Amplifying community: Inside our Product Team

We’re taking you behind the scenes to meet the teams who bring that purpose to life every day. We’re starting with the Product team — the builders, listeners, and problem-solvers who help shape the technology that supports communities.

While much of their work happens behind the scenes, its impact shows up in recreation centers, nonprofit programs, and local community organizations everywhere. Here’s a look at the people and passion behind our Product team.

Purpose-driven product leadership

Bill De Vries, Director of Product, leads a team of product managers who sit at the intersection of strategy and service. For Bill, product leadership is not just about shipping features. It starts with clarity around why the work matters.

“Product managers are the engine that makes the business go. We’re empowering them to be the ‘CEOs of the product,’ aligning to the ‘business why,’ and driving success through measurable business outcomes and customer satisfaction.”

That “business why” is rooted in community impact. The team spends time listening to customers, understanding their challenges, and translating those insights into practical, thoughtful technology. They work closely with engineering, UX, implementation, sales, and customer success to ensure the roadmap reflects real needs.

There is real ownership on this team. They are trusted to think big, take meaningful swings, and build solutions that help organizations better serve the people who rely on them.

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Innovation that makes knowledge accessible

Jen Walsh, Product Enablement Specialist, plays a key role in making sure innovation is not just built, but understood. She works across product, engineering, quality assurance, customer success, and sales, ensuring that information flows clearly and efficiently. Her focus is simple but powerful: make complex ideas accessible and actionable.

One innovative aspect of her work is leveraging AI tools to accelerate the translation of technical product updates into clear, customer-facing resources such as knowledge base articles and internal documentation. By embracing AI thoughtfully, the team is able to move faster while keeping the human experience front and center. Jen shares:

“I love working with such smart, knowledgeable people who are genuinely fun to be around. That internal collaboration is what makes us strong, ensuring all the pieces fit together to ultimately serve our customers better.”

Her work has a ripple effect. When internal teams feel confident in their understanding of the product, they serve customers better. And when customers feel empowered, communities benefit.

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Building technology that serves real communities

Lucy Shen joined Traction Rec as a Product Manager focused on the municipal parks and recreation sector. For Lucy, the work becomes real when she sees it in action.

She recently represented the Product team at the Illinois Parks & Recreation Association annual conference as we begin expanding into the municipal parks and recreation sector. Meeting professionals in person and hearing about their day-to-day realities sparked new ideas and deepened her understanding of how our technology can support the communities they serve.

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“The most exciting part about being a product manager for me is seeing how the features we build directly impact our clients, increasing their efficiency and ability to create more impact in their communities. But even more energizing is having those real-world interactions that propel us to think bigger and translate that excitement into the innovative tools we can build next.”

Those conversations spark new ideas and reinforce the team’s commitment to continuous innovation. They are not just building software. They are building systems that help organizations run programs, support families, and strengthen neighborhoods.

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Great technology. Great people. Shared impact.

Across roles and experiences, one theme stands out. This team balances innovation with empathy. They think strategically. They embrace AI-forward tools that help them move smarter and faster. And they care deeply about the people who use what they build.

As Traction Rec continues to grow, so will the opportunities for this team to shape what comes next. Growth means new challenges, new ideas, and new ways to amplify community through technology.

This spotlight is one of many stories about the people behind Traction Rec. Because while technology powers what we do, it’s our people who make it meaningful.

Interested in joining the Product team and helping shape the future of community-focused technology? Explore our open roles and come build with us.

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