Rink

September/October 2008

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How has STAR Training helped you and your facility? The arena staff at the Richfield Ice Arena has consistently received comments about the quality of our ice sheet and facility as a whole. Comments such as, "The ice was fast; we were able to move the puck without it bouncing all over the rink!" and "It was great to be at the Richfield Ice Arena. You have a clean, well-organized facility. We look forward to coming here in the future." It is comments such as these that help the entire arena staff, myself included, realize that the STAR training has given us that operational knowledge to put our rink among the best. When you and your staff understand that, then everyone goes that extra mile to help do the little things to keep a good reputation and a busy facility. Why do you feel industry educa- tion is important? Consistency is the key in any business. Attending STAR education courses has given me a guide- line to develop training materials, policy and procedure manuals and operational manuals to create a consistent work envi- ronment, which helps the staff and users of the facility understand how our ice arena operates on a day-to-day basis. The customer understands what is expected of them on and off of the ice and the employee is a competent employee that keeps the facility and its equipment running in excellent condition. Best tip or trick you picked up at a STAR Program: Sealing in chalk lines when painting a logo on the ice. Sealing in the chalk lines allows you to get around on the ice without worrying about stepping on the chalk and getting it all over the rest of the ice sheet. Importance of STAR for your busi- ness: STAR courses have given me the knowledge to provide the necessary solu- tions, equipment, policies and ideas to open two new facilities without a hitch and to step into an existing facility and not miss a beat. Final thoughts: Good comments, consistency, tricks of the trade and the challenges of a day in the life of working in an ice arena are all reasons STAR has been so important to operating fun, safe and reputable ice arenas. Even with the Five STAR designation accomplished, I still look forward to attending other STAR courses and conferences because they are a great oppotunity to network and learn new ideas for programs and facility oper- ation. A person who thinks they know everything and believes there is nothing more to learn knows nothing and has the most to learn. ★ ■ 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 sept ember/october 2008 COURTESY OF RICHFIELD ICE ARENA Brandon Klement Brandon Klement Richfield Ice Arena • Richfield, Minn. Years in Industry: 11 STAR Operator level: 5-STAR STAR / ORFA Courses Taken: • IMPT – Orlando, FL 2002 • IMEO – NARCE 2003 • SIRO – Green Bay, WI 2004 • BR – Council Bluffs, IA 2005 • PMP – NARCE 2006 • ORM – NARCE 2007 X X Attending STAR education courses has given me a guideline to develop training materials, policy and procedure manuals, and operational manuals to create a consistent work environment.

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