Tom O’Rourke                                                                 

Consulting Resume
Owner and President of Tom O’Rourke Parks and Recreation, LLC

Education

B.S., Slippery Roc University, Pennsylvania, 1978                                                                                                                                                   

Employment History

Professor of Practice, Clemson University, Jan. 2015-Present
President, Tom O’Rourke Parks and Recreation, LLC. Jan 2020 – Present
High School Track and Field Coach, (Pole Vault,) 1990 – Present
Mt. Pleasant, SC. Council Member, (Finance Chair, Mayor Pro Tempore) – Nov. 2017 – Nov. 2021
Executive Director, Charleston County Park and Rec Commission, Sept 2004 – 2021
Recreation Planner, Seamon Whiteside and Associates, Sept 2000 – Sept 2024
Director, Mt. Pleasant Recreation Department, Mt. Pleasant SC., 1990 – 2000
High School Athletic Director and Coach, Mt. Pleasant, SC – 1979 – 1989

Professional Experience

Tom O’Rourke is a parks and recreation consultant, an educator, an executive director of a nonprofit organization, a high school track and field coach and a national speaker. Tom’s previous experience include 18 years’ experience as a Park District Executive Director, 9 years’ experience as a municipal recreation director, and a City Council member and finance committee chair for the Town of Mt. Pleasant SC, a community of 100,000 residents.

Tom is in his 8th year as a Professor of Practice in the PRTM Department at Clemson University. His responsibilities include teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels and working with other faculty to assist communities, agencies, and practitioners in a variety of capacities. Tom’s focus at Clemson is in creating innovative and entrepreneurial models and solutions to issues facing the parks and recreation and nonprofit fields.

Tom has been an instructor at all of the NRPA schools, serving as an instructor and Board of Regent for the Revenue Development and Management School, The Directors School, The Supervisors Management School, and was the first Chair of the Park Foundation School. Tom has served as Board Chair at all the schools, and the Director of the Directors School.

Project Experience

  • City of Charleston, SC Parks, and Recreation Master Plan
  • Jasper County, SC Parks and Recreation Master Plan
  • Lindsay Pettus Greenway, Lancaster, SC Strategic Plan
  • Awendaw, SC Park District Nonprofit Operation Plan
  • Berkeley County, SC Greenbelt Finance and Spending Plan
  • Clearfield City, Utah, Park Business Plan
  • City of Greenville, SC Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan, Sept. 2019
  • NOVA Parks, VA  Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
  • City of Roswell, GA Parks, and Recreation Master Plan
  • City of Covington, KY Parks, and Recreation Master Plan
  • City of Garland, TX Parks, and Recreation Master Plan
  • City of Thomasville, GA Parks, and Recreation Master Plan