Emily Guynn joined Northwestern University as the Associate Athletic Director for Recreation in May of 2023.
Guynn has positively benefited from both athletics and recreation her entire life. Growing up a four-sport competitive athlete led her to learn invaluable life lessons, including the development of lifelong friendships, a strong work ethic, dedication, the value of hard work, perseverance, and leadership skills. Over the past twenty years, Guynn has used those characteristics to build a reputable career in the parks and recreation industry, including significant experience in recreation programming and services, facility management and operations, staff development and supervision, project management, and a passion for inclusion and community service.
Throughout her career, Guynn has had the distinct privilege to consistently impact the business model of the districts she’s served by identifying and implementing operational efficiencies, cost reduction strategies, and creating innovative services. More importantly, she’s brought a positive influence to workplace culture and built a stronger sense of community with both internal and external customers.
As the Manager of Recreation Services at the Glencoe Park District, she directly assisted the Director of Recreation in supervising full-time and part-time personnel. Guynn developed several large-scale Recreation Department initiatives, such as registration and revenue reports to determine the lifecycle of programs and to develop methods to either improve or replace programs not meeting goals. She also created a seasonal program matrix to ensure District programs within specific age demographics did not overlap days and times, led summer camp counselor training, and facilitated seasonal safety training for full-time and part-time employees. Additionally, she’s worked closely with the Village of Glencoe to coordinate community-wide special events and worked with the Glencoe School District to secure facility use permits and partnered on programs. Furthermore, she’s cultivated relationships with the Northshore Senior Center OASIS Institute to bring various senior programs to Glencoe residents, exposing non-residents to the newly renovated Takiff Center.
As the Weber Leisure Center Facility Manager at the Skokie Park District, Guynn managed the overall operations and programming of a 69,300-square-foot community center, including an 18,000-square-foot health club with a budget in excess of $1.45 million. She worked closely with both contracted architects and a construction management firm to successfully oversee all aspects of a $3.7 million, 11-month facility-wide renovation without service interruption. In her role, the most meaningful impact was the positive effect on the community, turning a large community center that once operated as three separate customer service centers into a one-team atmosphere. Guynn and her team set goals to create a teamwork culture, open and honest communication, and excellent customer service. That culture shift resulted in a significant increase in fitness memberships, group exercise participation, facility rentals, as well as participation in recreation programs and summer camps.
As the Superintendent of Recreation at the Wilmette Park District, Guynn led all aspects of the Recreation Department, including lakefront operations, recreational programming, and oversight of seven recreational facilities. She directly oversaw programming areas that included sailing, aquatics, ice, tennis, platform tennis, fitness, special programs and events, older active adults, cultural/visual/theatrical arts, early childhood, gymnastics, sports, general recreation, and a robust offering of summer camps. Guynn prepared, presented, implemented, and monitored an annual operating budget in excess of $18 million, along with a capital improvement plan in excess of $6.14 million scheduled for 2023.
As a former Western Illinois University Campus Recreation employee, intramural basketball player, and founding Women’s Club Volleyball member, Guynn can personally attest to the invaluable role campus recreation plays in overall student wellbeing.
"Campus recreation provides all students, no matter their age or ability, the opportunity to find their community, whether it is through self-directed workouts or friendships in group exercise classes, intramural and club sports, social opportunities, or providing the building blocks to a long-lasting career," said Guynn. "Campus recreation provides students with a safe home away from home to grow and develop during some of their most formative years. Northwestern University Department of Athletics and Recreation has the unique privilege of serving students, staff, and faculty while being a key stakeholder in the larger institution community and the surrounding area."
Guynn has positively benefited from both athletics and recreation her entire life. Growing up a four-sport competitive athlete led her to learn invaluable life lessons, including the development of lifelong friendships, a strong work ethic, dedication, the value of hard work, perseverance, and leadership skills. Over the past twenty years, Guynn has used those characteristics to build a reputable career in the parks and recreation industry, including significant experience in recreation programming and services, facility management and operations, staff development and supervision, project management, and a passion for inclusion and community service.
Throughout her career, Guynn has had the distinct privilege to consistently impact the business model of the districts she’s served by identifying and implementing operational efficiencies, cost reduction strategies, and creating innovative services. More importantly, she’s brought a positive influence to workplace culture and built a stronger sense of community with both internal and external customers.
As the Manager of Recreation Services at the Glencoe Park District, she directly assisted the Director of Recreation in supervising full-time and part-time personnel. Guynn developed several large-scale Recreation Department initiatives, such as registration and revenue reports to determine the lifecycle of programs and to develop methods to either improve or replace programs not meeting goals. She also created a seasonal program matrix to ensure District programs within specific age demographics did not overlap days and times, led summer camp counselor training, and facilitated seasonal safety training for full-time and part-time employees. Additionally, she’s worked closely with the Village of Glencoe to coordinate community-wide special events and worked with the Glencoe School District to secure facility use permits and partnered on programs. Furthermore, she’s cultivated relationships with the Northshore Senior Center OASIS Institute to bring various senior programs to Glencoe residents, exposing non-residents to the newly renovated Takiff Center.
As the Weber Leisure Center Facility Manager at the Skokie Park District, Guynn managed the overall operations and programming of a 69,300-square-foot community center, including an 18,000-square-foot health club with a budget in excess of $1.45 million. She worked closely with both contracted architects and a construction management firm to successfully oversee all aspects of a $3.7 million, 11-month facility-wide renovation without service interruption. In her role, the most meaningful impact was the positive effect on the community, turning a large community center that once operated as three separate customer service centers into a one-team atmosphere. Guynn and her team set goals to create a teamwork culture, open and honest communication, and excellent customer service. That culture shift resulted in a significant increase in fitness memberships, group exercise participation, facility rentals, as well as participation in recreation programs and summer camps.
As the Superintendent of Recreation at the Wilmette Park District, Guynn led all aspects of the Recreation Department, including lakefront operations, recreational programming, and oversight of seven recreational facilities. She directly oversaw programming areas that included sailing, aquatics, ice, tennis, platform tennis, fitness, special programs and events, older active adults, cultural/visual/theatrical arts, early childhood, gymnastics, sports, general recreation, and a robust offering of summer camps. Guynn prepared, presented, implemented, and monitored an annual operating budget in excess of $18 million, along with a capital improvement plan in excess of $6.14 million scheduled for 2023.
As a former Western Illinois University Campus Recreation employee, intramural basketball player, and founding Women’s Club Volleyball member, Guynn can personally attest to the invaluable role campus recreation plays in overall student wellbeing.
"Campus recreation provides all students, no matter their age or ability, the opportunity to find their community, whether it is through self-directed workouts or friendships in group exercise classes, intramural and club sports, social opportunities, or providing the building blocks to a long-lasting career," said Guynn. "Campus recreation provides students with a safe home away from home to grow and develop during some of their most formative years. Northwestern University Department of Athletics and Recreation has the unique privilege of serving students, staff, and faculty while being a key stakeholder in the larger institution community and the surrounding area."