Month: August 2018

Don’t burn your bridges. We’ve all heard it, especially as it applies to employment. Nearly a year ago I had a familiar woman walk into my office. She had a big pleasant smile and a calm soft voice. I had to dig deep into my memory banks. I vaguely recognized her, but couldn’t place her. I was embarrassed that I couldn’t remember her name and she was playing hard not to give it up. But I remembered something positive, something good. I just couldn’t make the connection. Then she said it. The trigger words were the snack bar at the Dome. It had been over 40 years and we were both much younger. I was thinner, she still is. Audrey Banks is even more pleasant today than I remember her. And she still works as hard or harder than she did in the 1970s. She and I both were part-time students in college when she came to the Dome. Today she diligently goes about her work keeping VBCC clean, and she does so with a smile and kind words every time I see her.

 The next time you’re here and see Audrey, please say hello. She’ll undoubtedly have something kind to say that will likely put a smile on your face. 

Members of VBCC’s building maintenance and housekeeping and setup teams worked together on completing the last changeover of the pedi-mats. Many people take for granted walking over these benign tracks when you walk into a building, but we don’t. These devices clean your feet before you walk on our carpet and leave the dust and dirt behind. We actually receive LEED credits for indoor air quality because of them. Every few years we have to go through the task of removing the old strips that look like carpet but feel more like a stiff bristle brush. VBCC Maintenance staff have been busy deep cleaning carpets and other tasks this month getting ready for another busy year.

My name is Leilani Zamora, and I am a rising senior at Landstown High, and participant of Virginia Beach’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) of 2018. SYEP is a program that provides jobs and workplace readiness skills to young people. They also help provide opportunities to the participants to develop skills, set career goals, earn money, become financially empowered, and learn more about the community. Based on my interview and career assessment, I was placed in my first job at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Event Services with Avery Burgess as my supervisor. Everyone was so welcoming, and it was wonderful being a part of the team!

In the beginning of the summer, I participated in tours with the other CVB interns. There, I learned about the Virginia Beach Convention Center building, the history of it, and the attractions of the city. I was able to support the event team with many tasks. I organized event files, created signage, crafted icebreakers for meetings, and filled in as a concierge and as an usher in my time here.

My experience here has been enjoyable and educational as I got to shadow some of the Event Coordinators and got to learn about the hospitality industry. Working events like dance competitions and Warrior Expo and attending staff meetings have helped me develop and improve my professional skills and my interpersonal communication skills. This will be helpful for my future job opportunities and I am incredibly grateful for being able to work here for these seven weeks! I will miss it!