Director of Operations at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Making a Splash: 29 Years in the Aquatics Industry
I have been in Aquatics since 1995, totaling 29 years. I started in Aquatics working for Adventure World in Largo, MD, as a Lifeguard and over time became a Full-time Manager. I worked at Adventure World, which eventually rebranded to Six Flags America, and then moved to Six Flags New England. During my time at Six Flags New England, I was able to experience more than just the Operational side of Aquatics and started learning more about overall waterpark operation, maintenance, theme park rides, and admissions. After about 12 years at Six Flags, I began working for Great Wolf Lodge in the Pocono Mountains in PA, where I further expanded my knowledge on safety, pump room operations, fiberglass, and air quality, as well as the highlights and challenges of year-round operations.
My next adventure was with Northgate Resorts as their Corporate Director of Aquatics and Aquatics Development. This was a great team to work with, building standards and collaborating with several builders and suppliers on new aquatics developments throughout their ever-growing portfolio. However, I missed park operations and the daily team interactions, so I returned to theme parks, joining the Cedar Fair family at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom as the Director of Operations, Safety, and Security in Allentown, PA.
Diving Deep: My Path to Aquatic Success
Over the years, I have earned several certifications including CPO, AFO, EMT-B, OSHA 10, and I am an Instructor Trainer for Ellis and Associates. Many people ask how my career path led me to the aquatic industry, and like many in this industry, I never planned for it to be my career. I stumbled upon it, loved it, and it became my career. My oldest brother, who was working as a Security Supervisor at a theme park, introduced me to the industry. He convinced me to work in Aquatics, and I fell in love with the team-centered environment, the sun-filled summers, and the amazing friendships and connections I made.
I graduated from Old Dominion University with a degree in political science and business administration while working in the industry throughout school. Recently, I started working towards my RN degree. A significant contribution to my success is my constant desire to learn and understand why. This curiosity leads me to ask questions and seek exposure to different aspects of Aquatics beyond Operations. My philosophy is to learn something from everyone I work with and add that knowledge to my personal “toolbox.”
Many people throughout my career have helped shape who I am today, including Darlene Reese Sittig, Franceen Gonzalez, Greg Waldron, Cody Butcher, and Chris Ardizoni.
Beyond the Pool: Hobbies and Passions
I love traveling and seeing the world, painting/drawing, and I also enjoy teaching and training. Whenever my schedule permits, I enjoy teaching a class or mentoring someone interested in this industry.
A Wave of Memories: Funniest Moments on the Job
The people I have worked with always seem to have funnier stories about me than I could tell about myself. Early in my career, I had a group of friends that I worked with for many years, and we always got into some type of nonsense. One season, we had a friendly battle with the Entertainment Department, and we would go back and forth with pranks. One day, we decided to steal their costumes from the Western stunt show and nail them to the back wall of our wave pool. Our manager came to us asking if we knew anything about their missing costumes (we obviously said, of course not). She found them on the back wall and proceeded to try to take them down, pulling on them and using her foot on the wall.
Splashing into Aquatics: Advice for Newcomers
Follow your passion. If you love the aquatics industry, stay with it despite any skepticism. To excel, you need to work hard, get hands-on experience, and learn from those around you. Dedication and continuous learning are key to success in this field.
Connect with Kristin Ardizoni at Dorney Park
