Rink

How do you feel education has bene- fited you? It has not only benefited me, but the facility as well. Before the educa- tion I received, we knew very little about the rink or the chiller room. I was sent to the STAR programs in a sort of emer- gency learning situation as we were get- ting head pressures so high the compres- sors would only run for a few minutes. We were spending a lot of money in elec- trical bills and yet our ice quality was terrible. After all the training, there were a lot of improvements not only to the rink, but on the machinery as well. Why do you feel industry education is important? People think that they know enough about the field because they are refrigeration technicians, or they may think that having a driver's license is enough to resurface the ice, but the reali- ty is different. The education we receive from STAR is focused specifically to the rink business, so if we know a little bit about refrigeration there is something that the basic refrigeration course leaves us with. IMPT teaches us how to do the paint job a lot easier, even for those who already paint the ice, and IMEO teaches you so many things about your resurfac- er. All of this is important to be a good ice technician. What does it mean to have your C.I.T. Designation? It means a lot to me, and I carry a lot of pride because I am the first Mexican to obtain it. We don't have as many rinks here as in the United States or Canada, but as few as there are, they don't have enough people properly trained for them to run as they should. Being a CIT lets me have our rink in the proper shape and running correctly, and hopefully make improvements so that we have good results at the end of the year. Best "trick" learned at a STAR/ORFA program: Where do I start! Before STAR, we were resurfacing with cold water and did not know what the other valve was for. Another good trick is that while put- ting oil in the compressors, we were put- ting air in also, so you can imagine our head pressures. And the best of all, after returning from IMEO I went to check the ice thickness, and we had six inches! Importance of STAR for your career? Being a CIT gives my career education a plus, and I am always searching to learn new things and not just being stuck with what you learn in college. Most memorable career moment: I would say it was starting up the refriger- ation plant. We did it this summer after being closed doing maintenance on the sand floor for a week. Watching that sand become ice, then painting it and building ice from scratch is pretty excit- ing. Final thoughts: I would like to thank STAR for all of their efforts in making this happen. ★ Ruben Andres Chapa Cantu Ice Complex Monterrey, Mexico Years in Industry: 4 STAR / ORFA Courses Taken: • IMEO, BR, IMPT X ■ Training, and recognition of training, is the best way to let colleagues and potential employers know who you are and what you have accomplished. Almost every industry has a measuring stick to help employers gauge the level of competency of a future employee. industry spotlight 62 R INK MAGAZ INE march/april 2009 Viva Mexico STARrinks.com ICE COMPLEX

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