Interview with Nicole Koebirch
Operations Manager/Public Relations [Paramount's Great America]
Nicole was nice enough to let us ask her a few questions involving what it's like to be in public relations at an amusement park, and how the park is managed on an everyday basis.
Nicole & Scooby pose for a
quick photo in front of Taxi Jam, located in the park's "KidzVille"
themed area.
Brandon Elliott: Hello Nichole, I would like to start off by thanking you for agreeing to do this interview. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
First off, why don't you tell us a little about yourself, and how you came to be the Public Relations/ Operations Manager at Paramount's Great America.
Nicole Koebrich: I studied Journalism at Colorado State University, majoring in Public Relations. After graduation, I went on to work for Coors' Brewing Co. and a small PR agency in Denver, Colo. During the tech boom in the 90s, I made the move to Northern California to work for an international PR Agency, Fleishman Hillard in the San Francisco office. Paramount's Great America hired me about 6 months later and I have been here ever since. This is my third season.
Brandon Elliott: Have you done any previous work in the Amusement Park industry?
Nicole Koebrich: Nope, this is my first job in the Amusement Park industry.
Brandon Elliott: What would you say you do for the company?
Nicole Koebrich: I am the Public Relations Operations Manager. I work with the media, primarily reporters within a 200-mile radius who cover Paramount's Great America. I also manage our community relations program to plan events in the park for nonprofit and community relations groups. We also donate tickets to charity organizations through this program.
Brandon Elliott: Is there a specific routine set of jobs you have to perform each day?
Nicole Koebrich: The greatest thing about my job is that every day is different so I never get bored! You never know when a television station is going to call and want to do a story on the park. Working with the media is very fun, yet unpredictable. One call from a news crew can change the focus of an entire day.
Brandon Elliott: In addition to working at a Theme Park, are you yourself a fan of coasters? Member of ACE? (if so, tell us how you got interested in coasters and theme parks)
Nicole Koebrich: I started to learn more about roller coasters when it became a requirement for my job! I didn't really know a lot about roller coasters until I started working here and interacting with coaster fans. I have always liked theme parks and I definitely enjoy working in one and I find rollercoaster history and information very interesting. However, with all the die hard fans out there, I would put the term to shame if I said I consider myself a "fan!"
Brandon Elliott: During media events, such as the Coasterpalooza event that recently took place, what kind of preparations are involved in getting ready, and setting up to open up your new rides/attractions?
Nicole Koebrich: Months of planning and preparation go into putting an event together. The first thing we have to do is come up with a concept for the event - who, what, when, where, why? Once we have our event concept together, one of the most important things is getting the word out to our guests about the event. So we create a press release, signage, photos, and information that we post on our website. We also have to put together a timeline to make sure the event will flow and that there are activities for the guests to participate in. We also work with the other departments to help us execute the event. For instance, with Coasterpalooza, we had to work very closely with our operations department because many of their staff were instrumental in making sure we had a compelling event. Without the rides staff, we wouldn't have been able to have ERTs, or a tour of the coaster shop. Without our safety manager's approval, we wouldn't have been able to walk back stage. Without the help of tech services, we wouldn't have been able to play the Top Gun music, or have a microphone and a podium set up for the speakers at the picnic.
Brandon Elliott: If you could use one descriptive word about your job, what would you say it was?
Nicole Koebrich: Unpredictable
Brandon Elliott: Let's talk a little about the park itself. Paramount's Great America is home to a wide variety of thrill rides, family rides, and plenty of attractions to keep the public occupied (including children, adults, teens, seniors ect). How would you say you accomplish this?
Nicole Koebrich: We have worked very hard to maintain a balance between families and teens that visit our park. One of the ways to attract a big audience is by putting in new attractions. In 2003, a new addition to the park was the World Premier of SpongeBob SquarePants in his first movie, SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D. This ocean-motion motion simulator ride is an adventure that can be enjoyed by families and teens. It's a nice complement to our new Nickelodeon Central area which attracts families, but is cool enough for teenagers to ride, too.
Brandon Elliott: Paramount's Great America, also has a reputation as one of the cleanest and most efficiently managed parks in California. How would you say this is done?
Nicole Koebrich: A lot of hard work and cooperation. Our operations team works around the clock (literally!) to keep PGA in tip top shape. It is critical for us to have a clean well-kept park in order to provide the highest quality of experience for our guests.
Brandon Elliott: What do you think sets Paramount's Great America apart from all the other Northern California parks?
Nicole Koebrich: The most coasters, the most water rides, the most kids rides and.the only place in Northern California where kids can meet and play with their favorite Nickelodeon friends, including SpongeBob SquarePants!
Brandon Elliott: Does PGA struggle in any way to compete with Six Flags Marine World? Explain.
Nicole Koebrich: Competition is what makes us work harder to provide a better experience to our customers. Our competition keeps us on our toes to ensure we are doing the best job possible to remain competitive.
Brandon Elliott: While we're still on the topic of competition, we recently got news that PGA signed a contract with the nearby Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy. What are the park's plans with this park? Will we see any changes in the way that BG is ran?
Nicole Koebrich: The management contract with Bonfante Gardens is a five-year agreement. We are hoping to use the synergies between Paramount's Great America and Bonfante Gardens to increase attendance at both parks. This year, we offered "Two Parks for the Price of One" to Paramount's Great America VIP Pass holders, and it has increased VIP Pass sales significantly. We are also hoping to keep Bonfante the unique, beautiful place it's creators had intended it to be.
Brandon Elliott: Finally, is there anything else you would like to tell us about Paramount Parks in general, or future plans or ideas you might have to improve PGA?
Nicole Koebrich: Just keep checking www.pgathrills.com
for updated information!
Brandon Elliott: Once again, we at RCPro would like to thank you for your time in answering our questions. Also, we would like to thank you for allowing us to enjoy the park and visit during your recent media event. Thank you for your time.
