Arizona Snowbowl’s “World’s Best Spring Break” campaign has resulted in 30 percent more visitation last month than in 2018’s previous record-setting March. Managers say the successful season and positive guest experiences are the result of efforts by dedicated employees like Truman Shoaff, Elise Dobberman and Jerry Baker.
“My goal for every guest is to have the best day possible,” said Shoaff, an instructor who teaches lessons in the Adaptive Ski Program. “I love getting to know the individuals, what motivates them and what brought them to the mountain in the first place.”
This is the third year Shoaff has been involved in Special Olympics. He hopes to head up the Adaptive Ski Program in the future. “I volunteered while I was in college and fell in love with it. For me, the best part is seeing the elementary school kids progress. The smiles are awesome.”
Snowbowl Rental and Retail Manager Elise Dobberman says she loves sharing her passion for skiing, especially with those who have never seen snow before. “Guests come in after their first couple days of skiing and have the biggest grins on their faces. We get so caught up in the daily grind of work, family, stress, etc. Skiing or snowboarding allows all of that to fall away as you carve down the mountain. There is nothing more rewarding than hearing from a guest who comes in and thanks us for making the weekend great and helping to create wonderful memories with their family.”
Dobberman, a six-year employee, says the experience has helped her grow personally and professionally. “Snowbowl has taught me how to stay on my toes while problem solving, practice patience in customer service, and accept challenges placed in front of me. I feel that I am part of a big supportive ski family and I have no intention of leaving anytime soon!”
“The people who work at Arizona Snowbowl are stellar individuals – they are happy to be here, enthusiastic, helpful and genuinely interested in making the experience extraordinary for guests,” said General Manager J.R. Murray. “In many cases, the ski resort offers young people their first job and grooms them with teamwork and leadership skills in an encouraging environment. Snowbowl’s success is a reflection of the outstanding team we have on the mountain.”
Because Spring Break and the end of the ski season can be a challenging time to staff ski resorts, Snowbowl offered a Hawaiian vacation for two as an incentive for those working in March. Names of hourly employees were submitted into a raffle with every hour they worked.
Water truck and shuttle bus driver Jerry Baker, 57, worked more than 356 hours in March and won the drawing. He says he and his wife, Barbara, are looking forward to snorkeling, seeing Pearl Harbor and watching the North Shore waves. “Working at Snowbowl is awesome. I see everybody having a good time,” he said. “I try to keep them safe and hydrated.”
“The drawing was completely random, but we could have picked the winner,” said Assistant General Manager Rob Linde. “Jerry is truly one of a kind. He is a fantastic employee that everyone loves. When Jerry won the trip, the entire crowd on Agassiz deck started chanting, ‘Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!’ He is a big part of our Snowbowl family.”
Murray says Arizona Snowbowl is working to keep the resort open for skiing and snowboarding as long as it can. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 3-5, although a closing date has not yet been announced. The current season ranks as the second highest year in the past 21 years, with 332 inches of snowfall. With the extension into May, Snowbowl will tie with the 2016-2017 season as the longest season in recorded history.
For more information about Arizona Snowbowl, visit Snowbowl.ski or @AZSnowbowl on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. FBN
