Diana Shanks, one of the representatives from the Indianapolis Super Bowl Super Service committee, conducts part of the Super Service training for local leaders Monday at Hoosier Park. John P. Cleary photo/Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON — Super Bowl 46 is 47 days away and area volunteers and businesses continued their preparation for the big event by completing some Super Service training Monday afternoon.
The training was a four-section customer service overview focusing on topics like hospitality and safety.
When it comes down to it, it’s all about welcoming visitors to the state of Indiana and providing them with an experience they won’t forget, according to Super Service presenters Kelly Hagar and Diana Shanks.
“What happens right here (in Anderson) will leave an impression on them,” Hagar said.
Many Super Bowl visitors are staying in areas outside of Indianapolis and traveling to the capital city for the game.
Anderson just happens to be the location of one of the “super celebration sites” at Hoosier Park Casino & Racing.
Shanks and Hagar spoke of making good first impressions, wowing the state’s visitors with service, ensuring public safety is the No. 1 priority and making connections.
“If you can make that personal connection, that’s what’s going to leave that impact,” Hagar said.
Some of the hospitality tips Shanks gave were things like saying “my pleasure” to a “thank you” rather than “you’re welcome” or “no problem” and ending conversations with “Have a super day!”
Fay Barber-Dansby, an instructor at Ivy Tech Community College, is doing some volunteer work in Indianapolis and Fishers as a hotel greeter and said the presentation provided some good information on different topics, like the possibility of human trafficking during such a large event.
She said the topic of hospitality is important since a good experience makes people want to come back to a location.
“So much is going on in the country with poverty, politics and education ...,” she said. “Let’s greet them with a great smile after the holidays.”
Dansby shared a story about eating at the Miami International Airport T.G.I. Friday’s during a trip that left behind an experience she’d like to share.
She said the waiter and other servers were so full of energy that it didn’t seem like work for them; that it felt like they were asking customers to join a party instead.
“I’m hoping as volunteers (provide services) across the state, people can feel the way I felt at Friday’s,” she said.
She also said having a “super celebration site” in Anderson really could lead to some new connections as residents and visitors meet during the 10-day “Super Celebration” beginning Jan. 27.
Dennis Ashley, chairman of events for the Super Madison County initiative, said he expects to see 10,000 to 15,000 people come through Anderson during the 10-day period.
And the celebration isn’t just for visitors.
“Those activities are geared toward getting the community engaged and involved,” he said. “To be aware of what’s going on.”
The celebration ends with the Super Bowl on Feb. 5.
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