At the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, I get the privilege of supporting our team members throughout their entire journey with us. From welcoming new hires on their first day, to cheering them on through promotions and professional growth, all the way to celebrating their years of service. My team gets to be part of each chapter. It’s meaningful, energizing work, and we hold it in high regard knowing that, even in small ways, we get to shape the experience of every applicant, employee, and alumnus who joins the Boardwalk crew.
One of the ways we invest in our people is through Boardwalk Academy, our professional development program designed to help team members learn, grow, and build skills that support both their current roles and long-term career goals. Boardwalk Academy has created clear pathways for development, helping our teams thrive, and strengthening our overall company culture in the process.
Boardwalk Academy is made up of a series of courses that align with the natural progression many of our team members experience. It starts with Boardwalk Essentials, the onboarding class all new employees attend. As employees advance, they can participate in our Lead class, Train the Trainer, and Supervisor course, Successful Supervising, as well as Meaningful Management, our workshop style sessions designed to support current and aspiring managers. (And yes, we’re big fans of alliteration here at the Boardwalk!) No matter someone’s role or level, Boardwalk Academy offers development opportunities to help them grow.
In November, our Engagement Assistant Manager, Michael Cahalan, and I had the honor of presenting the development of Boardwalk Academy at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) North American Expo, an annual global conference in Orlando, Florida. IAAPA represents more than 6,000 attraction-industry members across over 100 countries and hosts one of the largest trade shows in the world. Every year roughly 20 Boardwalk team members attend the expo to learn, connect, and share. Being invited to present Boardwalk Academy to industry peers from around the globe was incredibly special, and we were proud to represent the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk community on such an impressive stage.
For decades the Boardwalk and its team members have been active in IAAPA, going back to Laurence Canfield who served as president of the association in 1966. Currently, Omid Aminifard, COO and General Manager, serves on the IAAPA Board of Directors and Jessica Alfaro, Assistant GM and Director of Operations, is the Chair of IAAPA’s Amusement Park Committee and also presented at this year’s expo. It is an honor and a testament to our legacy that our family-owned park holds prominent roles within IAAPA. Our presence reflects not only the enduring impact of our commitment to guest experience and innovation, but also how deeply our values resonate across the global amusement industry.
It’s exciting to think about where Boardwalk Academy can continue to develop and the ways we can provide even more opportunities for our team members to grow and thrive. As we continue to grow and evolve as an organization, Boardwalk Academy remains at the heart of how we support, empower, and invest in our people. Sharing our journey at IAAPA reminded us just how meaningful this work is, not only for our own team members, but for the larger industry as well. We’re proud of what we’ve built, grateful for the incredible individuals who bring the Boardwalk to life every day, and excited to keep expanding opportunities that help our employees learn, lead, and thrive. After all, when our people grow, our whole Boardwalk crew grows with them, creating meaningful memories that last a lifetime.
-Kristen
