Mary Rodgers
Corporate Marketing and Communications Officer
Adventure Bay Family Water Park
Windsor, Ontario- Canada
Featured in "World Waterpark Magazine," April 2018
WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE?
I have a bachelor of fine arts degree that I received from the University of Windsor and over 25 years of experience in the fields of municipal government, tourism and the arts. I am currently the Corporate Marketing and Communications Officer for the City of Windsor.
WHAT CERTIFICATION OR LICENSING DO YOU HAVE?
I hold a Professional Destination Management Certificate from the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus and a Community Leadership Professional Development Certificate from the The Centre for Executive Education, University of Windsor and Leadership Windsor/Essex.
WHAT HONORS, AWARDS OR SPECIAL RECOGNITION HAVE YOU ACHIEVED?
Our facility won WWA Wave Review Awards for best billboard and best website in 2015 and best brochure in 2017. I have received the E.A. Danby Award (AMCTO) in 2006; the Windsor Roseland Rotary Vocational Service Award in 2003; and the Mayor’s Award of Excellence for Outstanding Arts Employee in 1995.
WHAT MADE YOU GO INTO THIS FIELD?
As Adventure Bay is a City of Windsor facility, which has been owned and operated by the municipality since it was opened in 2014, I was brought on to chair the waterpark’s marketing committee as part of my portfolio as Corporate Marketing and Communications Officer for the city.
WHAT ASPECT OF THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY DO YOU LIKE BEST?
The waterpark is unique among our municipal services, as it offers us the chance to market in a vibrant and creative way with children and families as our target audience.
WHO HAS MOST INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
My dad taught me to work hard and he allowed me to pick any career I wanted. He was an engineer himself, so for him to allow me to pursue a career in the arts and to support me throughout all of my university career and never once question the value of my line of study was remarkable. He only asked that I work hard and put my heart into what I chose, and if things didn’t work out, he taught me to get up, brush myself off and try my hardest again.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR WATERPARK CAREER?
As Adventure Bay is a publicly owned facility, balancing priorities with other city services can be a challenge. As with any municipal service, public opinion can often be divided.
HOW DO YOU KEEP FOCUSED AND MOTIVATED?
Keeping focused and motivated is a team effort, and I have great help from my peers in that regard. Whether close to home with our own marketing committee or in my travels to the World Waterpark Association conferences, I have met and worked with a number of creative and inspiring individuals whose contributions and ideas continually help keep the complex task of marketing on track.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN WORKING IN THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY?
Be creative, have fun and never lose sight of that sense of fun, no matter what part of the industry you are involved in.
WHAT BOOKS OR PUBLICATIONS DO YOU RELY ON MOST FOR INSPIRATION OR MOTIVATION?
I like staying up-to-date with what’s happening in my career field and I find receiving regular emails from the Social Media Marketing Society, Ragan Communications and PR Daily helps me do so.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
The creative side of my job is my favorite. Collaborating with my team on creative and unique promotions and seeing the identity of our park grow and evolve over time is very rewarding.
WHAT CAREER OR BUSINESS WOULD YOU CONSIDER IF YOU WERE STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN?
I began my career in the visual arts, and while it has been with me through many aspects of my marketing career, it would be fun to go back to my roots and have a career in that field.
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH THE WWA?
In 2015, our marketing committee won two Wave Review Awards. I was able to attend the annual conference and accept on behalf of Adventure Bay.
WHAT IS SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOU THAT FEW KNOW OR WOULD GUESS?
I rescue and raise beagles, and I have had at least one in my family for almost my whole life, starting with Susie when I was little, all the way up to our current rescue, Love.