Today we’d like to introduce you to David Thompson.
David, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Kentucky and raised in southern Indiana. I started out in the amusement park industry at the age of 15. I was a cashier at Holiday World and Splashin Safari located in Santa Claus, Indiana. I worked there for eight years, working my way up the leadership chain to become a manager in the Food and Beverage Department overseeing more than ten million dollars in revenue and over 700 employees. I hold my time at Holiday World and Splashin Safari near and dear to my heart as I made so many friends that I keep in touch with today. While at Holiday World, I worked for Jason Martin who I credit as my mentor in the industry.
I left Holiday World in 2016 to take a manager position working for arguably two of the most prominent Food and Beverage leaders in my industry. I spent one season working for them before Typhoon Texas came calling. Since March 2017, I have been the Manager of Food and Beverage for Typhoon Texas in Katy, Texas.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a long, windy road. Moving to Texas was one of the hardest decisions to make in my life. I moved 14 hours away from all my family and friends. I didn’t know a single person in Texas and I was taking a temporary position. Adjusting to the big city life took some time. Not seeing my family on a daily occurrence still proves to be difficult.
Moving to Texas and taking this position pushed me to my breaking point, and then some. As I began my first few days, it quickly became apparent the concept pitched to me was not the reality. My job was tougher than expected. I was working 90-100 hours per week. I wasn’t eating right, exercising, or taking care of myself. I couldn’t adjust to the big city life. I was unhappy with where my life was, and I wanted to return home to my comfort zone in my small-town atmosphere. I still remember calling my dad in June sitting in my car in the parking lot at work with tears in my eyes. The challenges at work were immense, things seemed to be heading in the wrong direction. The hopes of longevity with this company seemed to diminish as the company struggled to meet the bottom line. I missed my family and wanted to return home. I presented myself with an ultimatum – either I quit my job and return home, or I roll up my sleeves, get my hands dirty, and fight for change to improve the company performance. I didn’t want to appear as a quitter when the going gets tough, but I also felt there was nothing left for me in this company. I remember having a conversation with the Lord asking for guidance on what to do, and in that moment a sense of calm overcame me. I felt I knew the answer.
I decided to stay with the company and work hard to fight for the change I wanted to see. Committing myself to working hard and not giving up when things become hard led to an opportunity with Typhoon Texas.
Typhoon Texas – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Typhoon Texas is a premier waterpark for families in the greater Houston area. We focus on making moments worth repeating all summer long. We specialize in being intentional and Texas-friendly while providing a safe, clean, and fun atmosphere. We are known for our Texas-friendly service and having the cleanest water in Texas. Our company is most proud of our brisket. We make our briskets fresh daily. We use a special blend of seasoning and smoke our brisket for 18 hours. We slice our briskets once ordered to provide our Guests with the highest quality product possible. This is the best brisket you’ll ever have.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment in my career so far has been accepting a full-time position with Typhoon Texas. I feel like this is the moment I’ve been working toward for the last 10 years. I am finally able to capitalize on all the hard work of trying to grow and develop myself both as an employee and a leader in this industry. There are still a lot of pages to be written in the story of my life and I can’t wait to see where I end up.
Pricing:
- Season Pass Price – $59.99
Contact Info:
- Address: 555 Katy Fort Bend Road
Katy, TX 77494 - Website: https://www.typhoontexas.com/houston
- Phone: 832-426-7071
- Email: david.thompson@typhoontexas.com
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