Meet The Team
Founder & Creative Director
Kevin Marshall, CPSI
With more than 25 years in the commercial playground industry, Kevin Marshall Jr. brings a unique blend of hands-on experience, safety expertise, and creative vision to every project. He founded Next Generation Recreation to deliver turnkey recreation solutions that serve schools, parks, municipalities, churches, and neighborhoods across Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska.
Kevin’s career began on the installation side of the industry, where he spent two decades building playgrounds from the ground up. That foundation led to a deep understanding of what it takes to design and deliver safe, durable, and inspiring play spaces. Over the years, he has overseen projects both locally and internationally, with installations in Cairo, Egypt; Guatemala; and Israel.
He is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), Triax-certified for safety surfacing testing, and a long-time instructor for the NRPA CPSI course. Kevin has also served on industry boards and helped develop training curriculum through the NPCAI, contributing to higher standards in playground safety and construction nationwide.
His expertise goes beyond playgrounds to include skate parks, dog parks, outdoor fitness areas, shade structures, sports equipment, and site amenities. At the heart of every project is his belief in quality, service, and the positive impact of play.
“Do what you love and love what you do.”
It’s more than a motto for Kevin—it’s the foundation of how he leads his team and serves communities across the region.
Director of Sales
Ed McDowell, CPSI
Ed has worked in the Parks and Recreation industry for over 20 years, beginning his career in 2004 as an installer. He started by installing playgrounds and safety surfacing, eventually moving on to large-scale commercial water slide installations for clients including Six Flags and Hawaiian Falls. His dedication and leadership earned him a promotion to foreman, where he led installation teams on projects of varying complexity.
He later returned to playground installations as a foreman, taking on a wide range of projects that included everything from shades and shelters to benches, grills, and playgrounds of all sizes. He also gained extensive expertise in virtually every type of playground surfacing.
After years on the road, he transitioned to the office side of the business, working in technical support and replacement parts. In this role, he provided valuable assistance to installation crews and playground owners, helping diagnose and solve problems in the field.
Recently, he shifted his focus to the early stages of project planning. Drawing on two decades of field and office experience, he now works to prevent problems before they occur—through strategic consultation, thoughtful planning, and comprehensive support from start to finish.
Outside of work, he has been married to his wife Stephanie for 17 years. Together, they have six children and three grandchildren. He enjoys cycling, sports, coaching softball, and all things nerdy.
Recreation Design Specialist
Rodney Born, CPSI
Rodney's combination of love for the outdoors, play environments and pension to being around people make him a perfect fit for the playground industry. A collegiate athlete with an MBA and heavily decorated throughout his professional career, he has proven himself at many levels of life's stages.
With 15 years of successes in the Playground Industry he is proud to call Kevin Marshall friend and Next Generation Recreation Home. Born in Wichita and calls Kansas home.
When not consulting with prospects and projects you can usually find him in the kitchen, dance floor or archery range.
He is the One and Only - "Born To Play!"
Playground Design Specialist
Steve Werner
Steve is a Next Generation Recreation local St Louis-based playground specialist and has been in various sales/project management roles for over 25 years. Steve has managed multiple projects and has significant training and experience in the playground field. Steve works hand in hand with all of his customers and has built his reputation on managing expectations and delivering exceptional customer service.
Technical Sales
Alex Alshouse
Alex is passionate about creating safe, fun, and engaging playgrounds that bring communities together. With experience in both building and selling playground equipment, he enjoys helping parks, schools, and neighborhoods transform their outdoor spaces into places where kids can play and grow.
Outside of work, Alex spends most of his time with his girlfriend and her awesome 13-year-old son, whether it’s relaxing at home, exploring the outdoors, or finding new adventures. He’s also a huge dog lover and can’t resist anything with two wheels (yes, he’s into motorcycles!). He believes work and play should always go hand in hand.
Director of Operations
Lana Wildman
When Kevin was getting his start in the industry, Lana was at the front desk of the same company—handling parts orders, replacement requests, and a share of office administration. Over the next ten years, she grew into roles in purchasing, project management, and general office support, gaining valuable experience in managing all the spinning plates behind the scenes.
After a decade, Lana stepped away in a new direction—life coaching and business book writing. That season taught her a great deal about people, growth, and what truly matters.
Years later, when Kevin needed help, Lana was ready for a new challenge. Today, she’s still coaching in her own way and putting her business research to good use—taking care of her team, running the back office, and laying the groundwork for Next Generation Recreation’s long-term success.
At the end of the day, Lana is dedicated to making Next Gen Rec the best team it can possibly be. Outside of work, she can usually be found with family or at home—reading, writing, and drinking way too much coffee.
Installation Manager
Aaron Ohl, CPSI
Aaron is a valuable asset to our team, bringing over 10 years of experience in heavy construction. He plays a key role in keeping our installations organized and leading crews with confidence and efficiency. Outside of work, Aaron enjoys spending quality time with his wife and son. He’s passionate about motorcycles and holds a skydiving license, reflecting his adventurous spirit both on and off the job.
Recreation Design Specialist
Baron Washington Jr
As a Recreation Design Specialist at Next Generation Recreation, I help bring innovative and engaging outdoor spaces to life. Our work goes beyond playgrounds—we design and provide solutions for skate parks, dog parks, outdoor fitness equipment, sports equipment, bleacher seating, shade structures, shelters, and site amenities like benches, trash cans, bike racks, and drinking fountains.
In addition to design, we specialize in safety inspections, compliance audits, and playground surfacing testing to ensure every space meets the highest safety standards. Baron is passionate about creating environments that inspire movement, connection, and community engagement while ensuring accessibility and long-term durability.
Customer Support
Bailey Marshall
Bailey is an administrative assistant in the playground industry, where she wears several helpful hats, answering phones, handling data entry, conducting research, staying organized, and keeping track of orders. She takes pride in helping operations run smoothly and ensuring no detail slips through the cracks.
Known for her organizational skills and upbeat approach, Bailey brings a sense of fun to her work—fitting for someone in the playground world. Outside the office, she’s a big fan of Legos and classic cars, with a particular love for Fox Body Mustangs. She recently took on her first project car: a 1993 LX Mustang, and she's excited to bring it back to life.
Chief Morale Officer
Trixie Washington
Trixie is a spirited French Bulldog puppy known for her charm, confidence, and unmistakable personality. Though small in size, she brings a big presence to every room she enters. With her signature bat ears and expressive eyes, Trixie has quickly become a favorite among everyone she meets.
Playful yet poised, Trixie approaches life with curiosity and enthusiasm—whether she’s greeting guests, exploring new surroundings, or napping in the nearest patch of sunshine. She’s equally content being the center of attention or offering quiet companionship, adapting effortlessly to any environment.
When she’s not showcasing her playful side, Trixie enjoys fine treats, cozy blankets, and perfecting her role as “Chief Morale Officer.” She reminds everyone that joy can come in small, snorting packages and that life is best lived with a wag and a wink.