Robert A. Farnsworth
President & Chief Executive Officer, PlayCore

Bob Farnsworth currently serves as President and CEO of PlayCore, a leading manufacturer of play and recreation products for both commercial and consumer markets. Previous to PlayCore, Mr. Farnsworth served in varying senior management positions across several industries. He has been involved with National Recreation and Park Association as a member of its Board for the past 11 years and is a member of its Executive Committee. He additionally serves as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee and has held this position for a total of 5 years.

Bob serves on the Advisory Board of the School of Business for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, as well as the Board of Directors of the Children's Home/Chambliss Shelter, the Creative Discovery Museum, and the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Chattanooga Leadership Council for the Trust for Public Land. Currently, Bob provides leadership to PlayCore employees by encouraging their efforts to advance the value of play and recreation and maintains the company's commitment to products and programs that helps to build communities through play. Bob works and resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee and enjoys the opportunity to engage in parks and trails in Chattanooga, the Scenic City.

John L. Conely, Sr.
Senior Vice President & General Manager, Surfacing and Installation Services Group | PlayCore Operating Committee

John is a senior-level operations professional who has held various positions around the World with such companies as General Electric, Alcatel, and Iomega. John leads a strong team dedicated to providing the best Surfacing products and installation services in North America to a variety of Markets including the playground Safety Surface Market. He is focused on continuous improvement through the implementation of Lean principles into all areas of the business. His team definitely lives by the mantra of working hard and playing hard.

Richard E. Ruegger
Senior Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer, PlayCore | PlayCore Operating Committee

Rick Ruegger is responsible for all financial activities of the company, including financial reporting, treasury, tax, legal, audit, banking and insurance. With a 20-year background in the play industry, Rick is committed to providing the financial leadership and structure needed to ensure PlayCore’s continued profitable growth.

Carol Black
Vice-President of Finance & Accounting, PlayCore

Carol Black joined PlayCore as Vice-President of Finance and Accounting in July, 2009. Prior to joining the company, she worked at CNH (Case-New Holland) for ten years. Carol is skilled in cost reduction and lean manufacturing & design, and implementing cost initiatives and improvement.

Lisa Moore
Vice President, Corporate Strategic Services, PlayCore | PlayCore Operating Committee

Lisa Moore is responsible for the company's strategic services including independent research, national partnerships, curricula and programming resources, and outreach efforts that promote the value of play and recreation. In addition, Lisa leads the company’s strategic planning, corporate communications, e-Commerce and employee relations initiatives. She is experienced in working with children of all abilities in a variety of educational and medical settings. Lisa is active in her professional and local communities and is currently a candidate for an Ed.D. degree, with a research focus on play. She believes in the power of play and is committed to building communities through play for children and families of all abilities.

Anne-Marie Spencer
Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Communications

Anne-Marie is responsible for marketing and communications for PlayCore, serving as the coordinator for all brand efforts, company spokesperson, advertising, promotion, trade show design and external/internal communications. Anne-Marie is a member of the Board of Directors of NCPPA, the National Coalition to Promote Physical Activity, a broad coalition of experts to support the Nation's first Physical Activity Plan, a sweeping initiative to improve public health. She is committed to ensuring that communities get the most from play by motivating the marketing teams with creativity, encouragement ...and by never forgetting to play.

Tom Norquist
Senior Vice President of Product Development, Sales and Marketing, GameTime | PlayCore Operating Committee

As a founding board member in 1995, past president and current secretary of the International Play Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (IPEMA) and long-term active American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) representative, Tom Norquist has been involved in all aspects of the play industry. He actively participated in the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, serves on the Board for the International Playground Contractor’s Association, and served from 2002-2004 on the Advisory Board for the National Program for Playground Safety. Tom is a founding member and active leader on the U.S. Coalition for Play. Under Tom’s leadership, IPEMA formed their value of play outreach effort through the www.voiceofplay.org website. Additionally, Tom is serving as an advisor for the National Institute for Play. He is a skilled marketer, product innovator and children’s advocate for safer, creative, inclusive and fun play. Tom is known for his boundless energy and heartfelt love for an understanding of children and adults at play.

Spencer Cheak
Senior Vice President & General Manager, PlayCore | PlayCore Operating Committee

Spencer Cheak is the General Manager responsible for all aspects of the GameTime business unit as well as all operational issues at PlayCore's Southern Fulfillment Center in Fort Payne, Alabama,. He serves on the boards of the DeKalb County United Givers Fund and Oneonta, Alabama Parks and Recreation. Spencer leads a highly skilled team to produce beyond compliant, high-quality playground equipment enjoyed by children all over the world.

Mark Burgess
Senior Vice President and General Manager of Recreation Brands Group, PlayCore | PlayCore Operating Committee

Mark Burgess is responsible for managing PlayCore's Recreation Brands Group, which is made up of a suite of companies and recreation products including Play and Park Structures, UltraPlay, GT Grandstands, UPlay Today playgrounds, BigToys and SNUG configurable play. He has more than 20 years of experience in the commercial and retail recreation industry in both the United States and abroad and has conducted business in more than 50 countries. He has also served on local, national, and international boards in the recreation industry.

Bob Barron
Senior Vice President of Sales, GameTime | PlayCore Operating Committee

Bob Barron is a senior-level sales and marketing professional with more than 23 years of experience managing dynamic sales teams. His experience includes working with industry leaders and Fortune 100 companies to develop global distribution networks. Bob is currently responsible for managing all domestic and international sales activities for GameTime and is also part of the PlayCore operating committee. He is an active member of several industry organizations and is a strong advocate for building better communities through play.

Dave Biancofiore
Senior Vice President and General Manager, PlayCore Consumer Products | PlayCore Operating Committee

Mr. Biancofiore has served as Senior Vice President/GM of Swing-N-Slide, the Consumer Play Division for PlayCore since 2008. Mr. Biancofiore joined the Consumer Play Division of PlayCore in 2006 as Vice President of Operations. Prior to joining PlayCore, Mr. Biancofiore was a Division President with Brown Jordan International, holding positions of increasing responsibility within operations, marketing and sales. Mr. Biancofiore has been a 25 year furniture executive holding positions with both Residential and Contract furniture manufacturers.

Mike Hawkins
Vice President, Corporate Risk Management, Insurance & Legal Affairs, PlayCore

Mike Hawkins is responsible for all the company’s legal and risk management endeavors.  He is the designated point person for contact with all forms of press or media for all divisions of PlayCore. Mike is an active member of several community organizations and has more than 25 years of experience in the play industry. He is committed to ensuring that PlayCore produces industry-compliant, innovative equipment, and emphasizes the importance of play in our lives. 

Mike McWilliams
Vice President of Quality, Global Sourcing and Logistics, PlayCore

Mike McWilliams has been in the recreation industry for 28 years. He is a member of the American Society for Testing and Materials, serving on Committee F08 on Sports Equipment and Facilities, as well as Committee F15 on Consumer Products. He manages a team of professionals and is committed to providing and delivering the highest quality products and services to PlayCore’s internal and external customers. Mike and his team led the ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 environmental and quality management system certification processes and continue to direct our company’s sustainable business practices.

Jennie Sumrell
Director of Programs and Partnerships, PlayCore

Jennie has worked with children and families of all abilities for nearly ten years. Her formal training and experience in early childhood education, exceptional learning, special education, and assistive technology allows her to have meaningful influence on program and product development. Jennie is responsible for programs and partnerships that help build communities through play and she leads PlayCore’s community outreach providing continuing education to professionals across the country.

Chris Allen
Vice President of Manufacturing and Planning, GameTime | PlayCore Operating Committee

Chris is responsible for the manufacturing activities, including production, process improvement, cost reduction, budgets and inventory, engineering, maintenance, tool and die and information systems at the Southern Fulfillment Center in Ft. Payne, Al. Chris is committed to helping his team deliver the highest quality products to PlayCore’s customers. He focuses himself and his team on providing the play products necessary to enable PlayCore’s programs to provide an enriching play experience and to help build communities through play.

Tim Sudeith
Corporate Vice President & General Manager, EverActive Brands | PlayCore Operating Committee

Tim Sudeith is responsible for overseeing daily operations, initiating new product development and guiding business expansion for PlayCore’s EverActive Brands Group which includes Everlast Climbing and Spectrum Aquatics. His entrepreneurial spirit and background in fine art and business highlight a creative and forward-thinking leadership style. As Founder of Everlast Climbing Industries, Tim and his team have been advocates for youth fitness for more than a decade, designing products that playfully engage, challenge and ultimately improve children’s fitness levels. Tim enjoys being part of a dynamic and innovative team and strives to continuously improve all aspects of the company.

Beth McCoy
Director of Market Research & Strategy, PlayCore

Beth leads business intelligence, planning and development initiatives that position the PlayCore family of brands for future growth. She relies upon the voice of customer, product marketing, channel development, public affairs and program management experience she gained in the transportation, telecommunications and energy industries to help PlayCore identify the most promising opportunities to build communities through play. Her current role keeps her focused on key interests and issues for the company – child development, health and wellness and connecting with the outdoors and nature.

Mike Love
Corporate Director Human Resources, PlayCore

Mike leads Human Resources practices and objectives that promote an employee-oriented, high performance, mission and values based culture that emphasizes teamwork and pride, high performance, quality, and continuous improvement. We believe our employees are our most valuable assets and Mike and the Human Resource team are committed to recruit and retain a highly engaged world class team of talent who deliver the highest quality play and recreation products to PlayCore's stakeholders. Mike is active in several community organizations that promote play and fitness to youth.