Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/897697
54 / NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2017 USICERINKS.COM CEnter ice Q&A with a rink professional // What has been your favorite part of working in the ice rink industry? The simple fact that I get to come to an ice rink every day. This has always given me the feeling of having the greatest job in the world. From my earliest days as a hockey player and my first job when I turned 16, the better part of my life has been at a rink. It feels like home. // In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge those in the industry face today? I believe the biggest challenge we all encounter at some point is complacency or relying upon old solutions when faced with new problems. A great thing about working in this industry is that something new is always going to happen, whether it be a problem or an opportunity. For me, it keeps my job fresh and exciting to know that I sometimes have to get creative or deeper in my thinking to get something done right. There is a big difference between knowing enough to keep some- thing running and knowing that much more to fix the problem. // What skill do you think is most crucial for any rink manager or director to possess? Patience. We not only run a facility, but we deal with all sorts of people all day long. Employees, athletes, parents, kids, vendors, board members and owners—all of these constituencies can be challenging at different times, in different situations and for different reasons. I believe a key ingredient to personal and professional success is to manage all of them with a smile, while addressing their issues of course, and always delivering a safe, enjoyable environment for everyone. // Out of all the programs at your facility, which do you enjoy interacting with the most? The Skating Club of Boston is the owner/ operator of a 100% figure skating facility with a multitude of different programs. Programs include freestyle sessions (sin- gles, pairs, ice dance), a high-performance program, classes for our skating academy beginners, a therapeutic skating program, a Theatre on Ice program, and an affiliated synchronized skating program. Being a former hockey player who has never worn figure skates, I am not on the ice. But I do enjoy watching all the ath- letes train hard and develop their talents. // How do you see things progressing in the future? What advancements are you excited about? The club is developing a new three-rink, $50 million training facility for both fig- ure skating and hockey. Working on the development and design of the facility is one of the most exciting and enjoy- able parts of my job. I am finding that everything I have learned over the years about rink operation and management is proving extremely beneficial to a multi- tude of design decisions we are making. It is incredibly rewarding to be an inte- gral part of such a large undertaking. It's also gratifying to know that my years of hands-on rink experience is being put to great use in the design of a facility for the next generation of athletes. It's even better that I will get to run it! J Jon Jepson PROFILE Name: Jon Jepson Job Title: Club Director, The Skating Club of Boston U.S. Ice Rinks Professional Designations Achieved: CIRM Number of years in industry: 12 years Boston, Mass. I AM FINDING THAT EVERYTHING I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS ABOUT RINK OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT IS PROVING EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL TO A MULTITUDE OF DESIGN DECISIONS WE ARE MAKING. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF JON JEPSEN