Rink

How did you get into the industry? I have been on skates since before I turned two years old. I grew up in Michigan, and I was a competitive figure skater for over 20 years. Towards the end of my competitive years, I progressed into coaching (both figure skating and power hockey), and from there I was hired as a Skating Director, Assistant General Manager and ultimately as the General Manager. Best tip or trick you picked up at NARCE: In IMPT, I learned how to use a design template to checker the red line in a very quick and efficient way. I plan to use this method when painting our Olympic ice sheet this fall. What's the funniest story from your career that you can share? A few years back, I was assisting and learning how to paint the white on the ice with my operations manager, John Burgett. He had me positioned first on the hose right next to him so I could learn the best way to paint the ice white and operate the wand. He was kind enough to explain the painting process to me beforehand, and he told me that I needed to keep up with him when carrying the hose during the painting process. We were just about done when one of my co-workers asked me a question as we were turning up ice. I stopped mid-step to answer the question, and John ended up painting me white, from head to toe. I was completely covered and dripping wet with white ice paint! As you can imagine, I — as well as my fellow staff members — enjoyed the laughter-filled experience. What's the most successful project you have been involved with? We have worked very hard over the past two years to make the Wichita Ice Center successful. Our team efforts paid off, and we were able to turn around the financial operations of the Wichita Ice Center, making it successful in a year. What's the biggest mistake you have seen? I have been fortunate to not observe any "big" mistakes, rather just an occasional error by new staff members, where the threshold gets damaged due to the conditioner being dragged over it. How has NARCE helped you and your facility? NARCE has helped me become more knowledgeable in the ice industry and more skilled in my facility's daily operation. NARCE has given me the opportunity to effectively operate my facility using proven methods and measures that I learned in STAR classes over the last 2 years. Importance of STAR and/or NARCE for your business and/or career. The training that STAR provides in its classes at NARCE is top-notch. It is an honor to be taught by the leaders in our industry. Final Thoughts: I am honored to be a member of STAR and have the opportunity to attend events such as NARCE. Meeting other individuals from around the country and having the opportunity to network with them and share stories of our experiences in the industry is so unique. Thank you STAR for all that you do to better the Rinks & Operators in our industry. ★ ■ 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 july/august 2008 Brenda Glidewell Rink Management Services Corp. Wichita Ice Center • Witchita, Kan. Years in Industry: 13 STAR Operator level: CIT STAR / ORFA Courses Taken: • BR – Chicago (NARCE 2007) • IMEO – Houston, Oct. 2008 • IMPT – Chicago (NARCE 2008) COURTESY OF BRENDA GLIDEWELL X Brenda on Ice

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