Employee Spotlight: Celebrating Eric Arterbery's 25th Season
McKenzie Koppe
|
If there were a Hall of Fame for Worlds of Fun ambassadors, ride operator Eric Arterbery would definitely be in it. He has dedicated 25 years to Worlds of Fun, and in those years he has operated nearly every single ride in the park. From working Snoopy’s Yacht Club in 1999, to working Mamba today, Eric knows how to run any ride at the park like the back of his hand.
It isn’t just his knowledge of the park that makes him stand out. The enthusiasm and energy he brings every day is unmatched. There aren’t many people that care about their job the way Eric does. No matter the day, his passion shines through with each interaction and smile.
His favorite part about the job is that he gets to witness and celebrate all the joy the rides bring to guests. If you’ve ridden Mamba, you’ve probably found him on the microphone getting everyone in line excited to ride, or giving out high fives at the end of their mile-long journey.
Eric often came to Worlds of Fun as a teenager in the 90s. During each visit, he was drawn to how enthusiastic and full of energy the park’s ride operators were. By age 17 he knew he was meant to be one, so he applied to work at the park. For two years he worked in park services and food services, with the intention of working his way up to the rides department. By 1999, Eric’s hard work had paid off and he officially became a ride operator.
The first rides he ever learned how to operate can be found in Planet Snoopy today, such as Charlie Brown’s Windup and Linus’ Beetle Bugs.
After a couple of years working several of the park’s children and family rides, Eric was told to meet with his supervisors in private. They informed him that because of his hard work and enthusiasm, it was time for him to move up to the thrill rides. So, in 2002, Eric transferred to the Boomerang, which was the first big roller coaster he learned how to operate.
One of Eric’s fondest memories was taking a bus trip to Minnesota with 40 other ambassadors to enjoy Worlds of Fun’s sister park, Valleyfair. It was an opportunity for him to bond with his co-workers, as well as see firsthand how another park in the Cedar Fair chain operates. His time at Valleyfair came full circle several years later when he got the chance to work there for a week operating one of their roller coasters, Excalibur. Valleyfair was short-staffed at the time, so Eric and 24 other ambassadors were hand-picked by management to go help out.
Being chosen to work at another Cedar Fair amusement park is just one of the many accomplishments Eric has made during his 25 years of service. Because of his passion for the job, he has received awards and recognition more times than he can count. Whether they’re compliments left at Guest Services, shout-outs on social media, hand-written letters, or certificates from management, Eric is one of the most highly decorated ambassadors in Worlds of Fun history.
And if his numerous awards aren’t enough to demonstrate his excellence, it should be noted that Eric has a fan club. There’s not a day you won’t find guests chanting his name before boarding a ride or asking to take a picture with him afterward. He has even been asked for an autograph.
This may be Eric’s 25th season, but he is just getting started.