ISI UNIVERSITY Many years later, as a corporate
executive, McBride continues to grow his business by investing in the education of his employees.
“I believe that one of the primary
challenges that constrains the full potential of individual arenas, as well as our industry, is a lack of professional education and development at all levels of management and employee base,” he says. “ISI provides this opportunity but too often decision-makers view the cost as prohibitive and fail to recognize the enormous long-term payback.
“An ISI University-educated employee
will contribute in a more significant way to growing participation in ice sports programs and arena revenue as well as reduce operating costs. Most importantly, the investment of resources in education will reduce employee turnover and training costs as well as serve as a powerful motivator for the entire arena staff. It is a basic human instinct to want to grow professionally and be a part of something larger and more important than ourselves. ISI University provides that opportunity.”
By design, the CAE program was
crafted to be intensive, rigorous, selective and life changing. “For me, the CAE track challenged everything I thought I knew and forced me to broaden views of my role, not only within the industry but also in the communities I serve,” says McBride. “Te CAE track goes far beyond the specifics of industry best policies and practices and makes us consider core values like ethics, diversity, leadership, fair employment practices, ice arena planning and design, our responsibility to reduce our impact on the environment and more.
“To become and remain a CAE, you not only have to participate in advanced courses and submit written exams but also dedicate yourself to making our industry better overall by demonstrating leadership and commitment through volunteering time and expertise, teaching courses, writing articles for trade publications and public speaking — dedicating yourself to making our industry better overall.”
28 WINT ER 2 017 Q&A WITH MCBRIDE
Why is the CAE program important to you?
“I think the aspect that is most important to me about the CAE program is its recognition that learning is a lifelong endeavor. No matter how extensive your experience in this industry you will always learn something new in a CAE class, and it will challenge you to open your mind and be even better at what you do.”
What was the hardest aspect of the CAE program?
“The most daunting aspect of the CAE pro- gram for me, as well as many others, was de- veloping my philosophy statement and putting it down on paper. While the thought scared the heck out of me, it may well have been one of the most rewarding experiences of my pro- fessional life. When I wrote my philosophy, I had been working in the industry for almost 20 years; in all that time, I had never forced myself to organize my fundamental beliefs, values and priorities in my professional life. That introspection taught me so much about myself and has provided me a reliable com- pass to keep me on the path whenever I begin to lose focus and stray. Every now and then I will go back and read it, renewing my commit- ment to the principles that lead me to pursue a career in ice sports.”
What are your future goals as a CAE?
“My main goal as a CAE is to continue growing and expanding my ability to positively impact my company and the ice sports industry. I want to give something meaningful back to an indus- try and sport that has given so much to me.
“The single most rewarding thing to me is to see an individual’s face light up, in the same way mine did many years ago, when they real- ize there is a program and an association that doesn’t just give them some information but provides a clear road map, education, systems and ongoing support to be successful. It is also a priority for me to find the time to be more active in mentoring others in the CAE process to help them reach their greatest potential.”
Rob McBride posing with the ISI mascot, Flip.
What is your advice to peers who have not yet embarked on their professional education journey or who may have stalled along the way?
“My advice is to invest yourself in the pro- gram and trust that it will pay you back many times over in terms of financial reward as well as make a meaningful difference in the ice sports industry and the community you serve. Stop thinking of our industry as a hobby and realize it can be a rewarding and important career if you dedicate yourself to it. We are incredibly blessed with the opportunity to pro- vide a positive place where families can come together, where kids can develop character and critical life skills, where friendships are made and can last a lifetime — all within the four walls of our arenas. We have the poten- tial to positively impact literally thousands of lives and have a lot of fun doing it! Get serious about education and developing your ability to make a difference.”
Favorite Quote:
“ The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”
— William Arthur Ward
For more information on the ISI University CAE program, please visit the ISI website at
skateisi.org. From the homepage, click on Programs, then ISI University. For questions, contact Lisa Fedick at
lafedick@gmail.com.
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