Herschend Enterprises is helping Silver Dollar City employees achieve their educational dreams. The privately owned themed entertainment company operates the Silver Dollar City amusement park in the Ozark Mountains near Branson, Missouri. Herschend Enterprises recently announced it would cover 100% of tuition, books, and fees for all 11,000 employees of Silver Dollar City through a partnership with Guild Education.
“Whether it is to pursue a new dream or advance their career with us, we care about our employees’ personal and professional growth because we believe that their futures should be grown with love, not loans,” says Deanna Patridge, the Herschend Family Entertainment vice president of talent development.
A Look At The Grow U Program, Powered By Guild Education
Since Feb. 24, 2022, all full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees have had access to affordable education through Herschend’s Grow U program. In addition to the staff at Silver Dollar City, the Grow U program is available to the 11,000 employees at all of Herschend Enterprises’ 25 attractions across the United States, including Dollywood Parks & Resorts, Kentucky’s Newport Aquarium, Georgia’s Wild Adventure, and the Harlem Globetrotters.
“Our team members’ success is our success,” says Patridge. “That is why we are thrilled to make this benefit available to all, regardless of their role in the company and without the burden of debt.”
Grow U allows eligible workers to expand their education. There are more than 100 fully funded certificate programs and degrees spanning 30 learning partners in Guild Education’s Learning Marketplace. The Grow U program also offers partial funding, up to $5,250 a year across 150 other programs, including engineering, human resources, hospitality, and art design.
Silver Dollar City Empowers Employees
In 2021, USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards voted Silver Dollar City the No. 2 Amusement Park in America. Herschend Enterprises promises this year will be the 1880s-style theme park’s biggest entertainment year ever. According to a company press release, Silver Dollar City guests can expect to be wowed by “10 world-class festivals and events and an entertainment playbill of hundreds of shows and performers.”
The amusement park hopes to attract quality employees by offering the Guild Education Learning Marketplace program. All of the Silver Dollar City attractions in Branson, which include the theme park, White Water park, Showboat Branson Belle, and the Silver Dollar City Campground, are looking to hire exceptional employees to fill positions in a variety of roles, including maintenance, restaurant cooks, and bakers, servers, and ticket takers/greeters. Meanwhile, adventurous types can apply for a tour guide position at Marvel Cave.
In addition to the Grow U Program, in partnership with Guild Education, Silver Dollar City offers employees these benefits:
— Medical clinic with a doctor and nurses on-site for employees and their dependents.
— Health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision, for full-time, seasonal employees.
— Leadership mentoring program and possibilities for career advancement.
Looking To Hire for an Exciting Summer of Events
There’s plenty to get excited about at Silver Dollar City in 2022. In addition to the 40 thrilling rides and attractions and delicious home-style cooking, fabulous festivals are running all season. Hundreds of performers perform on ten stages during the Bluegrass & BBQ Festival in May. Families flock to the National Kids Fest, which runs from June 11 to July 24.
According to a statement from the amusement park: “Kids Fest is all things Silver Dollar City, showcasing family entertainment, record-breaking roller coasters, a demonstrating crafts colony, music, and a variety of fun foods.” In addition, late-night thrill-seekers can get their kicks at the Moonlight Madness event, when the park stays open late to let thrill ride enthusiasts experience the rides under the twinkling Ozark stars.
At the end of the summer, guests will be singing the praises of the City’s famous fried chicken, cinnamon breads, and homemade ice cream during the Southern Gospel Picnic. Then, visit during Its An Old-Time Christmas, which starts Nov. 5 and runs through the holidays, to see the park transformed into a winter wonderland with 6.5 million lights. Finally, you’ll see why USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards voted it a Best Holiday Theme Park Event.
Guild Education: Unlocking Opportunities for America’s Workforce
Many of the nation’s largest employers utilize Guild Education’s industry-leading technology platform. Chipotle, Macy’s, Target, Walmart, Bon Secours Mercy Health, Hilton, and The Walt Disney Company are among the enterprises that have partnered with Guild to offer important education and upskilling to their employees.
According to Rachel Carlson, the CEO and co-founder of Guild Education: “When we look at the skills that all of our students are going to need in order to survive and thrive in their jobs and as they look upward in their career trajectories, often they revolve around the service and supporting people. That’s health care, that’s hospitality, that’s retail. It is those industries where we as humans work together and manage one another, and that is why a lot of our focus and courses are focused on helping front-line employees become managers and manage others and manage progress.”