Leave your Mark

August 27 2024

Nicki and Chris Duplaga

Chris and Nicki Duplaga are amazed by the extraordinary changes they’ve seen in the Wheeling community during their lifetimes, especially recently. The couple owns Top Notch Landscaping, Fulton Storage LLC and a few other local businesses. This family knows firsthand that if business is good, then the local economy is doing well.

That progress is seen throughout the community, but the transformational changes happening at Oglebay are leading the way. Chris, a fourth-generation Wheelingite, shares, “Oglebay feels like this incredible gem that was hidden in plain sight until now.”

Growing up in Morningside (the area adjacent to WVU Hospital Wheeling), Chris Duplaga remembers hanging out at Wheeling Park’s pool all summer long and, of course, the Wheeling Park teen dances throughout the ‘80s.

Many have shared that there was a time Oglebay felt, to some locals, like it was focused on the tourist trade, while Wheeling Park was a public park. “The park’s leadership team has done a phenomenal job bringing the local flavor back to Oglebay,” Chris said.

Live music performances “bring families to the park.” Incredible restaurants like the Garden Bistro, Route 88 Burgers and Brew, Hickman Lounge — “can you believe there are five-plus dining options in the park now? I can hardly wait for Trace Chophouse to open [Chris was interviewed on July 2]. There’s always an event or an invitation to come to the park and get involved. The park feels like it’s widening the welcome. The younger generation has never been involved more than they are today,” he said.

Chris and Nicki leverage their social network to share what they see happening in the parks. These cheerleaders can’t say enough about all there is to do here. “Just going up for ice cream feels special,” Nicki shares.

They support the park with corporate in-kind gifts of labor and materials. Once a contract has been awarded to Top Notch, Chris looks for opportunities to add some extras that he feels are “an investment in the parks.”

Top Notch has done work planning, planting and removing trees in the J. Sumner Jones Pinetum within Oglebay’s Wigginton Arboretum. They’ve also done landscaping around the new Stifel Playground at Wheeling Park, including the natural landscaping, fence surround and shrubs. “We try to give back to the community through work, balancing jobs and opportunity with giving back,” Chris said. Landscaping was provided by Top Notch at the entrance of Lodge Drive from W.Va. 88 as well as around the porte-cochere entrance to Wilson Lodge.

All this community success has created the opportunity for the couple’s two grown children to come home and raise their families here. Three granddaughters keep the Duplagas in the park, and, with a fourth grandchild on the way, the family’s roots here are getting stronger and stronger.

One of the ways Oglebay sold the Duplaga children on coming home was a wedding reception held for their oldest at the Pine Room. Top Notch had done the patio and landscaping around the Crispin Center entrance. For the wedding, Chris and Nicki transformed the interior of the Pine Room into a garden with trees, flowers and mulch beds that created garden paths leading to the dance floor — a magical transformation.

July 13 2022

Maintaining Greens

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Maintaining Greens

Improving Pathways at Crispin

Crispin is Oglebay Golf’s ground zero. The first round was played following a dedication of a temporary sands-green, nine-hole course on July 4, 1930. Five years later the now permanent 18-hole course was completed and the game of a lifetime has continued to be an Oglebay mainstay.

As with all things in the park, improvements to facilities and programs fall to community champions who make investments in the park they love, and more often than not, the sport they play. Golf enthusiasts established the Oglebay (Men’s) Golf Club in 1938 and the Oglebay Women’s Golf Club was established in 1963. Both organizations have done a superb job promoting amateur golf throughout the Upper Ohio Valley, through their active involvement with most of the tournaments, and in raising funds for improvements to the courses.

Part of the strategy is improving play on the course itself, especially the cart paths.

The 18-hole Crispin Center underwent extensive renovations in the mid-60s including expanding the automatic water system and replacing the old wooden bridge with an earthen walkway that spans the ravine on No. 5. The new walkway made the use of golf carts possible for the first time. The cart paths have since been paved and widened, to accommodate the number of golfers we see annually.

Since the addition of the Jones and Palmer courses, Crispin’s usage has hovered between 19,000 and 23,000 rounds annually. In 2021 Crispin saw a recent record of 25,500 rounds, and Oglebay’s golf staff, headed by General Manager Danny Ackerman, is working hard to promote and maintain this level of play into the future.

Part of the strategy is improving play on the course itself, especially the cart paths. The path’s age is one factor, but the topography of our beloved West Virginia hills play a role in the paths’ wear-and-tear. Water runoff from rain and ground maintenance eats at the paths’ edge creating mini culverts that can make navigating the course tricky.

The cycle of play is important to upgrades and improvements and our golf leagues make a tremendous difference. More play leads to more investment which leads to a growth in membership and the cycle continues. Women’s Golf Club member and former president, Chris Muroski brought her concerns about Crispin’s cart path conditions to Ackerman, anticipating upcoming tournaments in 2021 and beyond. They toured the path discussing what needed to be done, but Ackerman knew there was no budget for repairs. Muroski, no stranger to finance asked, “Can we at least get a number?”

“Oglebay’s list of maintenance projects is ongoing. The casual park user probably doesn’t think about how much money it takes to keep the parks in top condition. I knew when I raised my concerns, I needed to follow-up with a gift to get the ball rolling,” Muroski shared.

In addition to her leadership gift, the ever-quiet advocate for Crispin sought donations from friends and asked the Women’s Golf Club to use funds raised by the group’s events, such as the June Invitational Tournament, as funding sources. It wasn’t a hard sell. Muroski, “… reminded the membership that this is the course we love and we need to do what we can to support it.”

Muroski moved to Wheeling in 1989. “Oglebay is so important; it’s such a blessing for the community. We can’t take it for granted. If we expect the park to continue into the future, we have to do our part to support it. That means understanding that Lodge revenue isn’t enough to sustain the park, private contributions are required.”

Thanks to her efforts, enough money has been raised to start the cart path project.

“Oglebay’s list of maintenance projects is ongoing. The casual park user probably doesn’t think about how much money it takes to keep the parks in top condition.”

“Chris’s efforts make Oglebay and the greater Wheeling community a special place to work and live. It was her initiative that brought this project to fruition,” Ackerman said.

This year, the 1.4 mile path will be made wider and curbing will be added to minimize the runoff problems. Aprons at the end of the paths will also be made larger. Additionally, tee upgrades and repairs will be completed for holes 1-8 and No. 12. The No. 9 green will be improved as well. The work will be completed by Cast & Baker of Canonsburg, PA.

July 13 2022

Forever Grateful

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Forever Grateful

Skiing opens up the world

Skiing at Oglebay had humble beginnings back in 1939. It all started with two tracks on the hill above the Crispin Golf Course, one was designated for skiing, the other for sledding and tobogganing. These tracks welcomed winter sports to the park and with Oglebay’s tradition of hospitality, a log fire was set in the Pine Room to keep everyone warm with refreshments offered.

The Oglebay Ski Club (OSC) was organized in early 1940. The club raised money and purchased a ski-tow consisting of one thousand feet of rope that ran back and forth from the No. 9 green to the No. 4 hole powered by a tractor.

The popularity of winter sports was apparent from the start. By 1962, a wood and stone clubhouse was erected on the opposite side of Route 88. Built to support both, the Par-3 golf course, and the newly-reoriented ski slope on the north edge of the park which now featured a 385 foot drop. The idea of combining the ski area with the Par-3 golf course streamlined operations because the facility was designed to convert easily from a ski lodge to a golf shop with the change of the seasons.

The OSC assisted with the purchase of compressors that could manufacture enough snow for skiing in two days, provided the temperatures dipped below 28 degrees. The snow-making equipment and a 1,200 foot Pomalift (the first of three) cost approximately $30,000.

Several local families have multiple generations of ski enthusiasts who have enjoyed Oglebay’s slope. Bill Jones, Oglebay Foundation Board Member and former Wheeling Park Commissioner, remembers his father putting a snow suit on over his business suit to ski on his lunch break from running Stone & Thomas Department Store. It’s incredible to think that the Ohio Valley has a ski area within 15 minutes of downtown Wheeling.

Thanks to the sport, my family and I have experienced so much. Skiing opens up the world.

Paul Exley started skiing at Oglebay in 1956. The then three-year old skied with his family and remembers the rope-tow crossing Route 88 with the slopes going right into the Crispin Golf Course. “My mom and dad started skiing in their 40s and it became a family passion. As their youngest, I would ride between my mom’s skis. Their passion for the sport was so contagious that in addition to our entire family enjoying the sport, they started taking business associates out west on ski trips to Aspen and Vail.”

Once bitten by the ski-bug, Paul was hooked. “As children we had to attend church and Sunday school weekly… unless it snowed. I prayed for snow.” Growing up, during the season, he skied at Oglebay after school every chance he got. He went on to captain the WVU club team and was a competitive skier on the pro-circuit from 1975-1979. Measuring life by ski seasons, Paul says he’s in his 65th ski-season, and it all started at Oglebay. “Thanks to the sport, my family and I have experienced so much. Skiing opens up the world.”

Paul and his wife, Hali, raised their two daughters, Jessica and Christina, in their home near the park. Given their proximity to the slopes, Paul and Hali along with Paul’s parents, Ben and Bonnie, made sure that the girls learned to ski – and at very early ages. Jessica’s lessons started at 18 months!

One hiccup in the family’s Oglebay skiing saga is the period from 1997-2004. During this time, the park made the difficult decision to close the slope due to the increased costs in making snow, but there was no greater champion about the power of the sport and its importance in the community than Paul Exley.

In 2004, technology improvements made snow making more affordable. Thanks to the leadership and generosity of the Nutting family and a group of enthusiasts spearheaded by Paul and Hali, the Oglebay Foundation raised more than $1 million to bring skiing back to the park. Combined with a grant from the National Park Service Land & Water Fund, the park was able to purchase and install a triple chair lift, a modern snow- making system and make possible other improvements, including purchasing new rental equipment. The 1962 clubhouse was then named the Nutting Winter Sports Complex. With the slopes re-opening, Paul saw an opportunity to encourage interest in the sport by opening Alpine Skis & Boards, a local ski shop selling equipment from all the top brands.

Paul and Hali have made ongoing annual investments improving the skiing experience at Oglebay. “My dad always told me, ‘We need to give back to the community.’” The fire pit and patio outside the clubhouse was funded with a gift in 2006 and the pit was converted to gas a few years later.

In 2020, the couple donated money to make Oglebay NASTAR (NAtional STAndard Race) certified. Bringing NASTAR to Oglebay, means that not only can skiers of all ages perfect their racing strategy but also qualify to race nationally. Paul has been NASTAR racing for 40 years and believes that this added dimension will create a new dynamic in the park – keeping our little hill feeling fresh and relevant.

“I can’t tell you how many parents express their gratitude for the ski area. They can bring their kids up to Oglebay after school or on a blessed-snow day, drop them off knowing the kids will have a great time without any problems. Mom and dad can watch from the lodge or set a pickup time to collect them,” Paul said. Additionally, some of their older neighbors and friends shared that they don’t want to drive two-plus hours, fighting big crowds at the next closest ski area.

Along the way the Exley family grew. Jessica and her husband Joe Hoover have two sons, Brayden (7) and Easton (4). Christina and her husband, Kyle Perkinson have a son, Paul (3). Paul shared that skiing was a requirement to joining the family for both sons-in-law. As with so much of life, Paul and Hali love having the opportunity to teach their grandsons not just to ski, but to love the sport; everything comes full circle.

2020 was a tough year on many fronts, but Oglebay was a safe haven. The park saw an amazing influx of golf and tennis play, lots of people on the hiking trails, people just wanting to be outside. Skiing was no exception. “People who may have tried a sport in the past gravitated to those sports again last year,” Danny Ackerman, General Manager of Golf and Ski at Oglebay and Wheeling Parks observed.

Given the success of skiing in particular, the Wheeling Park Commission has made a commitment to invest in ski updates again this year. The park is continuing the momentum by focusing on: maintaining equipment; expanding and maximizing our snow making capabilities – growing the number of snow guns and increasing our electric capabilities, as well as maximizing water efficiency; training staff on best snow making practices to ensure an increased efficiency in snow making; investing in new rental equipment; and working on a 5-year plan to ensure the future of skiing at Oglebay.

Technology improvements and park investments still have to reckon with Mother Nature. All of these investments are changing the dynamic. The current snow making system will be enhanced with additional portable snow guns and hydrants allowing for better coverage on the main slope. These improvements will increase our snow capacity, especially during warmer periods.

The investment in local year-round recreational opportunities for the community is driving the decision. Paul Exley offered, “Wheeling is fortunate to have local skiing available. We have to invest in its future to make sure we can keep it going.”

The community continues to rally around skiing. The sport can do so much for so many people. Skiing is part of the Access to the Parks program, so cost is not an obstacle for any child in our community to participate. Skiing builds friendships, it fosters a love of the outdoors, it brings people together.

Paul and Hali Exley have made a five year commitment to investing in skiing at Oglebay. When asked about their investment, Paul offered, “I’m forever grateful to the sport and the community. That little ski area shaped my whole life. Of course I’m going to make sure that skiing is available for generations to come.”

July 13 2022

Walk on the Wild Side

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WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

“Oglebay’s trails are practically connected to our backyard and are an important part of our daily lives. We can round up the dogs and hike for hours and never see a car. We love the upgrade that created a 5 mile trail loop. No matter the season, the trails and the park as a whole, provide a calming anchor to us, our family, and our community. The Ohio Valley wouldn’t be the same without Oglebay.”
STEPHANIE & KEN NANNERS

July 13 2022

Morganfest 2021

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Morganfest 2021

50 YEARS OF FAMILY

The logistics of bringing together more than 160 people – 150 are in the photo – requires serious planning. It has been said, “there is no last (final) year until you’re gone,” according to Ron Vogler, a Morgan family “outlaw,” as all brothers and sisters-in-law are lovingly known. Ron, Jack Davis and Steve Morgan spearhead the annual reunion.

The family refers to the original nine siblings who started coming to Oglebay as the first generation. Comprised of seven brothers and two sisters they were all very close growing up in Wheeling. When the two sisters and their families moved out of the area, all nine siblings decided to pool their resources and rent Goldenrod cottage for the week over the July 4th holiday in 1970. They wanted the next generation to be as close as they were which inspired the annual family tradition.

During the weeklong celebration, family members come and go based on vacation time, travel schedules and the like. Coming from as far away as Alaska and West Palm Beach, Florida and every point in between, getting everyone together at the same time is a scheduling tour de force.

Due to the significance of the 50th Reunion Anniversary, delayed one year because of Covid-19, attendance was up. The need for cottages jumped from seven or eight to 12! The Morgans make their reservations as far into the future as the park allows. When the park rented cottages on a lottery basis, two brothers came to Oglebay every February to ensure that a sufficient number of cottages were available to house everyone.

In addition to the people, there’s all the stuff. Check in day is more like “move-in-day” when dozens of tables, chairs, tents, games, decorations, kegs, a snow cone machine, beer trailer, and other supplies arrive. On Sunday, a Catholic Mass is held in one of the cabins followed by a picnic which is THE reunion. A tradition started by Father Leo Morgan, OFM CAP, the eldest of the first generation.

Various cottages host a themed dinner covering a wide range of cuisines from Mexican, Deep Fry, Italian to Grill nights. One cottage hosts breakfast – talk about a lot of eggs! During the week, there are talent shows, movie nights, and the Annual Kenny O Golf Tournament, in its 36th year, named for cousin Kenny O’Connell who passed away 16 years ago.

With all the moving parts, and a large number of people coming and going, we asked the family what keeps them coming back year after year. Steve Morgan summed it up, commenting, “The point of Morganfest is for family members to develop friendships, not just to see each other for a few hours a year, and there’s a difference.”

Here’s to Morganfest 2022 and beyond! Thanks to the family for reminding us of what really matters.

MORGANS BY THE NUMBERS

First Generation: 9

Second Generation: 29

Third Generation: 54

Fourth Generation: 54

Fifth Generation: 2

And counting… twins and a third cousin will be added to the family at the end of this year or in early January 2022!

Newest addition: Temperance Marie Addair, born July 5, 2021, in Plymouth, IN. 8lbs 10oz and 20 inches long at birth. She will attend her first Morganfest in 2022.

July 13 2022

The Horne Family Tennis Center

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The Horne Family Tennis Center

Making friends, building community, and developing character through the game of tennis

Fred Horne was born in 1930 to Jean and Max Horne, who immigrated as children to the U.S. from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s. Jean and Max settled near Pittsburgh, married and eventually opened a small clothing store. When a Sears opened nearby and threatened their business in 1932, they moved to Wheeling and opened Horne’s of Wheeling, which grew to be a ladies department store. After attending college and a stint in the army, Fred returned to Wheeling to work in the store and eventually became its President and owner.

Audrey Horne grew up in New York City and Chicago and, upon graduating from college in 1955, married Fred and moved to Wheeling. An accomplished collegiate tennis player, she quickly gravitated to Oglebay’s tennis courts, where she played often and made many lifelong friends. She was known for her love of the sport, enthusiastic and competitive spirit, and unorthodox (yet effective!) strokes. Audrey was a firm believer in the benefits of a good education, and she served for 17 years on the Ohio County Board of Education and 12 years on the West Virginia State Board of Education, including terms as President of each.

Audrey and Fred’s children – Amy, Bob, David and Pam – enjoyed all that Oglebay and Wheeling Park had to offer, including the day camp, swimming, tennis, golf and ice hockey. It was Audrey’s love of tennis, however, that was most infectious, and each of the children played often at Oglebay and on their high school tennis teams. Bob won two West Virginia state high school championships, captained Harvard’s team and won the National 35’s Grass Court Doubles Championship with popular Oglebay teaching pro John Chatlak.

The Horne Family chose to support Oglebay and its Tennis Center to give back to the Wheeling community which gave all of them much happiness over the course of many years. The family’s hope is that adults and children will always have a first-class facility at Oglebay where they can play tennis, make friends, build community, and develop character through the game of tennis.

Sparachane Family group photo at the Good Zoo

July 12 2022

Level the Playing Field

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Level the Playing Field

Dottie & Del’s Playground is the new accessible playground located in the Good Zoo just above the African Adventure Area. Incorporating ramps and climbing areas, with soft surfaces and interactive games like tic-tac-toe and steering wheels, there are multiple levels for every child to play and have fun.

When you grow up with a family member in a wheelchair, all of the struggles to go out and do anything are just your “normal.” Prior to 1990s passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, families like the Pallottinis spent time planning how to allow matriarch, Dottie, the opportunity to get out and participate. “Growing up with my mom in a wheelchair, I was always aware of the difficulty of accessibility,” Patti Pallottini Sparachane explained.

Families dealing with mobility challenges are resourceful. They identify ways to limit getting in and out of the car – to hear a concert at Heritage Port, you drive to the top of the inter modal parking garage and roll the windows down – to see your grandchildren play sports, you find a parking spot with sight lines of the whole field. “It’s just what you do,” said Sparachane.

The Sparachane family focuses on inclusion and access. Nick and Patti have seen how other parks have created accessible play places for everyone and wanted to bring one to Wheeling. When the Good Zoo sought donors to upgrade the former playground, “it felt so right,” Sparachane shared. “We started conversations in late fall 2019, I can’t believe it happened this quickly. My mother and father would be so proud, they’d be thrilled.”

Sparachane added, “Our children grew up going to Oglebay and the Good Zoo. Now, it’s the grandchildren. We’re in the park all the time, and when you see a child in a wheelchair playing on a playground, it’s not just the child’s joy, but their parent’s joy too. Every child should have that opportunity.”

Thanks to the Sparachane family, now every child can join in the fun.

J. Leland Taylor circa 1920 on his farm near Henrysburg, Ohio

July 12 2022

Donor Story

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Donor Story

Dear Eriks Janelsins,

I want to share with you some information that I am very proud of. I recently set up a recurring contribution of $250 per quarter for the Oglebay tree reclamation project. My father, J. Leland Taylor who passed away at the young age of 57 in 1957, had talked to me on several occasions about planting trees in Oglebay Park when he was a young man. He moved from a farm near Hendrysburg, Ohio upon graduating high school in 1918 at the age of 18. Needing work he took a job planting trees in the park, perhaps with the CCC, I’m not sure. He pointed out some areas in Oglebay where he had planted trees and even some trees that he had planted. Therefore, it was with interest that I saw your pamphlet last summer when I was visiting Wheeling and decided that I wanted to help with your tree replanting…

I am very proud of Oglebay Park. Most people I tell about our park cannot comprehend a small city like Wheeling having such a magnificent park. Keep up your good work and take good care of our park!

Sincerely,

James E. Taylor

“I am very proud of Oglebay Park. Most people I tell about our park cannot comprehend a small city like Wheeling having such a magnificent park.”

July 11 2022

Tennis Runs in the Family

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Tennis Runs in the Family

McDermott family’s multigenerational love of the game of a lifetime

WHEELING NATIVES Laurie and Greg McDermott met as young lawyers when they returned to the friendly city to begin practicing law. They became friends and started dating. Laurie says they started playing tennis early on.

They got married, built a successful practice, have two beautiful daughters, Morgan now 26, and Jackie 24, and over 30 years later, the couple continues to enjoy the sport.

“My parents Jack and Barbara Dobkin played. They introduced me to tennis as a child and I took lessons at both Oglebay and Wheeling Park“. Laurie has played in US Tennis Association team tennis leagues, and in local tournaments.

“My dad, Jim McDermott was a Junior West Virginia State Champion and played at Xavier University. He got me interested in the game when I was young, but Laurie was the catalyst to bring me back to the game as an adult.” Greg has competed in USTA league play and tournaments, and previously served as the Wheeling-Oglebay Tennis Club president for a number of years. He also served on the USTA/Allegheny Mountain District Board of Directors. The McDermotts were named the Allegheny Mountain District Family of the Year in 2013.

With both families being big tennis players, it comes as no surprise that Morgan and Jackie started lessons at Oglebay at ages five and three respectively. “Once they started lessons, we were in the park five plus days a week for the next twenty years,” Greg shared. “We’ve gotten so much out of the game of tennis as a family and it all started at Oglebay.”

Morgan and Jackie were OVAC champions at The Linsly School. “The girls really enjoyed playing together at Linsly,” said Laurie. Morgan went on to play successfully at Wittenberg University and Jackie at Oberlin College.

The sport took the family all over the country and to several international destinations. “We’ve had so much fun playing at other facilities around the country and world. Oglebay’s tennis facilities rank right up there with some of the finest facilities that we have seen anywhere. The courts are in beautiful shape, but as an older facility some enhancements are needed to keep it in a competitive condition,” Greg added.

Greg was named a Wheeling Park Commissioner in 2018. Not long after his appointment to the commission he walked the tennis facility with Rod Haley, Oglebay’s executive vice president of operations and Eriks Janelsins, Oglebay Foundation president & CEO. Together they made a wish list of possible improvements. “Laurie and I want to make sure the Ohio Valley tennis community remains strong with first rate facilities. Whenever I’ve played in our USTA league matches at Oglebay the players and spectators would congregate on the grassy area by courts seven – eleven. I’ve always thought it would be a great place for a shelter that people would use and enjoy,” said Greg.

The McDermott Family Tennis Shelter will open in 2020. “We’re not just enthused about the shelter, but also the alternative racket facilities that are being added including new platform tennis and pickleball courts. Our hope is our gift will spark others’ interest in maintaining and preserving Oglebay,” said Laurie.

The shelter and upgraded facilities are part of the initial phase of an improvement plan that will include Wheeling Park facilities as well.

Greg went on, “I can’t put into words how much we love Oglebay. We are there virtually every single day: walking, playing tennis, skiing, dining. Some of our family’s best times and memories have happened here. We feel that giving back is a privilege and we are blessed to be able to do so.”

The Oglebay-Wheeling Tennis Association offers tennis clinics, classes and round robins at every level, and hosts USTA sanctioned tournaments for players of all ages and skill levels. Three certified tennis professionals are available for private or group lessons. The outdoor season at Oglebay is just getting started. Maybe tennis can bring generations of your family together too.

July 11 2022

Helping them Grow

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Helping them Grow

New Training Tools and Opportunities

OGLEBAY HAS A TRADITION OF HOSPITALITY, the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Records show that Earl and Sallie Oglebay were known to welcome and entertain friends, family and guests lavishly. Today, our park associates work to ensure that every overnight guest and day-visitor has an equally warm welcome and great Oglebay experience.

Ideally, we strive to do more. We want to exceed the expectations of our guests. To achieve this goal, Oglebay Foundation board member Joe Eddy and his wife, Debbie, have provided the funding for two new training programs. “These programs are designed to foster excellence in our associates as well as to encourage their ongoing success,” said Karen Hess, Wheeling Park Commission vice president of human resources.

THROUGH THE CUSTOMER’S EYES – which all new and current park employees will be required to complete – develops the concept of customer-centric service in a four-hour course. When employees focus on the customer’s perspective and provide service with this perspective in mind, their level of service is higher and more impactful.

EXCELLING AS A MANAGER OR SUPERVISOR will be required of all associates who are supervisors, assistant managers and managers. This course is designed to develop skills including problem-solving and coaching skills, so our frontline team is empowered to do their jobs more efficiently. With this new program, newly promoted employees will have a framework to help them succeed and excel. Employees will complete eight hours of training over two days.

“There is no greater investment an employer can make in their business than to offer employee training and continuing education opportunities,” says Joe Eddy. “Giving park associates the necessary tools to improve each guest experience has a guaranteed return on investment, for both the park and the employees. It truly is a win-win.”

As of this writing, the Wheeling Park Commission employs 559 year-round associates. This number grows with the addition of seasonal help. During this past summer, we grew to 646 associates. PROPORTIONATELY, THIS NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES MEANS WITH 2,400 ACRES THERE IS ONE EMPLOYEE FOR EACH 4+ ACRES OF LAND.

“There is always room for improvement and giving our associates tools to develop new skills or polish existing ones, offers a great opportunity for all of us to be our best,” says David Lindelow, Wheeling Park Commission president and CEO. “Our team of employees is our most valuable asset, and investing in them makes sense.”

The incredible team members who support the parks are dedicated to providing the level of service that our guests and visitors expect. It’s why so many of our guests come back year after year, and why so many of our associates have spent their careers here at Oglebay and Wheeling Park.