Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department receives the George S. Mickelson Great Service Award

Governor Dennis Daugaard presented the Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department with the George S. Mickelson Great Service Award at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Pierre on January 20th. The award was presented in recognition of the customer service program at Wylie Park. The Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department manages the Wylie Park campground, two food concessions and two Gift Shops and the train, carousel and balloon rides at Storybook Land. The department hires nearly 50 employees to staff the different operations each season. In an effort to provide visitors with the very best in customer service, the department has participated in the South Dakota Department of Tourism’s Great Service Star Program for the past 10 years. The Great Service Star Program is designed to identify and recognize businesses that complete a set of criteria for hospitality training for their employees. Participants in the program who meet the criteria are awarded a star symbol for use in marketing their business and to demonstrate to visitors their commitment to “Great Service”. All businesses throughout the state that are awarded the star symbol are eligible to apply for the George S. Mickelson Great Service Award. The George S. Mickelson Great Service Award honors a business that has done an exemplary job of exceeding visitors’ expectations in customer service.

Photo Identification:

Left to Right: Doug Johnson, Director of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department; Mark Hoven, Park Superintendent; Dixie Daly, Gift Shop Manager; Wylie Park employees Robert Teachout and Jason Leinen; Janice Reich, Food Concession Manager; Jim Hagen Director of the South Dakota Department of Tourism; Dan Pirlet, Wylie Park Manager and South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard.