The City of Newark has named Alicia Day as its new Recreation and Community Services Director following an extensive recruitment search conducted by Tripepi Smith Talent Solutions (TSTS).
Alicia Day brings over two decades of executive leadership experience in municipal parks, recreation and community education in Newark. Most recently, she served as the Parks, Recreation and Community Education Director for the Town of Littleton, Massachusetts, where she managed a $1.5 million self-sufficient enterprise fund and led long-term strategic planning for community programming, special events and local parks. Her municipal background also includes serving as Recreation and Community Director for the City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Day holds a Master of Science in Sports Management from Georgia Southern University, is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and served as the Chair of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging for the Massachusetts Recreation and Parks Association.
“Welcoming Alicia Day to our executive leadership team marks an exciting new chapter for Newark,” said Newark City Manager David Benoun. “Her dynamic vision and operational expertise make her uniquely qualified to guide our Recreation and Community Services Department into the future. Working with TSTS enabled us to find a leader who shares our city’s values and commitment to high-quality public service.”
The recruitment effort was led by Executive Recruiter Christine Martin, supported by Assistant Recruitment Coordinators Julia Gale and Sofia Gonzalez. The TSTS team designed a strategic approach focused on shared values by matching the organization’s dedicated mission with Newark’s vibrant community needs to drive long-term, locally directed impact. Demonstrating a deep commitment to authentic community partnership, Newark included an external community member panel in the evaluation process before selecting Day to lead the department.
“We were honored to help Newark with this critical recruitment, as they embark on major initiatives like the launch of its new resource center and Cultural Arts Center project. From our first conversation with Alicia, her incredible energy and passion for community-building stood out. She brings proven municipal leadership, a track record of creative fiscal resourcefulness, and a genuine team-first approach,” said Christine Martin.
“I am honored to take on the role in the City of Newark,” said Alicia Day. “I look forward to working alongside the dedicated department team to deliver impactful programs and serve Newark’s community members.”
About TS Talent Solutions
TS Talent Solutions is a California-based executive search and talent development organization focused on the local government sector. A division of Tripepi Smith, TS Talent Solutions leverages the expertise and digital acumen of its parent firm to deliver next-generation recruitment solutions for public agencies. The quest for talent never ends, but progress is made with TS Talent Solutions.
We’ve sourced talent for:
City of American Canyon, Town of Atherton, City of Bainbridge Island (WA), City of Bell, City of Commerce, City of Fairfield, City of Indian Wells, City of Indio, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lomita, City of Manteca, City of Morro Bay, City of Needles, City of Palos Verdes Estates, City of Paramount, City of Pasco (WA), City of Rosemead, City of San Luis Obispo, City of Saratoga, City of Tracy, Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District, Humboldt County Association of Governments, Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Ventura Council of Governments, West County Wastewater District
We’ve developed strategic plans for:
City of Bellflower, City of Carpinteria, City of Cerritos, City of Foster City, City of Hercules, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lomita, City of Westminster, Heartland Fire & Rescue