Working for Silverwood Layne Pitcher’s dream job
Layne Pitcher grew up on a farm near Cardston, Alberta, knowing that he didn’t want to do what his father did and end up farming for the rest of his life.
So he pursued his education through college and discovered that marketing satisfied the problem-solver, analytical side of himself and his desire to be creative. “I don’t understand why I felt the way I did about my father’s job, because it feels like good hard work now,” he says.
Pursuing a degree in biology and then music, Pitcher chose instead to earn a marketing degree, and is the marketing and events coordinator for Silverwood Theme Park. Along with being involved with events inside the park, Pitcher is directly involved in planning and coordinating two annual fun events – the Excelerator Car Show held in July and the Coaster Classic car event on Labor Day weekend. Both events are held at Silverwood and are coordinated with the Inland Empire Lake Great Chevy Club and Napa Auto Parts.
Pitcher completed a year’s internship at Silverwood in 2004. He said he learned about the theme park through a career fair conducted at the University of Idaho.
What is your hometown? Cardston, Alberta
What town do you live in now? Hayden.
What job do you do? I am the marketing and events coordinator for Silverwood Theme Park. My responsibilities include the planning and organizing of park events and promotion, working directly with some of our partners for season pass and ticket sales, managing the different park donation programs and assisting in any marketing related projects as needed.
How long have you been doing this job? I’ve worked at Silverwood Theme Park since December 2006. I previously had a stint as an intern here while attending the University of Idaho and happily returned when a full-time position became available.
What do you like the least about this job? For some reason it gets pretty busy around here during the summer. With the many different aspects of our jobs, things can be both a challenge and exhilarating at times.
What do you like the most about this job? Being a part of the Silverwood experience. Silverwood is a family park and so, no matter what part you play, our real job here is to provide a place for families to be together and have fun. Instead of selling widgets and gizmos, I get to sell fun. I feel lucky to be a part of that.
Tell us a funny/unusual or sad story that happened on the job. Sometimes it is difficult to relay to some people that working here at Silverwood isn’t all fun and games, especially when those people are my two sons. They are 5 and 7, and when their friends ask what their dad does for a living, they say that I spend my day “riding roller coasters and sliding down waterslides.” I try to explain to them that while I enjoy the work I do here, I don’t get to enjoy it that much … at least not every day.
What is your dream job? For right now, this is it. I don’t know that I would change anything. I have the opportunity to work with people I respect, deal with new challenges every day that require creative and inventive solutions, and I’m gaining experience in a field of work that I have found I enjoy.
If your life were made into a movie, whom would you want to play you? Toby Maguire. No real reason for picking him other that he is about the same height and has the same hair and eye color. Also, I’ll expose my inner geek, and admit that I’m a big “Spider-Man” fan.