Education

Monday, 16 January 2012
"We bring joy to peoples lives!" That insightful yet simple quote is from Doug Lofstrom, Vice-President for the Orange County Fair & Event Center during the workshop Guest Hospitality Experience Programs, co-hosted with Jim Laurendeau, Director of Programming at the Calgary Stampede, a leader in guest hospitality. This was but one of the many educational workshops available to the attendees. North American Midway Entertainment took the opportunity to attend a few of these to learn what, when, and how we can make the industry better, safer, and maybe even, more fun! The amusement industry is unique in that it loves to share its secrets with others in the same field. Our goal is the same – making our guests happy. North American Midway Entertainment is a proud sponsor of the IAFE and this year sponsored the Competitive Exhibits Award, which was presented by Jeff Blomsness, Co-CEO. Jeff, in association with the OABA, was the presenter for the Keynote Speaker, Joel Manby, during the Wednesday General Session. Manby, CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment is a motivational...
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Sunday, 28 February 2010
The first five years of NAME we worked exceptionally hard on building our company, partnerships, reputation and team. We also learned a few lessons on combining five large traveling midway companies and continue to learn how to better our company every day. After the development of our NAME Safety department, the next major investment was customer service. We set a goal to work towards satisfying every single customer. Our goal was to produce a product that people love. We want more for our customers then a visit to our midway for rides, games and food. We are a destination. We want our customers to arrive at the midway and to be provided with instant convenience. Starting with an easy practical ticketing system, quick queue lines, delicious fair food, rewarding games and out of this world customer service. We want them to love it and tell the whole world about it. Fixating on customers’ needs to be the job of every employee, manager and everyone employed by the company. In today’s world you can say you are customer focused, however if you say it and you are not, customers...
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Tuesday, 31 March 2009
This winter, unlike any other winter, the students of Conklin International Academy were welcomed by their teacher Miss Linda Brewer in a virtual classroom. When the ended in October, the students dispersed across the nation to their respective homes in Illinois, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. Although hundreds of miles apart, the students joined for class with the aid of their computers, web cameras and microphones. The internet kept them linked for academics and socialization. The idea began in February of 2008 when John Gallant and Conrad Duke set up a computer network in the traveling school trailer. A new curriculum distributed by Alpha Omega Publications was in its trial stages at the Conklin International Academy. During the traveling season assignments were completed on the students’ computers. With the aid of the network, the teacher could monitor their progress from her computer. Messages were exchanged between the teacher and students by attaching notes to the assignments. Yet, while traveling together, the class met for cooperative course work, and the...
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Sunday, 30 November 2008
On November 1st I arrived in New York City to run my first full marathon. With over 700 training miles under my belt since April and many laps around fairgrounds all over North America, I was ready. Valerio Ferrari and wife Marilisa, from Zamperla treated me to a pre-race dinner at a fabulous New York City Italian restaurant where I indulged in a high carb dinner along with great encouragement. At 3:30 am I woke up to a cold windy whistling morning. I layered up in plenty clothing including hat, gloves and scarf. I grabbed my breakfast-to-go, sleeping bag and all race necessities. I headed downstairs to meet a taxi to take me to the New York public library. The library was where 39,000 racers were lined up for miles to board buses to the start line in Staten Island. This marathon starts runners at one point (Staten Island) and finishes at another (Central Park). Since the race started on the Verrazano Bridge, the City of New York closed the bridge at 5:00 am to all traffic. At 4:30 I unloaded from the bus in Staten Island where the predawn cold was numbing and wind was miserable...
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