This spring, MICC Graduate and Community participant Lyndsey (‘16) was named a Diamond Service Award finalist! The Diamond Service Awards are an annual event put on by Bloomington MN Travel & Tourism to recognize outstanding employees in the hospitality sector. For the past four years, Lyndsey has been employed at Great Wolf Lodge in Bloomington as a Retail Associate. Nominated by her manager Von Rodina for the Best Retail Personnel category, she is known for being understanding, patient, friendly, and a great salesperson.
“The guests she meets all know her name and many of them end up taking the NPS survey just to tell me she is amazing! She spends a great deal of time getting to know each of her guests and the reasons they visit our resort.” – Von Rodina, Great Wolf Lodge, in his nomination submission
Lyndsey, a 2016 MICC graduate and current Community participant, takes the bus to Great Wolf Lodge from her townhome in Richfield, “It picks me up on the corner by my house and drops me off the right across the street from my work.” Lyndsey grew her career on her own after she graduated from MICC. Initially working at a bridal shop and a bathing suit boutique, she eventually found her new job through Indeed, using the skills she learned in the College program. Great Wolf Lodge has been an excellent fit for her sales and people skills! As a Retail Associate, she helps with the gift store, as well as attractions like their climbing wall, arcade, and mining experience where guests sift for hidden gems and fossils! She enjoys working with kids and families, her people skills are one of her biggest strengths.
Lyndsey believes that her autism diagnosis can make her uniquely skilled at her job, giving her extra empathy for families with kids on the spectrum. “I will recognize people on the spectrum! Recently a little girl…had noise cancelling headphones. I was talking to mom who said she has ADHD and autism. I explained I love working with [kids with] disabilities. I actually graduated from a school for autism and learning disabilities. The parents get more calm, like this person does understand what we go through!” Lyndsey’s manager Von agrees, Lyndsey “has learned to overcome what others might call ‘disabilities’ but to her are advantages.”
Once nominated for a Diamond Service Award, the process involved an interview before finalists are selected. After her interview, Lyndsey was chosen as one of five finalists in the Best Retail Personnel category!
On April 22, Lyndsey attended the formal awards event with members of her Great Wolf Lodge team, MICC staff Scott and Maggie, and her family!
MICC Careers Program Manager Scott shared, “Lyndsey looked at home among the many other industry staff during the Diamond Service Awards gala. We were seated at a table near other Great Wolf Lodge staff, and she had a smile the whole time chatting with her peers. I’ve spoken with the HR Director of Great Wolf Lodge a lot over the past few years setting up practicum, and she always has such good things to say about Lyndsey’s attitude and motivation to support guests. Every time I see Lyndsey in passing she has an update on how she’s won an award or was recognized at work for something guest service related; it’s clear she loves her job, and the feeling is mutual.”
Unfortunately, Lyndsey was not chosen as the winner this year, but she remains optimistic about her future chances. She has been nominated before, and this was her first pick as a finalist, so she thinks the odds are good that she will be the winner someday! The first MICC graduate to work at Great Wolf Lodge won a Diamond Service Award, so she hopes it’ll be her next! Since then, many MICC graduates have worked at Great Wolf Lodge alongside Lyndsey.
On a positive note, Lyndsey ended the night by winning the big raffle prize! A voucher for a flight and hotel stay anywhere she chooses. She is still undecided about where she wants to go, but has a lot of ideas, “I want to go back to New Orleans, Hawaii, maybe go to Europe, Mexico, or South America!” We can’t wait to see where she ends up going!
Congratulations, Lyndsey! If you visit Great Wolf Lodge, be sure to say hello to her!
