When I was a little kid, I remember going to Marine World Africa USA in Redwood City, so when it moved to Vallejo in 1986, I was excited to visit it. I ended up doing more than just visiting; I worked there starting in 1989, and it was where I developed many managerial skills and helped shape my future. I was hired as a Food & Games manager and worked at the Market Place. By the following season, I was creating orientation programs, a foodservice newsletter, and a new assignment, Picnic’s. Picnics mainly were on weekends, and we handled catering for companies that booked a day at the Park for their employees. It was so much fun. With people who became lifelong friends, we changed the area from the worst place to work to the best in the park.

Working there changed my life in so many ways. Looking back, it was my favorite job of my life and paved my way to my next Theme Park of my dreams, Disneyland.