MENTOR PROGRAM
Hosted by SCUBA EMPORIUM
NEWS & EVENTS
News and special events.
!! NEW TO THIS SITE VIDEO FEED OF THE LAKE MICHIGAN DIVE !!
! TO SEE THE VIDEO CLICK THE PROTEGE GALLERY !
Wow this years dive season is very busy. But I love it ! From the 1st annual U/W Scuba Games during training weekend down at Pearl Lake. to diving on my first boat dive on Lake Michigan. So much diving so little time to get the most of it. But to keep you on the edge of your fins theirs alot of new updates here on my website. Enjoy !!!
POSTED ON 7-31-10
I know I have been away while form my website. But this month and even last month has been really busy for me. On June 7th Patrick and Sherry wanted Ken and I to do a Lake Michigan dive through Windy City Diving charters. The reason why Patrick and Sherry wanted us to dive in Lake Michigan is Because Lake Michigan has some great shipwrecks. Getting to experience a boat dive which was my first actual boat dive was very interesting and fun. But to see how things are done when it comes to mooring a buoy to the wreck site in a respectful way of not damaging the wreck along with seeing the day to day Boat Charter operations. Captain Jim of Windy City Diving took us out to the Wreck which she was called the M/V Buccaneer. Quinn was our guide for these dives. But Quinn and Capt. Jim gave us a brief history of the sites on Lake Michigan. Once we hit the marker it was time to suit up do a pre dive safety check of the gear and crew ,and a way we went into the depths of Lake Michigan. Ken and I made two dives off the M/V Buccaneer. The first dive was late afternoon then the second dive which was my favorite was a night dive off the M/V Buccaneer. As Ken and I descended down into the dark depths of Lake Michigan. It was very cool seeing the dive lights finally shine on the Hull of the M/V Buccaneer. I did take still photo shots and video of Ken and Is trip. And yes I will definitely be back diving on Lake Michigan.
POSTED ON 4-29-10
4-29-10
The snow is gone, the Our World - Underwater show was fantastic! But I am really looking forward to next year's OWU show. But it's time to dust off the dive equipment along with getting any new gear needed for the warm weather diving thats approaching fast. While enjoying the warm weather Patrick, ken and I had our meeting to discuss what activities Patrick has planned for us for the summer. The plans for the summer for Ken and I is to get a charity event that pertains to scuba but all the donations go toward a special cause. Also Ken and I being the protégés wouldnt dare not to skip an opportunity to log some dives. Patrick our mentor is going to work with Windy City Diving to get a charter going for us so we can get an opportunity to dive in Lake Michigan off of the many great shipwrecks that are located in the great lakes. Windy City Diving is located in Chicago Jim Gentile is the owner and boat captain of windy city diving. I cant wait to get into the water in Lake Michigan. By diving in Lake Michigan it will be a new experience for me as a diver as well as diving in a new environment. The next order of business was about sales training. I was very excited to know about basic sales training & merchandising tips. By getting the proper approach to basic sales training and merchandising tips the sales person and the business have a better opportunity to making a sale. Along with that the costumer himself will also feel comfortable coming back to the business because the costumer felt that the sales person was probably trained along with being very confident on making a sale thus being knowledgeable of the product that is being sold. Now that the basics of merchandising and sales training is completed now its time focus on the appearance of the business. During my normal work days at Scuba Emporium there is the number one rule to appearance to a business and that is "Think as if you were costumer" What do I mean by this? A costumer is browsing around and comes across the wetsuit display. Thus if the wetsuits are in order from small to 3xl this gives the costumers and the salesman to find the right size faster but also makes the business look good by being organized along with facing the hangers the same way also makes a impact on the business display look good too. Now for instance you walk into another dive center the costumer sees the wetsuit display agian the costumer is browsing around and comes across the wetsuits. While looking through the wetsuits its not in size order thus causes confusion for the costumer and makes the sales and the business itself look bad. This is just one example that Ken and I learned from Patrick & Sherry Hammer . Until next time please check back often to get NEW UPDATES!
Posted on 2-25-10
2-19-10***
Well its Friday, opening night for the show floor along with workshops, and seminars that our world- Underwater show is hosting. There is still work to be done ahead this is going to be a great show. At 8am I had my first class PSI (VCI) which also stands for visual cylinder inspector course. I was looking forward to this class since November, because I have been working with Gene who took time to help me understand on what protocols are needed for cylinder inspecting. I am now a certified PSI Visual Cylinder Inspector for Scuba Emporium which I am very proud to pass the exams for this PSI course. Right after my class it was straight to the convention center to help out and to see what Pat wanted me to do. I was assigned a fun task; my task was to ask the guests on the floor to take a survey and to win a trip to the Sun Set House in the Caymans. I actually enjoyed doing this job because I really feel that I can approach a guest on the exhibit floor and make them feel welcomed, and not just that I talk to them about the same interest and also chat with the exhibiters too about Scuba diving. I really look forward to more jobs that Patrick & Sherry have planned for me. Now during the film festivals my breath was taking away I was actually watching and listening to the Professional photographers, and U/W Videographers. The films they produced were just phenomenal I was all shook up its really hard to explain. I am definitely going to be saving up for a U/W camera system. Not only was the film festival great and helping out on the exhibit floor I actually get the chance to chat or PARTY should I say with highly known dive leaders in the business aspect of the industry but also the film industry also , for instance Michel Gilbert, Stan Waterman, Annie Crawley, Jonathan Bird, Chris Khol,David Trotter, Howard Hall U/W Imax Film maker, Nancy McGee, Paul Cater Deaton, cant forget the dive business industry, Gray Joyce from PADI, Patrick & sherry Hammer who to me are second family. Bill High, Mike Grash. All these folks to me are a great inspiration to future generations in diving. This is only Friday so check back for the newest journal update!
2-18-10 ***
Day one behind the scenes at Our world-Underwater. On Thursday Scuba Emporium unloaded all of the show supplies; it was a little crazy figuring what goes were, along with how its going to be setup. Some of the things that needed to be setup were carpet for the booths, displays, and display grids for hanging the products for display. Not only booths needed to be setup but the information desk, the show office for Our-World under, along with the ticket booths. This year is the big 40 for our world-Underwater so why not celebrate by having live music after the film festival. Since this is the big four o for OWU we needed to setup the band instruments too!!
Posted on 1.15.10
I am very excited to be taking part in this year Mentor Program hosted by Scuba Emporium. Ken and I are going to be this years Protégés for this years mentor program we will learn facts and get hands on experience of what goes on in the Scuba industry. The main objective of the mentor program is to help the protégé student prepare for a career in the scuba industry. Ken and I are going to be learning about:
- Merchandising, displays
- Ordering, purchase orders/dating and shipping
- Making cold calls to invite to events
- learn about travel, along with booking trips
- Pool Maintenance
- Legal Responsibilities & Release
- learn about promotions
- Participate in OW-U
- learn about repairs, regulators, BCD, Tank Hydro's and VIP
Posted on 12-25-10
2pm on Friday Patrick, Ken, and I, Met and talked about the mentor program, and about different agendas we will be doing. Not only did we discuss plans for this year, Patrick also explained to Ken and me about sales. Like what is the best way to approach a sale? For example a costumer walks in the dive center and would like to purchase a mask, fins and snorkel, me as the sale person would first make a connection by greeting the costumer possibly stating what brings you in today or how you are. Now that Ive made the connection to the costumer I would like to be ready for the sale, for instance I would ask the costumer intelligent but common questions that would help to meet the costumers needs, is the costumer new to scuba? And would like to be in a good starting price range but would not like to sacrifice the comfort, safety, and features of the product. Or for instance the costumer has a pair of fins that are way to stiff and its hard to kick while going against currents and the costumer feels that he would rather prefer fins that are less stiff and easier to go through currents. The sales person has to diagnose, and figure out what the costumer is looking for. Not only finding the costumers need but also its important to make that good first impression, that is very important. While learning about sales Patrick also talked about using PR to attract attention. PR stands for public relations. For example I am a Dive center owner and I will be starting up a dive charter business, I would like to get the word out by advertising, or by writing a press release explaining about the special occasion. Even though it was the first meeting Ken and I received some great tips and valuable business feedback.
PROT'EG'E JOURNAL
ABOUT ME:
Hello my name is Cody Marszalek. I was born on May 4th 1989. I live in Manhattan, IL. I live with my parents (Nannette Marszalek), (Dave Marszalek), along with my sister (Ashley Marszalek). Now what got me hooked on scuba? My grandpa used to be the treasurer of the Seahorses Club back in the early 50's. They were located in Chicago. The Seahorse Club used to get called out to Lake Michigan to recover objects, or victims underwater. Now back then, there really was no dive teams compared to todays public dive teams. Not only did the Seahorses Club help out Law Enforcement, and Fire Departments. They also did alot of ice diving in the Great Lakes, while providing recreational scuba events. That's just one of the great stories my grandpa told me. I was inspired by his stories, I decided I wanted to try this great sport. I received my Open-water Certification in March of 2008. Since my open water certification, I have not stopped since. When I was an open-water diver, I decided to apply at Scuba Emporium. I also decided that this is what I wanted to do as my career.
I am currently going to Joliet Junior College for transfer credits. After I finish at Joliet Junior College, I am going to transfer to Florida Keys Community College. The subjects that I am going to take are Dive Business, & Technology. By working at Scuba Emporium, I am getting the hands on approach, and experience on day to day dive center operations. Along with meeting, and working with great dive enthusiasts and professionals.
PROT'EG'E BIO
PROT'EG'E GALLERY
CPT. GARY & CODY
Laura working the ticket booth
BARB & CODY
ANNIE CRAWLY
CHILDREN HAVING FUN
SCUBA ELVIS " THANK YOU THANK YOU VERY MUCH OWU SHOW THANK YOU "
TV CHANNEL
Florida Key Community College Left Bill Chalfant, Elizabeth Harrison,Christa Fly
Bonnie Lynn I AM A BIG FAN OF HER PAINTINGS
CAPT. John Pieno whoo doggy look _ that tooth ,thats from a MEGALODON Shark I bought two Megalodon tooths
See for yourself OWU IS 40 YEARS CONGRATS OWU
2010 GOALS
TOP 8 2010 GOALS:
- Continue My Dive Training
- Be a certified Hydrostatic Technician
- Be a certified Current Eddy Visual Technician - Completed
- Be a certified Visual Cylinder Inspector- Completed
- In the summer start the Assistant Instructor Program
- Help out newly certified divers enjoy their dives during training weekend
- Help the Staff to the best of my ability during my Dive Master Training
- Start learning about products that are on the sales floor
