Heath Wright named supervisor at Harman Swim Center; Laurie Conlin to retire June 30

Heath Wright, a Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District employee since 2000, has been promoted to supervisor of the district’s Harman Swim Center (7300 SW Scholls Ferry Road). Wright succeeds Laurie Conlin, who is retiring at the end of the month after 25 years with THPRD.

Wright, 29, steps into his new role with previous supervisory experience; he served as an interim supervisor at the Sunset Swim Center for nearly two years (2010-12). His experience with THPRD includes eight years at the Conestoga Recreation & Aquatic Center and the past six years at Sunset, where he most recently served as a program coordinator.

“I’m honored and excited,” said Wright of his appointment to Harman, a pool frequented primarily by senior patrons who enjoy the pool’s 89-degree temperature.

“I love working with our seniors,” Wright said. “They value community strongly, and I really like that. At our other pools, people tend to come and go. At Harman, they feel like they’re at home, and I want to help foster that sense of community.”

Wright transferred to Harman on June 9 to begin a three-week transitional period that will conclude Conlin’s career with THPRD. She will retire on June 30 after more than four decades in aquatics.

Before she was the supervisor at Harman, Conlin supervised Sunset Swim Center and Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center for THPRD, and also worked at Aloha Swim Center. Previously, she worked with the American Red Cross and Portland Parks & Recreation.

Her legacy at THPRD, said General Manager Doug Menke, includes her exceptional customer service and mentoring skills.

“Laurie has excelled in teaching her staff the service and leadership skills that are so critical to what we do every day,” Menke said. “Even though she won’t be here, she will have left her mark for many, many years to come.”