News
2008
June 03, 2008 -
Certified Grassroots Byway Hospitality Trainers Announced
In April of 2008, twenty-two byway practitioners met in Denver, Colorado to become certified trainers for the 2007 Scenic Byway Award-winning Grassroots Byway Hospitality Training Program.
This program was developed specifically to teach byway representatives how to train locals, including visitor center staff and volunteers; front line hotel, restaurant and retail employees; and other members of the community who regularly interact with travelers. They are trained about all aspects of the local byway, from the byway’s interpretive message to current resource protection strategies. The training program’s strategic principle is that locals should teach locals, building on the foundation of existing knowledge.
The Grassroots Byway Hospitality Training Program includes creative learning tools, such as games, interactive activities, map-making and quizzes. Its innovative content is the heart of the program, generating a dynamic atmosphere that engages participants to discuss not only standard visitor experience issues but byway ethics and expected behavior as well. Activities can be delivered in a variety of means, from day long workshops with front line staff to brown bag lunches with long-time community members and business leaders.
The training program was designed to be customized to the local byway. The certified trainers can help byways develop quiz questions, create mapping exercises and identify combinations of the more than 20 separate learning activities in that categories of interpretation, protection and ethics. The program can be used in multiple combinations and can be repeated for many audiences. The certified trainers can work with you to teach you how to use the training program and conduct your own sessions or work with you to deliver trainings in your area.
The America’s Byways Resource Center is excited to enlist the help of enthusiastic byway practitioners to bring this dynamic tool to the field. If you are interested in learning more about the Grassroots Byway Hospitality Training Program or scheduling a training session near you, please contact one of the certified trainers listed below.
Certified Grassroots Byway Hospitality Trainers
Jeff Crowe
Southern and Eastern Kentucky Tourism Development Association
2292 S. Hwy 27
Somerset, KY 42501
606-677-6095
jcrowe@tourseky.com
Michelle Spencer
Southern and Eastern Kentucky Tourism
Development Association
2292 S. Hwy 27
Somerset, KY 42501
606-677-6095
mspencer@tourseky.com
Dru Garson
Alaska’s Scenic Byways/Alaska Office of Economic Development
PO Box 110804
Juneau, AK 99811
907-465-2162
Dru.garson@alaska.gov
Anne Taber Klenke
PO Box 51145
Lafayette, LA 70505
337-232-8214
annet@graham-group.com
Meg Purnsley
Indiana National Road Association
200 E. Washington Street, Suite 1801
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-327-4408
mpurnsle@indygov.org
Cris Collier
Great Bend CVB
PO Box 274
Great Bend, KS 67530
620-792-2750
cvb@visitgreatbend.com
Rebecca Weller
Great Bend CVB
1523 Jefferson
Great Bend, KS 67530
620-792-7485
bweller@cox.net
Louretta Wimberly
Selma to Montgomery Byway All-American Road
3007 N. Broad Street
Selma, Alabama 36701
334-875-5894
lcwimberly@bellsouth.net
Carol Zoff
Minnesota Great River Road NSB
395 John Ireland Blvd, MS 686
St. Paul, MN 55155-1899
651-366-4705
Carol.zoff@dot.state.mn.us
Alice Hypes
Midland Trail Scenic Highway Association
237 Capitol Street
Charleston, WV 25301
304-343-6001
alicehypes@aol.com
Christy Bailey
Coal Heritage Highway Authority
PO Box 5176
Beckley, WV 25801
304-256-6941
cbailey@coalheritage.org
Verginia Yazzie
Navajo Tourism Department
PO Box 663
Window Rock, AZ 86515
928-871-7370
Verg.yazzie@gmail.com
Nicole Possert
Arroyo Seco Parkway NSB
124 Roselawn Pl
Los Angeles, CA 90042
323-255-5792
aguild@pacbell.net
Janet Kennedy
Lakes to Locks Passage
814 Bridge Road
Crown Point, NY 12928
518-597-9669
janet@lakestolocks.com
Eric Hamilton
Mohwawk Towpath Byway
67 Pico Road
Clifton Park, NY 12065
518-371-7548
Ejb.bkh@juno.com
Jennifer Schmidt
Chesapeake Country National Scenic Byway
1011 Sudlersville Cemetery Road
Sudlersville, MD 21668
410-438-3679
jschmidt@chesapeakbyway.org
Anaise Berry
Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway
124 S.W. Adams Street, Suite 300
Peoria, IL 61601
309-495-5909
aberry@edhc.h-p.org
Deb Divine
Kansas Scenic Byways Program/BWR Corporation
2335 E. Crawford St.
Salina, KS 67401
800-684-6966
ddivine@bwrcorp.com
Diane Rossiter
Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition
200 S. State Street
Belvidere, IL 61008
815-547-3954
diane@drivelincolnhighway.com
Laurie Frantz
Tourism Department
491 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-827-8428
Laurie.frantz@state.nm.us
Mary Lee Nielson
Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway
250 West Main St., Suite #1
Valley City, ND 58072
701-845-1891
info@hellovalley.com
Kirstie Dawn Bumgarner
Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway Association
2401 Central #19
Canon City, CO 81212
719-269-3349
Kirstie_dawn@g.net