As reported in RePlay, “Eight participants of Class XVII of AMOA’s On Campus Education Program at the University of Notre Dame were awarded certificates of completion last weekend (May 4-6, 2019). Session topics included change management, building a high-performance team and ensuring your business wisely.”

Instructor Bil Murray providing information for a team-building exercise.

The AMOA Executive Development Program is a two-year learning experience with four, 3-day sessions. Two sessions are held in the fall in conjunction with the annual AMOA On the Road Education Program and twice in the Spring on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

From AMOA Website:

Specifically designed for the amusement industry, the On Campus education program is an excellent opportunity for both recent grads and seasoned professionals to hone their skills and master their trade.

Since 1972, AMOA and the prestigious Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind. have maintained a partnership to provide continuing education for all experience levels. This program consists of four sessions held in-person at the university.

Students graduate from the program with a “Certified Business Executive” professional certification. Each session will feature in-demand speakers, hands-on training, and plenty of networking opportunities.

Registration is now being accepted for the Class XIX (19) Session 1 taking place in the fall in Chicago. More information is available at www.amoa.com or call 800-937-2662.

Front row, from left: Michelle Lamont, Brian Reigle, Matthew Boyce, Chris Hale, and Bob Burnham; Back row, from left: Yaroslav Sobko, Bryan Aune, Nathan Pollard, Jamie Meyer, Scott Dougherty, and Lara Newberry.

What this could mean for the success of your business? The simple answer is ‘a lot’. I graduated from Class III (the best class when there was 5 long weekend session spanning 2-1/2 years. We learned how to manage our business and analyze competitive threats so we could grow slowly and profitably. We were fortunate to learn from some of the top professors at Notre Dame like Dr. Jack Kennedy who also taught strategic planning and SWAT analysis to 3 or 4 US Presidents. He taught us the 80/20 rule and how it applied to the amusement business. We also learned contract law from one of the top contract law professors. Wow, did we get an education!

But it was the networking among Class III members and the professors that have now continued for 35 years. Notre Dame has given me the opportunity to exchange information and get guidance from many true leaders of our industry that entered the business back in the early 1980s.  For me, it was also a great experience to live on campus at Notre Dame, experience the ‘magic’. One that comes to mind is when Coach Lou Holtz came over to our Class III large table for dinner at the historic Studebaker mansion Tippecanoe Place Restaurant in South Bend. We all benefited back then from his motivational words. [Note-I got to hear Lou Holtz give the keynote speech at Bowl Expo just a few years ago and he hasn’t lost any of his magic.]

Thank you AMOA for the education, the life-long friends, and the great memories! Priceless.

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