Sandra Lalonde
Director of Human Capital
Calypso Theme Waterpark
Limoges, Ontario - Canada
Featured in
World Waterpark Magazine, September 2020
WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE?
I studied business administration with a focus on marketing and accounting at St. Lawrence College in Ontario, Canada. Beginning my career in accounting, I transitioned pretty quickly into sales management where I gained decades of business acumen by learning and understanding client business models and their challenges so I could provide solid solutions for them to build better businesses. As a director, my business experience with my accounting background has served me well over the years but never so much as in my role here at Calypso.
WHAT CERTIFICATION OR LICENSING DO YOU HAVE?
Because of my background in the training industry, first in time and project management, then in health and safety training, I’ve had the opportunity to obtain many certificates throughout my career from project management to negotiation and strategic planning to workplace health and safety.
WHAT HONORS, AWARDS OR SPECIAL RECOGNITION HAVE YOU ACHIEVED?
Although my career is exceptionally rewarding, I am most proud of receiving the Queen’s (QEII) Diamond Jubilee medal for lifetime volunteer service to my community.
WHAT MADE YOU GO INTO THIS FIELD?
Opportunity knocked at a time when I was in the midst of a change and I met with Calypso. They were seeking someone with a broad business background and I was looking to come in off the road from sales. So, I traded in my suit and heels for shorts and running shoes.
WHAT ASPECT OF THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY DO YOU LIKE BEST?
The industry is unlike any other! We work in 5 or 6 business sectors under one umbrella, all with one priority. We sell fun! It’s a team sport that requires an abundance mentality where everyone on the team must support the others to succeed because of the sheer capacity of our business.
WHO HAS MOST INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
I have been very fortunate in my career to have met and worked with some inspiring and influential leaders, especially here at Calypso! Many of the strategies I use today I learned from those who chose to mentor me simply because they believed in sharing best practices and working toward a shared common goal.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR WATERPARK CAREER?
Crunch time! Here in Canada we ramp up for 3 months and open our doors for 90 days before the seasons change and we head back into autumn and winter. In my department, we hire, train and manage more than 650 employees to make that 90 days have as much impact as possible. It’s fast, it’s dynamic and it requires a lot energy and focus.
HOW DO YOU KEEP FOCUSED AND MOTIVATED?
I am consistently amazed watching young, new employees learn and grow with our company. I want to provide them with so much more than a summer job and I am jazzed every time I am asked to provide a reference for their first career job or their university/college applications. When I look back on our thousands of youth workers over the years, I see doctors, lawyers, trades people, business owners and young professionals for whom we played a part in supporting their formative, first-job years. It is humbling.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN WORKING IN THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY?
No matter what you studied in school, you can find a place to apply it in our industry. The opportunity to learn and gain experience in a multitude of sectors is at your disposal when you work in a waterpark. Open yourself up to the opportunity and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish here!
WHAT BOOKS OR PUBLICATIONS DO YOU RELY ON MOST FOR INSPIRATION OR MOTIVATION?
Anything written by Peter Drucker, and it doesn’t matter how long ago it was published. It is all still relevant in management today.
World Waterpark Magazine for the peer insight and global information it provides on our industry. Anything by Bill & Melinda Gates for the sheer example of business meets philanthropy.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
The commute to work in the morning as I drive around the bend and see that first peek at the Summit Tower from my spot on the highway. I work at Canada’s biggest theme waterpark and I love that.
WHAT CAREER OR BUSINESS WOULD YOU CONSIDER IF YOU WERE STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN?
Sometime in the future when I retire, I believe I have some stories to tell so I will start over in a new career as an author.
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH THE WWA?
I asked to be a part of quarterly meetings of the WWA’s Canadian Waterpark Committee so I could learn more about the business and meet peers in other parks.
WHAT IS SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOU THAT FEW KNOW OR WOULD GUESS?
I play piano and I like to sing so much; I make up lyrics when I don’t know the words.