DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN & LEISURE SERVICES

PARK & RECREATION DIVISION

110 EAST 13th STREET
CEDAR FALLS, IOWA 50613
319-273-8636
FAX 319-273-8656
www.ci.cedar-falls.ia.us

Letter of Recommendation
For

Matt Tobin
It is my privilege to be able to write a letter of recommendation for Matt Tobin. From the spring
of 2009 to August 2016, as he finishes his fifth summer as the manager of the Falls Aquatic
Center, I have had the opportunity to get to know Matt not only as an employee, but also as a
good respected friend.
Matts job with the Recreation Division over the eight summers has included, but not limited to:
five summers as manager of the Falls Aquatic Center, one as co-manager, head guard, lifeguard,
swim instructor, and maintenance worker. As manager of the Falls Aquatic Center, Matt was
responsible for interviewing, hiring, training, scheduling, supervising, evaluating and payroll for
staff of 81people. He was responsible for daily cash receipts, reports and deposits which often
exceeded $10,000 a day. The facilities annual income exceeded $610,000. Matt was responsible
for all the public relations and organizational issues associated with serving over 116,000
recreational swimmers plus over 25,000 swimmers who used the pool for programs all during a
traditional 88 day season. He was the primary care giver for those swimmers who received
minor injuries that inevitably happen around a pool and for the few major accidents that were
unpreventable. Testing and controlling pool chemistry to provide the public with a safe
swimming environment were part of Matts job. Inventory control and ordering pool chemical,
items to be sold in the concession stand, and cleaning supplies were all under Matts
responsibility. Filling out all the paperwork and forms required to track an operation of this
nature were all part of his job.
Matt has served as our winter pool manager for 6 school years for the two indoor pools we
operate in Cedar Falls as well. His attention to detail, scheduling staff, and aquatic background
have been instrumental to the success of the programs offered at the pools. During the past 6
years he has not failed to have staff prepared and ready to ready go each time an activity was
planned at the pools. This has been a very welcome change from previous employees before
Matt took over this position.
Matt is self-motivated, goal oriented and driven to do the best job possible no matter how
complex or meaningless the task at hand might be. Reliability, enthusiasm, dependability,
dedication to the job, analytical ability, problem solving and loyalty are but a few of Matts
qualities. Matt, when needed, took the blame for an inferior job done by those he supervised
without making excuses or trying to pass the buck.
As good as Matt is in the other areas, his most beneficial skills lies in the area of public relations.
Matt can easily communicate with kids of all ages and readily strike up a conversation with any

adult. He is adept at dealing with complaints in a manner that defuses hostile or irritated
situations. He is extremely personable, well liked by others, and is the type of person who can
energize others just by being around him. Matt is a natural leader who follows his high moral
standards each and every day, leading by example. Whenever something had to get done, Matt
could always be counted on to do whatever it took to get the work done, including working up to
70 hours per week.
Matt is one of the few employees we have had who could reach some of the problem children
and actually get them to cooperate. Once Matt feels comfortable with his surroundings, others
will enjoy his great personality. His work ethic and time management skills were demonstrated
each and every day on the job. Matt is one of the few people I would trust to be there and to do
the right thing in every situation. Matt has never been one of those people who constantly has an
eye on the clock arriving and leaving at determined times, his willingness to work whatever
hours are needed to get the job done are very rare in todays society.
I would highly recommend Matt Tobin for any job or position he may apply for, especially if it is
dealing with the public, todays youth, or 100% accuracy.
Sincerely,

Bruce Verink
Recreation Division Manager