By David Markham
A desire to bolster the agency’s focus on meeting the needs of Johnson County residents, and ensuring the Johnson County Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners has a pulse on how those needs change, are among Erik P. Hage reasons for wanting to serve on JCPRD’s governing body.
The Roeland Park resident was sworn in as the new 7th District representative during the board’s March 15 regular meeting,
“In my career as a property and casualty insurance broker, my predominate client basis are tax-funded entities (cities, schools, special district),” he said. “In the course of this work, I’ve become invested and interested in all aspects of municipal and governmental work. Specific to JCPRD, they have been a client since my employment at CBIZ, and I have been a user of JCPRD during my 11 years of residence in the county.”
Since 2016, Hage has served as lead account executive for CBIZ Insurance Services, Inc., where he serves as Associate Director of Operations as well as Team Lead for CBIZ Kansas City’s Public Entity Program. From April 2011 to March 2016, he worked for Lockton Companies, where he served in capacities including account administrator, account manager, and senior account manager. Hage holds a bachelor of science degree in sports management from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus. He is a chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), and an Associate in Risk Management (ARM).
He added that he believes his background in coverage placement, as well as overall risk management, will be of benefit to the board.
“My knowledge of these areas, paired with my knowledge of the Kansas Tort Claims Act, can provide special insight regarding programming, maintenance and user/employee communication,” he said.
Hage served on the Roeland Park Sustainability Committee from 2016 to 2017, and has served on the Roeland Park Board of Zoning Appeals since 2018.
Hage is a native of Maple Grove, Minn., and has lived in Johnson County for 12 years. Hage and his wife, Emily, have been married 12 years this fall, and are the parents of two daughters, Violet (8) and Ellen (5).
“Having had two kids go through the early education program in Roeland Park, I’m hoping to find ways to continue to broaden childcare services throughout Johnson County,” Hage said. “The commitment and expertise of the staff is incredible. Their dedication to JCPRD’s mission and professionalism in making JCPRD a trusted ‘brand’ is paramount to the continued growth of the district.”
JCPRD Board
Per Kansas statutes, JCPRD is governed by a seven-member, policy-making Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners appointed by the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners. In addition, a member of the BOCC serves as an ex officio member of the JCPRD Board. Terms of office are for three-year periods and are staggered so that a majority of the members have experience on the board. The board elects officers from its own members annually.
Longtime board member George J. Schlagel was also recently reappointed to a new three-year term. Schlagel has served as the 6th district’s at-large representative to the JCPRD board since November 2006.
2023 Officers
JCPRD board officers for 2023 elected during the board’s March 15 meeting are: Robert J. Carlson, chair; George J. Schlagel, vice chair; Daniel W. Forgy, secretary; Leslee Rivarola, treasurer; Heather Rubesch, assistant secretary; and Gary Ristow, assistant treasurer.