Our People

Roger Posacki

Roger Posacki currently serves as the President and CEO of PlayCore. Prior to joining the PlayCore team, Mr. Posacki was President and CEO of Elmers Products, Inc., a leading consumer company with a diverse and iconic portfolio of brands, including Elmer’s®, Xacto®, and Krazy Glue®. Previously, he has held senior management positions with Carson-Dellosa Publishing and Crayola. Roger has been actively involved on the Board of Directors with the Kids in Need Foundation and has participated on other non-profit Boards and industry associations throughout his professional career.

Roger’s experience helps PlayCore continue their leadership role in the recreation market as they build communities through play and recreation. Roger works and resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is enjoying the opportunity to learn more about the many recreation opportunities within the community.

Roger loves all outdoor activities, and especially enjoys spending time hiking with his wife and sons.

Rick Ruegger

Rick Ruegger is responsible for all financial activities of the company, including financial reporting, treasury, tax, legal, audit, banking and insurance. With a 30-year background in the play and recreation industry, Rick is committed to providing the financial leadership and structure needed to ensure PlayCore’s continued profitable growth.

Rick enjoys fishing, boating, biking, and getting outside in the fresh air.

Jim Underwood

Jim is a senior-level operations professional who has held operations roles with Danaher, Black & Decker, and Porter-Cable Corporation. Jim is focused on providing leadership in operational effectiveness and lean manufacturing to the PlayCore businesses. He has learned the fundamentals of lean manufacturing through the guidance of his lean sensei – Yuri Sugiyama, Shingijutsu. Jim leads by remembering the principle "we demonstrate what we believe through what we do."

Jim says “To me there is no better place to enjoy the outdoors and get rid of some stress than shredding the Appalachians on a mountain bike.  After learning in my early forties that I needed exercise and better diet to battle a family history of diabetes, I purchased a bike and never looked back.   Most every Saturday morning, you'll find me riding some of the best trails in the southeast near my home in Chattanooga.”

Lisa Moore

Lisa Moore is responsible for the company’s strategic services and Center for Outreach Research, and Education (CORE), which includes independent research, national partnerships, curricula, programming resources, and professional development efforts that promote the value of play and recreation. In addition, Lisa leads the company’s strategic planning, corporate communications & marketing, e-business, and human resources. Prior to PlayCore, Lisa served in a variety of administrative and service provision roles serving people of all abilities in educational and medical settings. Lisa is active in her professional and local communities and is currently a candidate for an Ed.D. degree, with a research focus on play. She believes in the power of play and is committed to building communities through play for children and families of all abilities.

Lisa enjoys being outdoors and participating in water sports with her family, especially when they can spend time on the river that runs through Chattanooga.

Katie McDiffett

Katie is responsible for PlayCore's M&A and financial compliance functions, including oversight of due diligence, external financial and investor reporting, and the annual financial audit. Prior to joining PlayCore in 2012, Katie spent 7 years in the audit practice of Ernst & Young LLP. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is also a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Tennessee and a member of the TSCPA and IMA.

Katie like to get outside and explore wherever and however she can - hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, etc.

Spencer Cheak

Spencer Cheak is a Group President at PlayCore and has been with the Company for 25 years. He is responsible for all aspects of the GameTime business unit as well as the Aquatics and Theming divisions. He serves on the boards of the DeKalb County United Givers Fund, The Chattanooga Discovery Museum and The Southeast TN Red Cross. Spencer leads a highly skilled team to produce beyond compliant, high-quality playground equipment, Aquatic play and recreation equipment, and Themed environments.

Mark Burgess

Mark Burgess is responsible for oversight of Play and Park Structures, UltraPlay, GT Grandstands, UltraSite, BigToys, Robertson Recreational Surfacing, and National Recreation Systems. He has more than 20 years of experience in the commercial and retail recreation industry in both the United States and abroad and has conducted business in more than 50 countries. He has also served on local, national, and international boards in the recreation industry.

Jesse Taylor

Jesse Taylor is a Group President and has been with PlayCore for over 15 years. He is responsible for leading many of the Company’s Site Amenity businesses, which includes working with the exceptional teams to achieve the Company’s mission of building healthy communities through their products. Prior to joining PlayCore, Jesse worked at Ernst & Young LLP for over five years.

Jesse resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee with his wife and three children. On the weekends you can typically find him spending time with his family, which generally involves attending a sporting event or traveling.

Matt Brandon

Matt is responsible for leading the eight business that make up The Surfacing Group team, driving strategy, and managing the P&L. His team provides profitable and compliant safety surfacing products and services. Matt enjoys building relationships with his customers and collaborating with the PlayCore family of brands to provide fun and safe play environments. As a member of the PlayCore team since 2008, Matt has over twenty-five years of experience in various industries. He is an active board member with Boys and Girls Club of Chattanooga, Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga and his university alma mater alumni club. Matt enjoys spending time with his family in Chattanooga – eating in his favorite restaurants, playing in the great outdoors, golfing and supporting his favorite college teams.

Jennie Hobbs

Jennie brings a wealth of expertise in employee relations, talent development and strategic planning. Her leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our people strategy and culture across PlayCore.

Jennie joined PlayCore from Upstream Rehabilitation, where she led HR initiatives for over 8,000 employees across 28 states. Her career also includes key leadership roles at Life Care Centers of America, US Xpress, and Schneider National Carriers, where she inspired impactful HR strategies and fostered a work environment focused on collaboration, communication and engagement. Recognized as one of ONCON’s Top 50 Human Resource Professionals, Jennie is a proven leader with a deep passion for supporting people and organizations.

Beyond work, what matters most to Jennie is her family. She and her husband, Brian, live in Ooltewah, Tennessee, where they enjoy spending time with their four children and growing family. She is also actively involved in her church community and is well-known for her love of walking outdoors, earning her the nickname "Walking Jennie."

Tom Norquist

As a founding board member in1995, two-time past president, past treasurer, and marketing committee chair of the International Play Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (IPEMA) and long-term active American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) representative, over the past 41 years, Tom has been involved in all aspects of the play industry. He served from 2002-2004 on the Advisory Board for the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS).

For over a decade, he actively served in the (Access Board) Recreation Access Advisory Committee and Regulatory Negotiation meetings and additionally served on the advisory panel for the Access Board’s on-line Technical Assistance and Training for Play Area Accessibility. Tom served for over 15 years on the Board for the International Playground Contractor’s Association (NPCAI), and is a founding steering committee member and past leader on the U.S. Coalition for Play. Tom is one of few recipients of the coveted Joe L. Frost Play Research Collection National Play Advocate Award in April 2008.

Additionally, over a decade, Tom has led Dr. Stuart Brown’s National Institute for Play (NIFP) Board and is the project co-leader of the first known on-line database of scientific and academic research creating a cohesive picture about the proven scientific benefits of play. Tom currently serves as President of NIFP. Tom has received two Auburn University’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design Distinguished Service Award for his leadership teaching numerous design studios over the past twenty years. Finally, Tom serves is representing the United States and serves as the convener of the ISO TC83 Playground Equipment committee.

Tom is a passionate play advocate, practitioner and welcomes you to come visit him at his Fort Payne home and play in his families three acre intergenerational “boneyard”play environment and experience some of his cooking at the Garagemahal.

Brenda Grant

Brenda is responsible for providing legal services and advice to PlayCore and its brand family, as well as contribute to M&A and business strategy development as the company continues its rapid growth and expansion.

Prior to joining PlayCore, Brenda served as General Counsel for Benchmark Rehabilitation Partners. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from McPherson College, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law.

Brenda enjoys the many beautiful outdoor activities around Chattanooga, and especially likes getting out on the water with her family.

Anne-Marie Spencer

Anne-Marie joined the PlayCore team in 2002, and is responsible for corporate marketing, communications and special project development for PlayCore, collaborating on CORE materials and initiatives, serving as the company spokesperson, and coordinating brand efforts, including advertising, promotion, trade show design, and external/internal communications. She is committed to building healthy communities through play and recreation by motivating the marketing teams with creativity and encouragement, and serving on several Industry Boards and committees, including the Chambliss Center for Children, the ASLA Fund committee, the ASLA Corporate Committee, and the NRPA Editorial Advisory Board. In her spare time, she loves exploring the outdoors. hiking, and running.

Shay Mahone

Shay joined PlayCore in 2012 to lead the organization’s sourcing / procurement function. Shay earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Belmont University, his Master of Business Administration from The University of Tennessee – Knoxville and holds an active APICS – CPIM Certification. Prior to joining PlayCore, Shay held various factory and sourcing management positions primarily in the commercial aerospace and food equipment industries.

Chris Allen

Chris is responsible for the manufacturing activities, including production, process improvement, cost reduction, budgets and inventory, engineering, maintenance, tool and die and information systems at the Southern Fulfillment Center in Ft. Payne, Al. Chris is committed to helping his team deliver the highest quality products to PlayCore’s customers. He focuses himself and his team on providing the play products necessary to enable PlayCore’s programs to provide an enriching play experience and to help build communities through play.

Chris says, "I like to hike. The Koko Crater hike in Hawaii is tough but worth it for the views at the top."

Jennie Sumrell

Jennie worked with children and adults with disabilities for nearly fifteen years. She has a master’s degree in special education with a concentration in early childhood development and assistive technology. Jennie joined PlayCore in 2008 and serves as the Community Outreach Director within PlayCore’s Center for Outreach, Research & Education. Jennie is responsible for the development of a variety of programs, partnerships, and services, including leading PlayCore’s professional development initiatives. Deeply passionate about inclusive, intergenerational play, Jennie shares her expertise and personal experiences as an educator to help communities champion high-quality play and recreation destinations that utilize evidence-based best practices and turn research into practice.

Jennie loves theatre, ballet, and live music and enjoys spending time with her family and dogs outdoors and on the lake.