Chris Seyler
Waterpark Director
Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center
Sandusky, Ohio - U.S.A.
Featured in
World Waterpark Magazine, February 2024
WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE?
I have a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree from Bowling Green State University. I have been in the aquatics industry for 15 years. I started out as Lifeguard at Kalahari Resorts and worked to be promoted to aquatics manager. I then got an op- portunity to open and be the aquatics manager at Soaring Eagle Waterpark in Michigan. I got recruited to return to Kalahari at our Pennsylvania property as the waterpark director. After a year and a few months, I got recruited to open Tidal Cove at the JW Marriot in Aventura, Florida as the Assis- tant Director of Waterpark Operations. Florida was great but it was not home. Kalahari was calling me back, I returned to our Sandusky property in 2020, where I am currently the Waterpark Director.
WHAT CERTIFICATION OR LICENSING DO YOU HAVE?
I am an instructor trainer with the American Red Cross. I also have my CPO certification.
WHAT HONORS, AWARDS OR SPECIAL RECOGNITION HAVE YOU ACHIEVED?
I have been selected as “Manager of the Month” on two occasions while at Kalahari.
WHAT MADE YOU GO INTO THIS FIELD?
Like a lot of aquatics professionals, I fell in love with the waterpark and the aquatics industry when I was a lifeguard. Over the years, I learned more about how waterparks operated and I quickly found that this was what I wanted to make my career.
WHAT ASPECT OF THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY DO YOU LIKE BEST?
The Fun! The enjoyment of seeing all our guests smiling and having a good time. Watching all the associates interact with our guests and enjoying their job. Of course, I enjoy the waterslides and other attractions too.
WHO HAS MOST INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
My father has been a big motivator in driving me to success. As a child and as I matured into an adult, I learned my work ethic from him. He taught me how to be a professional and why it’s important to continue to learn and evolve to be a better leader. In the aquatics industry, I must mention Thatcher Robertson. He is Kalahari Resorts Corporate Waterpark Director and my mentor. I have known and worked with him for most of my career. He has helped steer my career on the correct path, whether I was working for Kalahari or at another resort.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR WATERPARK CAREER?
The greatest challenge I have faced is under- standing the dynamics of an ever-changing labor force. You must learn and adapt to the new generation of associate’s thoughts and feelings about work. When you have Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y (Millen- nials), Gen Z and soon to be Gen Alpha in your work force, there are a lot of different viewpoints and needs when building a successful team. The way the different generations work together to pro- vide a safe, fun, and cohesive work environment for themselves, while also providing the same safe and fun atmosphere for our guests, is the reward for navigating a multi-generational workforce.
WHAT BOOKS OR PUBLICATIONS DO YOU RELY ON MOST FOR INSPIRATION OR MOTIVATION?
I am an avid reader working to continue my education in leadership, team growth and self- improvement. Books that I recommend are:
Good to Great by Jim Collins;
Start with Why by Simon Sinek, and I am currently reading
Radical Candor by Kim Scott. If you can’t sit down with a good book, the app Headway is a great resource for leadership books on the go. I also read
World Waterpark Magazine each month to stay current on what’s happening in the waterpark industry.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
My favorite part of my job is seeing my team’s growth in their roles. The waterpark has young associates and professionals working in many areas. I am grateful to work for a company that values continued learning and internal growth potential. I have helped many associates get to that next step in their careers. Seeing someone you help is a very rewarding experience.
WHAT CAREER OR BUSINESS WOULD YOU CONSIDER IF YOU WERE STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN?
If I were to start over in my career, I would open a record shop with a listening bar. I have always dreamed of having my own record shop with a great sound system where guests can come to enjoy a drink and listen to some great music.
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH THE WWA?
When I was starting out in aquatics, the leaders I worked with would attend the annual WWA Show and share their copies of
World Waterpark Magazine. They always returned from the fall show with fresh ideas and a revitalized drive to be better. I got my first chance to go when I worked for Soaring Eagle Waterpark and that experience got me hooked. I learned so much more about the aquatics industry, I met my vendors face to face and I made many new connections from other waterparks. I am grateful for that first trip and all the others that I have attended since.
WHAT IS SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOU THAT FEW KNOW OR WOULD GUESS?
I have been a DJ and record collector since 1998. I do not perform as much anymore, be- cause Kalahari keeps me busy, but I do play out occasionally at a local bar. I am also an avid runner that runs every day and competes in events throughout the year. This year, I accomplished my hardest and longest run to date, a 54 mile trail run in the hills of southern Ohio. Running around the park and up and down slide towers has certainly been great training. •