Read about February's Member Spotlights, Alex Bustle of Valdese Parks & Recreation and Randi Tollner of Huntersville Parks & Recreation.

Aquatics & Fitness Supervisor
Valdese Parks & Recreation

For the past four years, Alex has served as the Aquatics & Fitness Supervisor with Valdese Parks & Recreation and supports the department in multiple capacities, ensuring multiple programs are available to the patrons who enter their doors. He also serves as Co-Coordinator for Special Olympics Burke County (3.5 years), coaches bowling and alpine skiing, and works to create and expend inclusive services and adaptive recreation opportunities for individuals of all abilities. He is a Licensed and Certified Recreational Therapist with over 12 years of professional experience and earned a degree in Recreational Therapy from East Carolina University, which provided a strong foundation in inclusive and therapeutic recreation services. Although his full-time career in Parks & Recreation spans the past four years, his involvement in the field began much earlier. 

Alex was introduced to Recreational Therapy while attending East Carolina University after participating in a seminar on the field, originally with plans to continue his education to become a physical therapist. That experience shifted his path, and he decided to pursue Recreational Therapy as a career. While attending East Carolina University, he worked part-time for Greenville Parks & Recreation in the Special Populations Department. In that role, he served as a Recreation Assistant, developing the Exceptional Community Football League and as an Inclusion Counselor, supporting participants of varying abilities. As a committee member for the Exceptional Community Football League, he assisted with the grant writing that secured funding to launch the program. As an Inclusion Counselor, he was able to provide individuals of all ability levels the opportunity to participate in a variety of camp settings. After moving to Knoxville, Tennessee to complete his internship and begin a professional career, he was blessed with the opportunity to return to North Carolina to work as a Licensed Recreational Therapist at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center. While he truly loved that role, his work primarily served individuals within a residential facility. Over time, he began to feel a calling to reach a broader population and create inclusive opportunities within his community. This led him back to public recreation, where he has been able to make a meaningful impact by expanding access to recreation and inclusion for people of all abilities.

Alex says, "I believe my creativity and diverse skill set are blessings from a creative God. Whether it’s making Made in NC award-winning pimento cheese, my woodworking, or developing high-quality recreation programs for the community, I strive to use those God-given talents with intention and excellence. In every area of my life, I aim to honor that blessing by providing quality products and meaningful services to those I have the opportunity to serve."

Athletics Coordinator
Huntersville Parks & Recreation

Randi is the Athletic Manager for Huntersville Parks & Recreation, where she oversees the planning, organization, and facilitation of athletic programs throughout the year. Her work focuses on creating positive, inclusive, and well-run experiences that serve participants of all ages and skill levels.

She began her career with the department as an Athletic Assistant in 2021 and transitioned into the Athletic Manager role in 2022. Prior to joining staff, she volunteered as a coach with the department for approximately five years, giving her a strong understanding of both program operations and participant experiences. She holds a degree in Parks & Recreation from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and initially worked in event planning within the nonprofit sector. Although she did not originally plan to work in local government, her career path shifted after volunteering as a youth volleyball coach, an experience that ultimately led her to apply when a position opened with the Town of Huntersville.

Within the organization, she is especially recognized for her leadership in youth athletics, particularly volleyball. As noted by her peer, Ben Benshoof, “Randi excels in the field, especially within athletics programming.” She leads the only recreational youth volleyball league in the area, a program that has earned five-star reviews and developed a strong reputation for skill development and positive experiences. The league regularly maintains long waitlists, and many participants go on to compete at the club, high school, and collegiate levels, demonstrating the long-term impact of her leadership.

She also consistently goes above and beyond her job responsibilities through her leadership of the town-wide Huntersville Cares initiative. This community-based “angel tree” program, operated in partnership with the police and fire departments, provides holiday support to families in need throughout Huntersville. She has led the initiative for the past three years, working closely with local schools, nonprofit organizations, and volunteers to identify families, coordinate donations, and distribute gifts. In the most recent year, the program supported 74 households, with each family receiving an average of ten gifts. Ben says, “This is not in her job description, it is just a program near to her heart.”

She embodies the spirit of parks and recreation through her dedication to service, community connection, and inclusive programming. And while she is deeply committed to her work, she enjoys fun competition like recently winning her office March Madness and College Football Playoff brackets. Her strategy? Choosing teams based on her favorite animals.

We believe the best stories come from our members. If you know someone who’s making waves (or quietly making magic), nominate them for a Member Spotlight and help us share their story.