Rink

USICERINKS.COM SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2017 / 23 "Every rink manager does as much as they can to sell as much ice time as pos- sible and keep their staff happy," Carlson said. "[Rink managers] all have the same pros and cons." While the first part of a manager's duty is to sell ice time, it's the second part of Carlson's statement that can be even more important: Keeping staff happy. Carlson admits that behind every good manager, and every good rink, is an equal- ly solid staff. With multiple sheets, tourna- ments, shows and open ice, it's imperative to have a staff that you can trust to operate the ins and outs of the facility. And a well-trained staff begins with its chief conductor—you. For his rink to stay viable, Carlson needs a staff that will keep the rink running at its most efficient level. To do this, Carlson must find the right staff members. This starts with the hiring process. With many of his employees' hours coming at night, on the weekends and during holidays, he knows it can be a tough bill to fill. Carlson admits often times his staff can be a bit more inexperienced, but they are always willing to put in the work and willing to learn. It's a hefty task for any rink manager and operator to make sure their one- or two-sheet facility is operating smoothly. Imagine if you had up to eight sheets to manage. For Pete Carlson, the senior director of operations and programming at Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, Minn., there are some unique challenges that come with having to manage eight different sheets of ice. But despite the Schwan's Super Rink's large facility, Carlson admits he is fighting the same battles all rink managers fight. "I TELL MY EMPLOYEES THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST JOBS THEY WILL HAVE IN THEIR ENTIRE CAREER, WHETHER IT'S ONE YEAR DRIVING THE ICE RESURFACER OR MAKING AN ENTIRE CAREER OUT OF IT. EVERYONE COMES TO THE RINK AND LEAVES A LITTLE HAPPIER BECAUSE IT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO BE." –PETER CARLSON US SCHWAN'S SUPER RINK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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