Ag Inspector Tia Parks honored by North American Invasive Species Management Association

In a press release issued July 17, Cook County announced that Agriculture Inspector Tia Parks has been named the 2025 Rita Beard Visionary Leadership Award from the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA).

The award recognizes “exceptional dedication and accomplishments regarding invasive species management or educational activities,” according to NAISMA.

Parks told WTIP, “It feels great to have the efforts of the Cook County Invasives Team recognized at such a high level. Receiving the Rita Beard Award is a direct product of our team’s collaboration, support, and commitment to the protection of our natural resources.”

Highway Engineer Robbie Kimmel-Hass put Parks forward for the award. “I nominated her for it because of the great job she’s been doing these last few years in her role,” he told WTIP. “Looking through the NAISMA website to see if there was any grant funding we could apply for, I came across the award and thought it fit perfectly with what Tia has been doing as our Ag Inspector. She has essentially built our environmental division at the Highway Department from scratch and shown great leadership and vision in her role.”

Hass also acknowledged the relationships he said the Cook County Invasives Team has been part of building. He said they have worked to coordinate with the US Forest Service, MnDOT, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Cook SWCD, MN DNR, Cook County, and the City of Grand Marais, among others. He added, “She has planned and performed invasive species treatments on public and private parcels throughout the entire county and led outreach programs along with Cook SWCD with every school over the last several years. We’re very proud of the work she has been doing and support the efforts of protecting our pristine wilderness up here in Cook County from invasive species.”

While Parks will receive the award, she thanked several other people who support her efforts. She said, “I would like to give special thanks to my supervisor, Robbie, my day-in and day-out work partner, Abigail, our commissioners, the mentors that CCIT has provided me, Jack, Laurie, Amanda, Monika, and more, and our team as a whole. I couldn’t be more proud of the work we do, and I look fondly towards everything we will build together moving forward.”

Parks will be presented with the award on Nov. 5 at the NAISMA conference in Lake Tahoe, NV.

Kirsten Wisniewski July 24, 2025