Rachel Gora - Business Development Manager

Rachel, Business Development Manager, has been with Buell Recreation since 2010. Her experience and company knowledge provide our clients with superior outcomes on all levels of sales and support. As a mother and former Kindergarten teacher, she brings both a creative and practical perspective to her work.

Rachel works closely with clients, product advisors and manufacturers to ensure exceptional quality products and services. "We view every single opportunity to serve others as having the potential to positively impact many children and families. We do our best to engage clients in a consultative approach, partnering with them and learning everything we can about their unique circumstances...then we recommend the best possible solutions," says Rachel.

Contact Rachel at rachel@buellrecreation.com.

Eric Wride - Territory Sales Manager

Twenty years. That’s how long Eric Wride, Buell Recreation’s new Territory Sales Manager, has been formally involved with the play industry. Eric and Buell Recreation are a natural combination. Buell's focus is bringing the best in play and playgrounds to the communities they serve and creating parks and recreation areas that are destination spaces in Oregon, Washington and the northern parts of Idaho and Nevada. Eric takes a similar approach to design and focuses on keeping kids, families and all community members active and engaged with the space.

“If kids don’t want to leave the playground, I’ve done my job right,” he said.

Eric’s designs are inspired by European plazas that communities use as a gathering space for people of all ages. It serves as the center of the community and people come there to talk, share, engage, laugh and play. Using this approach allows him to create spaces that provide a destination for everyone and make people feel the space is created for them. If there are other parks, schools or recreation spaces in the vicinity, Eric looks to make something about the space he’s designing unique. Something that will draw people in and inspire them to be active and really experience the space and the outdoors.

This is in Eric’s nature. For fun, he enjoys being outside, getting lost in the mountains, riding horses and traveling. Eric will help bring play to Oregon, Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho and is very happy he joined Buell Recreation to represent quality brands, including BCI Burke, USA Shade, Percussion Play, National Recreation Systems and more.

Contact Eric at eric@buellrecreation.com.

Michael Yates - Outdoor Product Consultant

Prior to joining Buell Recreation, Michael worked with the US Navy's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department for 12 years, where he started as an intern while obtaining his Recreation Administration degree at San Diego State University. While working with the military, Michael managed numerous facilities, projects and special events ranging from Child and Youth Programs, Athletics Complexes, Outdoor Recreation Areas, and special events which attracted 5,000+ attendees. One of his largest takeaways from these positions has been learning to work with a wide variety of people from various backgrounds to accomplish a goal. Michael’s career took him overseas for 7 years while working in Youth Programs and managing Carney Park in Naples, Italy. He is very thankful for that opportunity to travel immensely, eat well, and visit many unique parks and open spaces throughout Europe and parts of Africa.

Michael arrived in Everett, WA to manage Jim Creek Recreation Area and has enjoyed the sites and opportunities found within that region. He has met some great people through his involvement with his community, overseeing the Bayside Neighborhood P-Patch and enjoys spending time with his wife and dog. Michael enjoys the ability to support a wide variety of projects that bring their own unique needs and resources the most about being the Outdoor Project Consultant for the Puget Sound Region. When working with schools, communities and organizations, some instances require a customer to be led through the process from start to finish. Other clients have a very specific goal in mind, and he views his role to be supportive and make suggestions in order to get them what they envision. Michael says the best part of being in the Playground industry, is that it forces you to also re-think things from a child's perspective.

Contact Michael at michael@buellrecreation.com.

Trent Connor - Operations Support Specialist

Growing up in central Illinois where he rode bikes and participated in sports and summer activities, Trent has enjoyed spending time outdoors his entire life. He has a degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration from Western Illinois University and completed his college internship outside of Seattle, Washington where he first met Doug Buell. Prior to getting married to his wife in 2011 and relocating to the Pacific Northwest, he spent 12 years working on operations at a luxury hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona. In his free time, he trained and ran in half marathons and hiked around the Phoenix area, with some of his favorite hikes being in Sedona, Arizona.

Upon relocating to the Pacific Northwest, Trent continued his love of hiking - one of his favorites being Tunnel Falls on Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge. He also has enjoyed snowshoeing and downhill skiing. As a father of a toddler, he currently spends much of his outdoor time at playgrounds, greenspaces, and toddler-friendly hiking trails keeping his adventurous son as "owie" free as possible.

Contact Trent at trent@buellrecreation.com.