I. and address ethical concerns regarding privacy, data, and security."

McCollough and her colleague and director, Kevin Adams, will travel to Atlanta for the week to bring back new ideas to the Village of Park Forest.