By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Helena’s new Parks and Recreation Department director is looking to bring a “sincere passion to work with” the city’s sports participants and their parents after he was hired to the position by Helena Mayor Mark Hall.

Jason Powers, the former associate director of sports and recreation at the University of Alabama Birmingham, was appointed to the position on Nov. 7.

Powers holds a masters degree in sports administration from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from UAB.

Hall said Powers brings more than 13 years of experience in the sports management and recreational sports field.

Powers’ professional experience included a stay at Georgia Southwestern State University, where he was director of recreation. He then returned to the Birmingham area when he became the associate director of sports and recreation at UAB.

Powers held the position for more than 12 years, and was responsible for managing sports and recreation activities and the oversight of a $3.5 million annual budget for four sports divisions at UAB.

Powers was responsible for hiring and supervising staff members, and was responsible for participant registration and scheduling for a variety of sporting events.

He was responsible for maintenance of several indoor and outdoor sports fields at UAB, and has extensive experience in turf management and field care, Hall said.

Powers has administered sports league tournaments consisting of more than 100 teams at a time, and has managed all facets of year-round sports, Hall said.

Powers is also a certified park and recreation professional, has worked as a high school football referee and has served on the board of directors of the Shelby County Referees Association.

Powers attended Florida State University, where he was a member of the Florida State Seminole football team, and later transferred to UAB, where he was also a member of the Blazers football team while completing his undergraduate degree.