Karen Beck-Herzog, an 18-year veteran of the National Park Service, has been selected as the new Site Manager for Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. She replaces Amy Bracewell, who was promoted to superintendent of Saratoga National Historical Park in July. Beck-Herzog has been serving as the Acting Site Manager since that time, and officially began her new, permanent duties on November 30.
Jim Northup, Superintendent of both Shenandoah National Park and Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, said, “I am very excited to have Karen in this new position. She has already proven that she has the leadership and relationship building skills necessary to be a great site manager at this partnership park; working with the park staff, the legislated partners, the Federal Advisory Commission, and the surrounding communities to continue with this park’s development and success. She has quickly earned the support of the park staff and the partners, and after careful consideration of all of the applicants, I am confident that Karen has the best combination of skills necessary to manage Cedar Creek and Belle Grove at this time.”
Beck-Herzog began her National Park Service (NPS) career after earning a B.A. degree in Economics and International Affairs from Bucknell University and an early career in financial services with SEI Investments. Her first National Park Service position was in maintenance administration at Grand Canyon National Park, followed by an assignment with the NPS Budget Office in Washington DC, where she managed the NPS “Project Management Information System” and “Service-wide Comprehensive Call” –critically important systems to every park in the country. In 2002, she also served as the Acting Superintendent at Fort Clatsop National Monument in Oregon.
For the past 13 years, Beck-Herzog has served as the Management Assistant at Shenandoah National Park, where she has served as the park’s Public Affairs and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer, has managed a complex portfolio of land and right-of-way issues, and served as the park’s primary liaison with the park’s nine surrounding counties, a variety of stakeholder groups and the Shenandoah National Park Trust, the park’s official philanthropic partner.
“I am very excited at the opportunity to serve as the site manager and to join the talented team already in place at the park,” Beck-Herzog said. “I’m thrilled to begin working in earnest with our partners, neighbors, and gateway communities to continue developing the park and drawing more visitors to the area.”
Karen, and her husband Steve, also a National Park Service employee, are the proud parents of two children, Zachary and Ashley.
For more about Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park go to www.nps.gov/cebe.