Upper Providence Township welcomes Mareile Watson as their new Assistant Township Manager. Mareile is a resident of Middletown Township and has previously lived in Media Borough. Mareile is a native of Germany and came to the United States in 2000.
Prior to becoming the Assistant Township Manager, Mareile worked in education: first as a German teacher at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, and then as an adjunct professor at St. Joseph’s University. Most recently she has worked at the Church Farm School in Exton in the admissions office. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Russian Language as well as a master’s degree in marketing and management. She also lived in Russia for four years and is fluent in Russian.
In her new role, Mareile will be the liaison for the township office and the Recreation Board as well as the Sustainability Task Force. She will also be responsible for communications for Upper Providence Township, including the monthly newsletter. In addition to this, along with the Township Manager, Don Vymazal, she will be responsible for grant research and applications. One of her first projects in the role will be the improvement and development of Ray Roche Park, for which the township received a grant in the amount of $424,500.
As the new Assistant Township Manager, Mareile is looking forward to “working with people of different backgrounds (professional, cultural, lingual, political, religious, personality, gender, values and/or many others) with the goal to make Upper Providence Township a better community for them, their family, and their neighbors. If we can see any kind of difference as a creative force, an opportunity for learning and better answers, then we can make the most of the different perspectives they bring”.
Mareile is interested in implementing changes in the township that include more education on renewable energy solutions and what residents and businesses can do to reduce their carbon footprint. She would love to see more after-school programs, especially for middle school kids. “Many of them are home around 3PM and could truly benefit from activities that keep them away from their computers and cell phones and educate them through hands-on projects/activities. The same would be true for the summers. I would love to see the implementation of affordable township camps that help families taking care of their children that can’t be left home unattended while parents need to work and when school is not in session.” She recalls her childhood in Germany and enjoying riding her bike and or walking to nearby stores and restaurants. Media itself reminds her of her childhood home in Germany and said, “I would like to see a system in place that allows residents to leave their car at home and let them walk more places.”
In her free time, Mareile loves to walk her dog, Abby and take care of her garden as well as one of the gardens in her church. She also plays the violin and loves to travel. If you are interested in learning more about Mareile or meeting her, stop by the Upper Providence Township offices!