Tim Husband’s Post

One of the saddest things I have seen was when the majority of ground staff at a safari park had no trust or respect in their Director / Operations Manager and the management staff that person had working under them. There was a few reasons for this, one being because of the politics this individual continually played within the management team in their attempt to grasp power. The other reason was because everyone in the park knew that this person was given the position not because they had anu experience or skills in management (in fact they had never been in any management position before) but because of who they were related to. This became more evident very quickly as mistake after mistake kept happening under this person watch, with a higher-than-normal staff turnover. The saddest thing to see was the total waste of a new safari park with so many opportunities to stand out in the region, being lost because of poor management.   It was pointed out that there was a problem with the total lack of professionalism, and opportunities were offered many times to help train this person, but unfortunately because of pride or just blatant stupidity these offers were turned down over and over again by the operations manager. The result was that a park that had so much potential quickly lost many of its good staff and very quickly became a joke in the region among other zoos and businesses. But all is not lost for this park, just because of one person's lack of understanding of what is needed to run a successful zoo or safari park. To turn things around it would need some hard decisions to be made and changes in management that would upset those that feel they are above reproach. But I believe that every parks problems can be solved if those running the park or those that own the park are open to change and direction. It naturally won't happen overnight as years of mismanagement and the loss of trust in the management team will take time to repair, but over time it would happen and the parks credibility and reputation within the zoo industry and with the public would return. timhusband2005@gmail.com

Recently I was told by a friend that being a zoo consultant must be an exciting and rewarding career. The truth is there are many pros and cons of being a zoo consultant.   While it can, at times offer high salaries, diverse project work, and the potential for career advancement, it does also require long hours, frequent travel, high stress levels and even at times chasing up payments for work done. I have found over the years that as a zoo consultant, I am often hired by companies or zoos to solve complex problems or to bring in specialized expertise that is lacking internally. This means that there is a high level of expectation from clients for me as a consultant to deliver results. Projects can be cancelled or postponed at the last minute, and new assignments may require immediate attention, leading to inconsistent workloads. Clients may expect me to provide solutions quickly and effectively, which can place a significant amount of pressure on me as an individual. Furthermore, as a zoo consultant you will always find that your work is always under scrutiny and there is little room for error. The nature of the work can also change abruptly depending on the client’s needs, requiring me to constantly adapt. While all this can provide a certain level of excitement and challenge, it also requires a high level of adaptability and stress management. I have at times found myself in a precarious position when it comes to advising zoos or safari parks on their management teams skills. There can be a fine line between providing honest professional advice and just telling them what they want to hear. I believe in these situations, a consultant must balance their professional obligations to provide the best advice for the park and the staff working there, with their personal ethical principles. Being honest in this type of situation, although always being the best way to go for the park involved can at times be a problem when you point out that certain people are not suitable for the position they fill.   timhusband2005@gmail.com ♻️ Repost if this resonates with you.

👋 Meet Ben Fahlgren, Senior Manager, 👥People Operations. With Zippin since the end of 2020, Ben is based out of Eugene, Oregon where he lives with his wife (a registered 🏥nurse), two daughters (aged 7 and 14), his 🐱cat Pumpkin and 🐕lab Maya. Ben’s typical ☀️day begins with ☕coffee (he can’t live without it!) and walking his daughters to 🍎school. Because his role is highly 👍collaborative, he’s often working with cross-functional 🤝teams and assisting other departments to achieve our company's 🏆goals. One recent 📝project stands out - assisting the operations team with temporarily deconstructing a Zippin-powered 🛒store in preparation for a stadium 🏗️construction project. It felt great to help the customer safely store equipment during construction, and it 👀highlighted just how adaptable our installations are to 👏customer needs. 💖Best part of the job? “I find it incredibly exciting to be in a role that exposes me to innovative and fascinating 💡technology. It's inspiring to think about how our platform, along with similar technologies, will continue to make a significant impact in the 🌐future.” 🏘️Despite working remotely, Ben values the strong sense of connection and collaboration with his 👏fellow Zippiners.👏 It’s the perfect combination to have a strong corporate culture and effective 💬communication, along with flexibility to achieve 😊work/life balance. Outside of work, Ben enjoys 🛠️DIY home projects, 🌽gardening, and outdoor activities like ⛷️skiing, ❄️snowshoeing, 🚣kayaking, and ⛰️hiking. If Ben could have a 🦸superpower, it would be to 🦅fly because flying is “obviously” the best superpower! And if you’re looking for a 📘book recommendation, check out Erik Larson’s “The Demon of Unrest,” about the beginning of the Civil War. He’s not finished yet, but so far, it’s a winner!🎉 #WeAreZippin #ZippinHere

Tomorrow is Park and Recreation Professionals Day! This special day is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the hard work and dedication of park and recreation professionals who keep our parks safe, fun, and clean year-round. How Can You Participate? We invite you to join us in celebrating this day with your staff. Here are some ways you can show your appreciation: Public Acknowledgement: Use your organization's social media channels to publicly thank your park and recreation staff. Share stories, photos, and achievements to highlight their contributions. Use the hashtags #ParkandRecDay and #GoodforPA Personal Notes: Write personalized thank-you notes or letters to your staff members, expressing your gratitude for their dedication and hard work. Feature in Newsletter: Highlight the accomplishments and efforts of your park and recreation professionals in your next newsletter or on your website. Create a Fun Activity: Plan a fun team-building activity or outing to celebrate the day and strengthen team bonds. We encourage you to take a moment on July 19 to acknowledge the incredible work of your park and recreation professionals. Let's make this day a memorable one for those who tirelessly work to enhance our communities. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our parks and recreation services. #parkandrecday #parks #recreation #parkandrecmonth #goodforPA

Ranch managers, this one’s for you. What’s your operation’s approach to benefits for full time camp guys? I’m surprised by the level of pay, benefits, insurance, etc. that come along with these positions. For context, my husband has worked on 10+ ranches across 7+ states and has plenty of stories to share. From big operations to smaller, family-run outfits, the “perks” of these jobs seem to vary pretty drastically. Coming from the “corporate world”, I’m shocked at how little pay and how few incentives ranches offer their full time guys - the guys keeping their operation up and running on a daily basis, often times on their own personal horses with their own personal equipment… In my mind, if you want your operation to be successful, you hire the best of the best to keep it afloat - and if you’re looking to hire the best of the best, your pay, housing, and benefits should be incentive for those guys to stick around. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Drop them below or send me a message! 📸: Lazy Remuda Marketing, Megan Terry

Happy Thursday! And welcome to our new weekly Employee Spotlight segment! First up, meet Jeff! You may not recognize him from an inspection - but from our sister company Eagle Drains! Get to know Jeff below! Can you share your story and how you got started in the drain cleaning industry? I worked in just about every trade and ended up with a company that takes care of its employees and stayed within this industry and this company ever since. What training or certifications do you have that help you in your role? Internachi drain cleaning certified and countless hours of on-site training. What does a typical day look like for you when out in the field? You can find me driving through all of the neighborhoods within Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. What do you find most rewarding about your job? The appreciation and happiness of the client when we are able to solve their issue. What tips would you give to homeowners to help them prevent drain issues? Do not pour grease down your sink and no wipes are flushable! Can you share a memorable experience where you made a significant impact on a customer's situation? There was a Pepsi can about 40 ft down the line and had we not been able to snake it out, the client would have had to spend thousands of dollars on ripping up and replacing the sidewalk just to get to that section of the lateral line. We were able to avoid all that and the client was able to close on the house that same day. What's the most surprising thing you've learned from working in the drain cleaning field? You will never know what you will find in the sewer line until you get a camera down there. We’ve found all types of toys, objects, cement, gravel. Outside of work, what hobbies do you enjoy that help you unwind? The gym is my go to, other than that, I enjoy hiking/kayaking especially when I’m able to bring my two pooches! . . . #eagleinspections #inspection #inspections #homeinspection #homeinspections #homeowner #homeowners #realestate #blog #newblogpost #blogpost #newblog #newpost #employeespotlight #qanda #employee #draincompany #eagledrains #drain #drainco

Happy Building Safety Month! This May, we're highlighting our staff that ensure our city is built from safe and sustainable structures: Meet Wallace Nelson, a Certified Code Enforcement Officer in the Development & Growth Management Division. He has worked for the City of Tampa for 19 years, and he loves that his position gives the opportunity to explain to the citizens why the permitting process is so important to their safety and their property values. What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy hanging out with my family. I am an avid fisherman. And I’m definitely not afraid to try new things (Skydiving, swimming with sharks, hang gliding, etc.) Where’s your favorite place in Tampa? Hillsborough River State Park. I like peace and quiet it provides while also being an excellent spot for walking and being in nature. It doesn’t hurt that the scenery is very picturesque. What is your favorite meal to cook? Please don’t laugh, my small city upbringing may show here, but I really like rice, pork and beans and fried porkchops. It was one of those childhood meals that I still enjoy to this day. What is your dream vacation? My dream vacation would probably be to Bali. I would love to stay in one of those villas over the water and snorkel throughout the day. If you can’t tell I love blue water but I’m fairly new to traveling. What are you binging on Netflix right now? Wicked Tuna. I still have yellowfin tuna on my bucket list of fish to catch. #EmployeeAppreciation #TampaJobs #BuildingSafetyMonth #CodeEnforcement #Permitting

🌟 Busy days, big smiles, and endless gratitude! 🌟 Working at Landsdowne Property Group is like riding a rollercoaster—there's the hustle, the deadlines, the occasional wild loop-de-loop 😅, but in the end, you step off with a huge smile because you know you're part of something special. 💼🏡 Sure, managing an estate is no walk in the park—it's more like a brisk jog through a park, uphill, in the rain, with a clipboard. 😅 But what really keeps me going is the amazing support from upper management. The kind of support that shows up in the form of a well-timed "You're doing great!" or an "We appreciate everything you do" right when you need it most. Seriously, those little words of affirmation have superpowers. ✨ They turn long days into rewarding ones and remind me why I love being part of this team. Landsdowne Property Group is more than just a workplace; it's a family that values hard work, supports growth, and cheers you on every step of the way. Knowing that my efforts don’t go unnoticed—now that’s what makes this all worthwhile. So, here's to the busy days, the epic teamwork, and to working for a company that’s as committed to us as we are to them. 🌟 #LandsdowneLife #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #HustleAndHeart #PropertyManagementAdventures #GratefulAndGrowing

Look out, humans! The Express International dogs have discovered the best career paths for their paw-some skills. Check out what they are in this Express blog post! And if you have a pet, what career do you think they'd have?

Look out, humans! The Express International dogs have discovered the best career paths for their paw-some skills. Check out what they are in this Express blog post! And if you have a pet, what career do you think they'd have?