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Joe Frank was named the new president of Friends of Pavillion Park in late January. Frank serves as president of Greenstone Homes and has been involved with FOPP as a board member and volunteer. Joe’s father, Jim, was part of the original group that rallied support for the park and a summer entertainment series over 20 years ago.

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A Cup of Joe: New pillar at the park
2/25/2015 1:03:27 PM

Frank takes over as FOPP president

By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor

Joe Frank can remember when Pavillion Park emerged from a pedestrian patch of land to become a thriving community gathering place more than two decades ago.

His father, Jim - founder and CEO of Greenstone Homes - was part of a grassroots effort to make the park a reality along with fellow community advocates like Lud Kramer, Margaret Barnes, Ross Schneidmiller and Leslie Zilka in the mid-1990s. Friends of Pavillion Park was formed as the programming branch of the greenspace, organizing a summer concert and movie series that has become one of the region's most popular draws. 

Born in Spokane and raised in Liberty Lake, Joe graduated from Gonzaga Prep High School, his dad's alma mater. He helped coordinate the first movie agenda in the park before taking off for Seattle in the fall of 1996 to attend the University of Washington, where he majored in mechanical engineering. 

While respecting the success and impact of Greenstone, Frank set out to forge his own professional path after college. He headed to the east coast and Connecticut, latching on with Kimberly-Clark Corp., a company founded in 1872 and known primarily for production of paper-based consumer products. Frank spent 2000 to 2005 working for the company out of its Appleton, Wisc., office. 

"I was always interested in what my dad did with Greenstone, but I wanted to do my own thing," Frank said of his early career journey.

In 2005, Frank moved back to Spokane and began working for Greenstone as a project manager, eventually transitioning to purchasing manager. The next step up the ladder came when he was named general manager of Greenstone's home building division. When Jason Wheaton retired as Greenstone president, Frank was named his replacement and has held the position since the early part of last year.   

While his dad still serves as CEO, Joe now oversees the day-to-day operations of the company, a network that includes a quartet of successful branches - construction, residential development, commercial development and multi-family.

In late January, Frank became president of another local and well-respected entity when the FOPP board elected him as president. His tenure at the helm is officially a year, although a number of previous leaders, like Frank's predecessor, Bob Schneidmiller, have served longer.  

Between Greenstone, FOPP and family duties - Joe and his wife, Laura, are parents to three kids - Frank has little time for golf these days. He says he is looking forward to leading FOPP with an acknowledgement of the past and an eye toward the future, possibly adding new events to the agenda and, in his words, "getting the community more involved while making sure we grow with the community."  

The Splash caught up with Frank recently to chat about Greenstone, his new role at FOPP and the dynamics of Liberty Lake's most popular greenspace.    

Q: You were around when the first stage of Pavillion Park began in 1995. What are some of your favorite memories of the park over the last 20 years?

A: There have been a lot of amazing memories for me over the years. I think the memories that ring strongest in my mind though are the first time type of event. I still remember the very first movie screen we had - it had to be three or four times heavier than the one we have today. It was a challenge, to say the least, to move around. The first time we had Shakespeare in the Park, we were all so excited about the huge crowd we got on the first year, but then as the show was going we began to realize we started the show too late. It kept getting darker and darker and by the end of the show you could barely see the actors, but the Montana Shakespeare group made the best of it and put on a spectacular show. Last year was the first year we did a new release movie. We did a "Frozen" sing-along. This was especially memorable because I now have a 5-year-old daughter and she was so excited. I think we had 2,000 people to that movie. Definitely our biggest draw for a movie. 

Q: As you begin this new role as president of Friends of Pavillion Park, what do you see as some of your primary priorities and responsibilities? 

A: I have one goal as the president and that is to ensure we grow and evolve as an organization to meet the needs of today's Liberty Lake community. Liberty Lake has changed a lot over the years, and we need to make sure the type of events and programs we put on are evolving with the community. After all, our organization is about bringing the community together to celebrate, so our events need to appeal to a large audience.

Q: You've been involved in the coordination of the Holiday Ball in the past. Would FOPP ever consider adding another fundraising mechanism to compliment this event?

A: Adding other fundraising events is a discussion we have every year. Honestly, it is one of the biggest struggles for us. We understand we need funds from the community to continue to offer the programming we do, but at the same time we want all of our events, even the Holiday Ball, to be about bringing the community together to celebrate. It is a fine balance for us in keeping the Holiday Ball from being "just another fundraiser." We spend a lot of time and effort in trying to make it feel more like a community party and less like a charity auction. We will continue to have the discussion of an additional fundraiser but, at this time, no big changes on this front.

Q: The city of Liberty Lake has invested in a number of improvements at Pavillion Park recently, including new lighting, shade sails and the Fallen Heroes Circuit Course. Last month, City Council approved funding for a permanent concession stand, more storage and expansion of the women's bathroom. How would you describe the collaborative investment in the park and its programming between the city and FOPP?   

A: The city has been one of our biggest supporters all along. They have a true appreciation for the events we put on and support us with dollars and staff every year. The relationship we have with the city is a true partnership - it is a win-win all the way around. We are extremely excited about the city's decision to put in some capital improvements to Pavillion Park. It's the crown jewel of our park system and in order to keep it that way it will require some capital improvements from the city. I think this decision shows that the city understands this. These changes will allow for even a better experience for people coming out to enjoy the many events that happen at Pavillion Park every year. 

Q: The city has announced that it will bring back Liberty Lake Days this summer, featuring an expanded format. How do you see FOPP's involvement with this restored event in late July?

A: This year Liberty Lake Days is a three-day event revolving around a Barefoot in the Park soccer tournament. I personally think the soccer tournament is a great event for Liberty Lake and, with the growth the tournament has seen over the last few years, it has the potential to be a truly regional event for Liberty Lake. We provided some advice and thoughts on the weekend but that is about the extent of our involvement, though I am very excited to attend.

Q: Greenstone has been so integral in forming the texture and tone of the Liberty Lake community. As president of the company, how do you see your role in continuing that influence?

A: I think when I look back at the people that truly influenced what Liberty Lake is today, it was a great deal of amazing and passionate people. It was people like Lud Kramer who had the original vision for a city in Liberty Lake. It was families like the Schneidmillers who showed a true dedication and stewardship to this community. For Greenstone, Liberty Lake is our home, and as the president, I can only hope to carry on the passion and dedication for this community that those before me built.

Q: Is your appreciation for the community and the impact of Greenstone and your dad different from when you were growing up here?

A: Honestly, I have always had an appreciation for the vision my dad has had. I could see his passion and dedication for making communities that were so much different from the other new neighborhoods being built. I think the difference I see now is how much work it was for him, to build the company he built. It was a different model and a different way of thinking in Spokane. I think when you look around 50 years from now the communities my dad built will be crown jewels of Spokane.

Q: You were part of the summer movie and concert series from the very beginning. What are you looking forward to the most about mapping out this year's schedule?

A: For me it is not the scheduling of this year's events that gets me excited. What I am most looking forward to is getting the community more involved with our group. It is important we keep working to grow and evolve, so it is how we are going to grow and evolve that has me most excited. I look forward to engaging the community more this year to see what other opportunities there might be to continue to strengthen the amazing community we have.

Q: What are some of the parallels you see between the respective missions and priorities of FOPP and Greenstone Homes?

A: I think Greenstone and Friends of Pavillion Park have a very common vision. Both groups are looking at creating a community that is more than just the houses and buildings that make it up, but providing opportunities for people to gather and interact. Each organization plays a different role in this endeavor, but both are critical roles.

Q: Finally, what do you like most about living, working and volunteering in the Liberty Lake community?

A: Liberty Lake has always had a focus of getting residents out of their houses and enjoying time with friends, family and neighbors. It is a combination of parks, lakes, golf courses, trails and even the Spokane River that help support this identity. It is this identity that attracted me and my family to live here after moving back to Spokane in 2005, and it is this identity that we love today.


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