Concession Management Course Earns Top Marks

The Commercial Services Program continues the tradition of high quality training programs according to the evaluation results from the concession management training for superintendents course held in Denver last month. Participants rated the training as superior to excellent for this intensive and comprehensive five-day course in concession management, contracting, and finance.

Thirty-four people attended the course, including superintendents and members of their concession staffs and leaders from all seven NPS regions.

Participants said that they were highly satisfied with the course, instructors, materials, objectives and information provided. They rated the course as very useful to superintendents and concession specialists, both in the immediate application to their jobs and in the longer term.

Several superintendents suggested that this course be included in formal NPS training for superintendents and presented at the new superintendents academy.

Here are some of the comments received.

“I found the course to be very informative and well-organized.  It is one of the more comprehensive and professional NPS courses I have attended in my career.  I found as a superintendent the sessions focused on planning and bigger picture were most valuable.”

“I really liked the opportunity to attend with my concession professional. This allowed me the opportunity to immediately relate discussion back to my park.  I feel the information provided allows me a much greater comfort level in managing our program and feeling comfortable in asking questions. Good opportunity to meet and become acquainted with WASO professional staff.”

“Outstanding overall.  Very well organized with a great mixture of WASO, Regional and park expertise relating to the subject matter.” 

“One of the best planned and organized and coordinated training session I have ever attended. Very professional. Like the team approach.”

“Training team was incredibly knowledgeable, very approachable and listened intently.”

“The different session leaders were able to provide multiple viewpoints and ways of looking at the same topic. In addition, the variety of parks represented and regions was a good point.”


“Great opportunity for Superintendents and concession specialists to learn together.”

“Great communications! Thanks – Best info and training.  Please make this available to all superintendents as part of introduction to NPS operations course and even at ranger Skills!”

“Should be required for all superintendents with concessions.”

The next class will convene in 2009. Please contact Judy Bassett for more information.

Participants in the 2008 course included:

• Alan Cox, Superintendent, Amistad National Recreation Area
• Nancie Ames, Management Assistant; Amistad National Recreation Area
• Paige Baker, Superintendent, Badlands National Park
• Marsha Buchanan, Revenue and Fee Business and Concession Manager; Badlands National Park
• Tom Clark, Superintendent, Canyon de Chelly National Monument
• Nora McKerry, Concession Specialist, Canyon de Chelly National Monument
• Darrell Echols, Deputy Superintendent, Cape Hatteras National Seashore
• Ellen Hand, Administrative Officer; Cape Hatteras National Seashore
• Russ Wilson, Superintendent, Cape Lookout National Seashore
• Pat Madden, Concession Management Specialist, Northeast Region,
• Cherry Payne, Superintendent, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
• David Nemeth, Chief of Concessions, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
• Stan Austin, Superintendent, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
• Lou Good, Chief of Concessions and Business Management, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
• Bob Vogel, Deputy Superintendent, Grand Teton National Park
• Mallory Smith, Chief, Business Services, Grand Teton National Park
• Debbie Bird, Superintendent, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
• Mike Fager, Concession Specialist,  Assateague Island National Seashore
• Bruce Powell, Deputy Superintendent, Mammoth Cave National Park
• Mark Rich, Concession Specialist, Mammoth Cave National Park
• Judy Forte, Superintendent, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
• Cheryl Shropshire, Management Assistant, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
• Gerard Baker, Superintendent, Mount Rushmore National Monument
• Julie Gregg, Management Specialist, Mount Rushmore National Monument
• Steve Lorenzetti, Acting Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks
• Gordy Kito, Concession Management Specialist, National Mall and Memorial Parks
• Tina Orcutt, Superintendent, Women’s Rights National Historic Site
• Meg Jensen, Superintendent, Wrangell – St. Elias National Park & Preserve
• Thomas Betts, Chief Ranger, Wrangell – St. Elias National Park & Preserve
• Cameron Sholly, AD Park Operations and Education
• Sula Jacobs, Administrative Officer, George Washington Memorial Parkway
• Kathleen Karhnak, Management Assistant, Northeast Region
• Karen Reese, Concession Program Assistant, Intermountain Region