Rink

little history first: I had been in customer service in the industrial sector for 30+ years and decided to find a change. While helping a local high school team that my son had played on but now graduated from, and traveling distances to practice and to play "home" games, I started to look at a facility that had previously been open. At the time it had been closed 14 months when I discussed the possibility of opening it with my business partner. Basically we knew nothing about running an ice rink but we both knew customer service and that there was a need for ice in the local area. After much research and calling on many financial institutions, we jumped in." How did NARCE help you and your facility? Not knowing much about the rink business, people in the industry have been very helpful and the majority of them recommended that we go to NARCE. While there, I made many contacts with other rink owners/ personnel and with vendors — all of which have proved to be very helpful with ideas and recommendations. Why do you feel industry education is important? That is asking why any education is important. Continual learning is a must in any industry including ours. To be successful, you need to understand your profession from classroom experiences and from dialog. You must see and discuss what is working for others and what is not and how you can apply that knowledge to your specific rink. Also with new products available, you can learn if those products can benefit your rink. Best "trick" you picked up at NARCE: I cannot pick really only one but if I have to, I would say the emphasis placed on open skate and learn to skate programs and how important they are to growing your business long term. Being new to the business, I was like a sponge and learned a plethora of things. What was so amazing to me is that everyone was so willing to share ideas, make suggestions and provide phone numbers to "call any time." Not something I was used to in my previous life. Importance of STAR and/or NARCE for your business: The importance of STAR and NARCE to our business is that we know we can pickup the phone and call different rink people and get help – be it in recommendations, ideas or actual physical help. I know I can call people at STAR and they will provide us with the answer or point us in the right direction. If we are to continue in this business, we need STAR and NARCE as our industry leaders and providers. I cannot imagine such an industry without this type of organization and conference. My partner and I being neophytes in this industry, I do not think we could survive without the help of STAR and NARCE. Why you will be at NARCE 2007: There is so much more we knowledge we need to gain and the only way we can truly gain the correct type of knowledge is to be at NARCE and learn from others. We can learn on our own but we would be learning in a vacuum. We would not be learning of the new products and would miss out on the vast wealth of knowledge of all the other attendees that are willing to share their experiences and stories. Final Thoughts: After having only been to one NARCE meeting, I left feeling like I was not alone out there and that I was now part of a "family'. Everyone I talked to was so friendly and willing to answer any of the questions I had. Now one year later, I am a little smarter and can ask more intelligent questions. I look forward to reacquainting myself with some of those I met last year and making new acquaintances this year. See you there! ★ Al Iwasko South Metro Ice N Inline • Centerville, Ohio Years in Industry: 2 STAR Operator level: 2 STAR STAR / ORFA Courses Taken: • Programming, Marketing & Promotions At NARCE with Al Iwasko ■ 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 54 R INK MAGAZ INE january/february 2007 A COURTESY OF AL IWASKO "

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