Rink

July/August 2020

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CEnter ice Q&A with a rink professional 54 / JULY.AUGUST.2020 USICERINKS.COM PHOTOS: COURTESY OF JEREMY ROGERS // How did you get into the rink business? I had been a hockey fan and ice skater since my youth, so in college, when a buddy got a job at the new rink in town and said they were looking for part time staff and skate guards, I jumped at the chance. After gradu- ation I spent a few years working other jobs until a full-time sales position at the Chiller Rink came open. I've been here ever since! // What's the best part of your job? You hear this answer in our business a lot, but there is a ton of variety; I'm not chained to a desk. You meet a lot of people and ultimately, what we do is fun—or at least most of the time. We provide recre- ational sports that people are passionate about. Knowing I go to work every day helping to build a great company and help- ing grow skating and hockey in the com- munity is fun, challenging and rewarding. // Chiller Rinks were one of the first to put out a plan and reopen follow- ing the COVID-19 shutdown, what was that experience like? I'm not going to lie, it's been hectic and pretty stressful at times, despite what I believe was a very thorough and well- thought-out plan. But it has also been extremely rewarding to see and hear the responses from customers when they return to the rinks after this long break. I can't tell you how many people have told us how much they missed us, how happy they are to be back, and thanking us for having an organized, solid plan to safely reopen. // What's been the craziest experi- ence you've had in the industry to date (non-COVID related)? A few weeks after I started at the Chiller I was "asked" by my boss at the time to be a skating Santa during a grand-opening, free after school skate for grade school kids. About an hour into it, someone pulled a fire alarm. I cranked the mic and from outside the score box in full view of everyone on that rink, I put on my best Santa voice and ad-libbed "Ho ho ho boys and girls, some naughty child has pulled the fire alarm but don't worry, everything is safe and you can continue skating. I tell that story a lot because it exemplifies our business; be flexible, prepare for anything, do any job that's needed of you, and have fun with it when you can. // As a U.S. Ice Rink Instructor you've been instrumental in participating in webinars, Q&A sessions and what- ever else we've needed for our mem- bers; what's your biggest takeaway from the digital instruction these past three months? My biggest takeaway is that we have a lot of highly qualified, highly passionate pro- fessionals in our industry. U.S. Ice Rinks did an amazing job of providing value to its members in helping us navigate through an incredibly challenging experience that none of us were prepared for. It was reas- suring to know that we're all dealing with a lot of unknowns, and that there are so many great professionals I can reach out to for feedback, suggestions and expertise. // Any parting advice for other rink professionals out there? Learn every job in the business you can. Get involved in U.S. Ice Rinks and NARCE if you haven't already. Network, and don't sweat the small stuff. We're about fun—don't lose sight of that! J PROFILE Facility: Assistant General Manager at Chiller Rinks Professional Designation: CRA Years in the Industry: 22 years I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TOLD US HOW MUCH THEY MISSED US, HOW HAPPY THEY ARE TO BE BACK, AND THANKING US FOR HAVING AN ORGANIZED, SOLID PLAN TO SAFELY REOPEN. Jeremy Rogers Columbus, Ohio

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