Laura Blahuta
Co-owner
Splashway Waterpark
Sheridan, Texas - U.S.A.
Featured in
World Waterpark Magazine, May 2021
WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE?
I earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Texas at Austin. I have been with Splashway Waterpark for 16 years and have been involved in all areas of the park as well as maintaining my teaching career. In 2005, my husband and I acquired the park while both still in college. Together we managed the park while also finishing our degrees and pursuing careers as educators. In 2012, the park really started to grow rapidly and I decided to say goodbye to the classroom and join Splashway full time. Today, I manage many things behind the scenes including overseeing all of the accounting, retail, admissions and marketing. I am responsible for keeping everyone inline when it comes to the dollars spent.
WHAT HONORS, AWARDS OR SPECIAL RECOGNITION HAVE YOU ACHIEVED?
I am a Dale Carnegie Graduate and received The Dale Carnegie Outstanding Performance Award.
WHAT MADE YOU GO INTO THIS FIELD?
My husband and I were both in college when I began working at Splashway. He had already been working at the park for 5 years as an aquatic supervisor and then Director of Operations. We thought it would be really awesome to own the park and make this our career.
WHAT ASPECT OF THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY DO YOU LIKE BEST?
Being a former school teacher, working at Splashway was the next closest thing to being a teacher. I feel like I never left the classroom and am able to influence the lives of so many young individuals as I did when teaching. It is such an awesome feeling of being the “Splashway mom!”
WHO HAS MOST INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
My husband is definitely my inspiration. His mind never stops! He is a very spontaneous person and has a crazy imagination that can make anything happen. He is always up for challenges and ways to improve the park.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR WATERPARK CAREER?
WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR WATERPARK
C AREER?
The most challenging thing each year has to be retraining new family members. If I could change one thing, it would be to be a year-round operation in the waterpark where we could keep all of our seasonal staff.
HOW DO YOU KEEP FOCUSED AND MOTIVATED?
It is easy to stay motivated when your vocation is a vacation and you’re always reminded that your career goal is simply to create awesome memories for families. Staying grounded is remembering that every smile counts.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN WORKING IN THE WATERPARK INDUS RY?
Remember you’re entering a career of fun. If you aren’t having it, then you’re in the wrong career or you need to refocus. When you need reminding of it, forget that you are an “employee.” Put on your swimsuit, buy a ticket and be a guest! Or make a “work day” out of people watching. Close your laptop, leave your phone in the office and open your eyes to the smiles around you.
WHAT BOOKS OR PUBLICATIONS DO YOU RELY ON MOST FOR INSPIRATION OR MOTIVATION?
I enjoy catching up on industry related topics in
World Waterpark Magazine.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
No day is the same is what I love most about my job. Compared to other fields I’ve been in, careers can be somewhat monotonous. That’s not the case in this job.
WHAT CAREER OR BUSINESS WOULD YOU CONSIDER IF YOU WERE STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN?
I would consider going to business school. If only I would have known back then while in college where I would be today. A stronger knowledge of accounting would be awesome.
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH THE WWA?
I attended my first WWA Show in 2006 when we had just taken over Splashway and I was eager to learn more about the waterpark industry.
WHAT IS SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOU THAT FEW KNOW OR WOULD GUESS?
I am mom to three future lifeguards, Peyton, Brady and Drew. (Yes, they are all NFL quarterback names and each one was in the Super Bowl the year they were born. Ok, well, Drew wasn’t but he was robbed in the NFC championship and we aren’t taking that from him!) I like to spend time with my boys going swimming, playing baseball, basketball, riding bikes and going to the beach.