Jessica Thoma
Food and Beverage Manager
Lost Island Waterpark
Waterloo, Iowa - U.S.A.
Featured in
World Waterpark Magazine, October/November 2021
WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATION AND PROFESSION AL EXPERIENCE?
For my college education, I attended Iowa State University and received a degree in journalism and mass communication with an emphasis on public relations. Prior to my current position with Lost Island Waterpark, I worked as a cook on board a 65-foot scuba diving liveaboard sailboat. I fed between 12-36 people three meals per day plus snacks and beverages. I was in charge of all inventory, provisioning and stocking and also helped with all other duties on board including but not limited to sailing, driving, navigating, docking, watching the water, helping divers in and out of the water, dropping anchor and picking up moorings, gift shop sales, housekeeping, etc. I also worked as a Hotel and Food and Beverage Man- ager on board an 80-passenger luxury adventure liveaboard ship which took people out hiking, kayaking and snorkeling on the inside passage of Alaska and Mexico’s Sea of Cortes.
WHAT CERTIFICATION OR LICENSING DO YOU HAVE?
I have my Food Safety Manager Certification.
WHAT HONORS, AWARDS OR SPECIAL RECOGNITION HAVE YOU ACHIEVED?
I was the valedictorian of my high school graduating class of 2005 and I made the Dean’s list in college.
WHAT MADE YOU GO INTO THIS FIELD?
I randomly got asked by an acquaintance if I would fill in as a cook on a sailboat in the Bahamas for a few weeks during one of my summers in college. After I did, I got the travel itch, and knew that when I graduated college I would want to work in a job that would allow me to be transient and travel in my time off. I never thought I would leave the tourism boating industry, but then I decided to move back to Waterloo, Iowa many years later after I fell in love with an old friend from my hometown in Iowa. The Lost Island Waterpark was one of the few tourism industry jobs in this area of Iowa. Lost Island seemed to be boom- ing with a theme park in tow. I thought my skills from working on boats in seasonal, fast-paced and high-stress positions would be helpful toward the improvement of the park’s food and beverage programs and operations.
WHAT ASPECT OF THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY DO YOU LIKE BEST?
I like that there are unique challenges every day that keep you on your toes. I like being around people who enjoy the sun and water as much as I do! In Iowa, one of the closest things to being on a boat in a tropical environment is being at our waterpark!
WHO HAS MOST INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
There are three people who have inspired me the most in my career. First, my cousin Katie who invited me to step out of my box and be her nanny in Florida during the summers of my high school and college years. She had also worked on boats and done some traveling, which gave me the courage and excitement to follow unbeaten paths. Second, the first captain that I worked for, Captain Ray Temeyer. He instilled in me a love and respect for the sea and ignited my passion for hospitality within travel and tourism. And lastly, two people I worked with at UnCruise Adventures, Captain Jon Shephard and my assistant Donnie Ransbottom. Both were a major support system in my efforts to build and improve systems and programs on board the ship. My efforts ended up being very successful, and that is what made me want to continue working in Food and Beverage Management.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR WATERPARK CAREER?
I have faced two major challenges during my time in the industry so far. First, attempting to fully train high school age staff on all F&B processes and procedures (including the importance of food safety, sanitation and cleanliness) with limited time for training has been a challenge. Second, managing all the ins and outs of the department with no additional management staff within the food and beverage department, including zero other year-round food and beverage employees has been challenging.
HOW DO YOU KEEP FOCUSED AND MOTIVATED?
I have never struggled with staying focused and motivated.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN WORKING IN THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY?
Reassess your priorities constantly while on the job. Remember that food and beverage inside a waterpark is its own world and is unlike anything you’ve likely seen in the regular channels of the industry.
WHAT BOOKS OR PUBLICATIONS DO YOU RELY ON MOST FOR INSPIRATION OR MOTIVATION?
With being so new to the waterpark industry, I have not really delved into the world of books or publications yet. Let’s just say I haven’t had enough free time to turn to books or publications!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
I love the fast-paced environment. I enjoy being busy and seeing immediate results of hard work.
WHAT CAREER OR BUSINESS WOULD YOU CONSIDER IF YOU WERE STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN?
I would not change anything about my career or business path. Working in seasonal tourism and hospitality has allowed me to continue traveling and seeing the world. If I could easily add to my current career, I would own a food truck and a bed and breakfast which would bring me back to where I started—feeding people face to face and getting to know them in the process.
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH THE WWA?
I attended the 2020 WWA Virtual Conference. During the Food & Beverage Virtual Meet-Up, I realized this would be a great way to get connected with others in the industry and be able to learn, grow and share ideas, data and information throughout our very specific industry. Ever since, I have been attending the monthly food and beverage meet-ups, and it has been wonderful to get to together with a group of like-minded people.