Media Contact: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195

DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Director Clark E. Ray announced today that Michele Molotsky has been selected as director of the agency’s senior services division and Brendan M. McElroy as director of aquatics.

“Michele Molotsky is a natural choice to support DPR's aggressive effort to be the premier recreation, athletic, and leisure resource for the District's seniors,” said Director Ray. "Michele brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge in constituent services, administration, and neighborhood outreach.  Each of these skills are essential for DPR to maintain and improve DPR's senior services."

“Brendan McElroy has an unparalleled devotion to youth and community, a strong commitment to the sport of swimming and quantifiable program management results. From executives at USA Swimming to swim coaches throughout the United States, Brendan came to DPR highly recommended. I am confident that residents will see the impact of his addition to DPR.”

About Michele Molotsky, DPR Director of Senior Services
Michele Molotsky is the director of Senior Services for the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR).  Before joining DPR, Ms. Molotsky worked for seven years as director of constituent services for DC Councilmember Jack Evans.  In addition to fielding requests for services, Ms. Molotsky handled special projects including park improvements, streetscape renovations, and special events.  Ms. Molotsky worked regularly with residents from the James, the Claridge, and Asbury Dwellings seniors buildings.

Prior to working in Washington, DC, Ms. Molotsky served as a Mayoral and Council Aide for the City of Oakland from 1994 to 1998. In these positions, Ms. Molotsky was director of the Mayor’s Summer Jobs program, provided legislative analysis regarding employment and job development, youth education and placement, and communication strategy. Through her work with former Oakland City Councilmember Nate Miley, Ms. Molotsky worked with the United Seniors of Oakland.

Ms. Molotsky has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

About Brendan M. McElroy, DPR Director of Aquatics
Brendan M. McElroy is the director of Aquatics for the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR).  Mr. McElroy has more than 25 years of aquatics, executive leadership, and education and training experience.  He is a certified coach by USA Swimming and is an American Red Cross certified lifeguard.

Prior to joining DPR, Mr. McElroy was a facility director with the City of Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks where he was responsible for a broad range of recreational programs and staffing.  Before his promotion to facility director, Mr. McElroy served as a recreation program assistant.  In these positions he implemented citywide year-round programming for youth and adult sports, coordinated year-round after-school and summer camps for youth, and taught “After School Matters” a sports management curriculum for at-risk high school students.

From 1998 to 2008, Mr. McElroy was the head coach for the Baltimore City Swim Club where he coached and mentored athletes and assisted junior coaches for Baltimore’s citywide competitive swim team. During his tenure he manged all aspects of team travel, oversaw competitive swim programs for over 80 swimmers, implemented both year-long and seasonal training programs, directed the Aqua-Brats Learn-to-Swim Program for children and youth ages 4 to 18 years old, and created and served as meet director for the Unity Championship Swim Meet.

For the past 11 years the award-winning coach also served as camp director of All God’s Children at The Children’s Peace Center in Baltimore. He was responsible for program development, fundraising, staffing, marketing and implementation of a week-long residential recreational camp for 60 inner-city youth ages 7 to 12 with a staff of 30 volunteers. 

Mr. McElroy also served on the Maryland Swimming board of directors for seven years, where he served in a variety of positions including Outreach Chairman, Diversity Chairman, and Age Group Vice Chairman.  Mr. McElroy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia.