Blog - Tales From the Road
Experiences and information from the world’s largest traveling midway on their journeys across North America.
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Wednesday, 30 June 2010 |
The Red River Exhibition in Winnipeg, MB proved to be a first class exhibition experience combined with value for the whole family.
North American Midway offered a ten-ride card for $20.00 available only if purchased in advance and the Fair offered four days where fairgoers could enter the Ex for only $5.00 before 5pm. The Exhibition even took it one step further and offered a free pancake breakfast and gate admission on Father’s Day and free gate admission for three hours on “Aboriginal Day”. These great values were only the beginning of what was the best line-up ever inside the gates at the Red River Exhibition.
The brand-new $3 million, 39,000 sq ft building “Exhibition Place” was unveiled to fairgoers. Exhibition Place housed “Savoir-Faire” – a food and wine experience featuring Manitoba delicacies and celebrity chefs. Also displayed in Exhibition Place were paintings, drawings, photography and sculptures created by Manitoba amateur artists.
The second new structure was “Centreplace Manitoba” a 2,560 sq ft sustainable living building that was moved to...
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Sunday, 20 June 2010 |
Tony Diaz, President, North American Midway opened the 98th Calgary Stampede to over 400 NAME employees on the Coca Cola Stage.
The opening ceremonies included the induction of the first two recipients into North American Midway's Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame. This is an award that is unprecedented and a feat that only those of many years of quality service in the amusement industry can achieve.
Hall of Fame recipients, Wayne Kunz and Don Larson have touched the lives of many people at North American Midway, the amusement industry and fairgoers all over North America.
These two individuals have and continue to share so much passion for this industry. They exhibit a genuine feeling for others, their employees, our customers and every person they come in contact with. They make our carnival a place to call "home".
They mentor, teach and help employees in every department. They empower all employees with the encouragement to try their best. Most importantly, they make sure everyone is apart of our team. This is sheer love and dedication.
If you were to ask either of them...
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Sunday, 20 June 2010 |
After sixteen straight years of growing up on the carnival, Makyla Conklin, daughter of Frank and Jodi Conklin, still enjoys spending a month of her summer on the midway.
Makyla, along with her longtime carnival friends, Andrea Howell, daughter of Alan Howell, Bob's Space Racers and Miranda Lee, daughter of former amusement ride owner Jimmy Lee, worked the Elephant Ear concession during the Calgary Stampede and Edmonton's Captial Ex. Makyla says "It's hard to stay away, I grew up in this business and when July comes around, it's a natural feeling and I need to get back."
Makyla attended the traveling carnival school, Conklin International Academy from preschool at the age of 3 to Grade 11. She is currently attending the University of South Florida, majoring in Civil Engineering. She is not sure what she wants to do with her education yet, but the family joke is that she will be building carnival rides.
Makyla loves to fish in her free time, and still continues the love for the carnival with her Conko the Clown proudly mounted on the back of her car. Her great-grandfather James...
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Friday, 30 April 2010 |
Bob Cassata, the founder and owner of Bob’s Space Racers is the 2010 recipient of the OABA Pioneer Award. Bob, was born in 1941 and raised in Garfield, NJ. His family moved to Daytona Beach, FL in 1953 where he began working in his family’s business and then moved on to work at a local construction company. In 1959 he married his high school sweetheart, his lovely wife Joyce. Bob entered into the amusement industry when he was asked to watch over some games on the Daytona Beach boardwalk for a friend.
In 1967 Bob built a “Pitch Til You Win” game along with a 3-pin bowling game with his last $150.00 dollars. Soon after, Bob built a concession trailer and played two fairs with the 5 Vivona Brothers Show where he met longtime partner Jack Mendes. Bob and Jack have now worked together for over 40 years. Their first game invention was a group game that had NASA-style Apollo rockets and outer space effects, the name “Bob’s Space Racers” was born. Little did they know, they would be the leading game manufacturer in the amusement industry. In 1976, they invented the world...
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Sunday, 28 February 2010 |
The first five years of NAME we worked exceptionally hard on building our company, partnerships, reputation and team. We also learned a few lessons on combining five large traveling midway companies and continue to learn how to better our company every day.
After the development of our NAME Safety department, the next major investment was customer service. We set a goal to work towards satisfying every single customer. Our goal was to produce a product that people love. We want more for our customers then a visit to our midway for rides, games and food. We are a destination. We want our customers to arrive at the midway and to be provided with instant convenience. Starting with an easy practical ticketing system, quick queue lines, delicious fair food, rewarding games and out of this world customer service. We want them to love it and tell the whole world about it.
Fixating on customers’ needs to be the job of every employee, manager and everyone employed by the company. In today’s world you can say you are customer focused, however if you say it and you are not, customers...
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