Tom O'Rourke
Educating professionals in the Parks and Recreation field has always been a significant part of Tom’s work. Tom previously served as the Executive Director of The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission from 2001-2019, leading the agency through the largest capital project, budget, and attendance growth in the agency’s history. During Tom’s tenure at CCPRC, the agency grew from 5,000 acres of parkland to over 12,000 acres of protected parkland. CCPRC has been nationally recognized for operating an ever-expanding park system with little reliance on tax subsidies for growth.
Tom O’Rourke is currently an educator, a parks and recreation consultant, a city council member, a high school track and field coach, and a speaker. As a consultant, Tom’s expertise lies in operational, programmatic, and financial planning for park and recreation agencies and nonprofits. Tom is in his fifth year as a Professor of Practice in the PRTM Department at Clemson University. His responsibilities include teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels and working with other faculty to assist communities, agencies, and practitioners in various capacities. He was elected Council Member for the Town of Mt. Pleasant in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.
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