Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective

One of the most genuine and respected experts in the event industry, Tricia Fenton joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and gives us a fresh take on the "marooned on an island" question, becoming part of an event family and getting her motorcycle license (recorded 2 April 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Tricia!PRELIMS09:06 - Marooned on an island - with a twist!QUARTERFINALS14:43 - Journey to SLOCSEMIFINALS20:37 - What are "special projects?"FINALS27:28 - Events are a math problem29:46 - A personnel issueMIXED ZONE33:08 - "I have money in my bank account"38:18 - The tragic thing about the pandemicPODIUM40:43 - Trying Skeleton45:57 - The goosebump momentCOOL DOWN48:08 - Post-SLOC life and lessons learned

It's our 100th episode! Amy Murray graciously guest hosts and interviews Christian Napier, turning the tables and asking all kinds of questions about the podcast and Christian's Salt Lake 2002 experience (recorded 31 March 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Amy as guest host!03:21 - Straight from GPFour HQPRELIMS06:08 - Going our own way with the systems08:42 - Monster VIKQUARTERFINALS11:30 - What are we going to have for lunch?15:55 - Welcoming outsidersSEMIFINALS19:41 - Cutting room floor24:22 - Guest wish listFINALS27:14 - Christian's dream OCOG job29:42 - What is IKL?MIXED ZONE32:40 - What will happen with Tokyo? 36:10 - Island meal and moviePODIUM40:15 - Island / walk on music44:16 - Favorite SLOC memoriesCOOL DOWN48:59 - Goosebump moment / wrap-up

SLOC employee number 40, Aimee Preston, takes a break from the Summit County COVID-19 vaccination effort, to join the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and share her story of transitioning from collegiate gymnast to sport administrator and running a completely different sport - Curling! (recorded 29 March 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Aimee!PRELIMS04:30 - Marooned on an island06:50 - Finding the next thing after gymnasticsQUARTERFINALS10:53 - Establishing a sport from the ground up14:26 - Volunteers came out of the woodworkSEMIFINALS16:53 - Transitioning to venueFINALS21:33 - A new family during test events23:50 - Games-time emotionsMIXED ZONE29:01 - Learnings from gymnastics / SPORT32:07 - Jumping on the couchPODIUM33:34 - Memories close to the heart37:13 - Sitting behind the PresidentCOOL DOWN40:16 - GB women's victory43:06 - Life post-SLOC

Calum Clark, Chief Operating Officer, Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and former Salt Lake 2002 Event Services Manager, joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and remembers working Snowbasin under Adam Gray, DEPAT and the one question you should never ask (recorded 22 March 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Calum!03:53 - UOLF venues openPRELIMS05:54 - Marooned on an island09:48 - A Qwest storyQUARTERFINALS11:20 - From Sydney to Salt Lake16:05 - Settling in with first class professionalsSEMIFINALS19:54 - The Snowbasin assignment23:27 - Doing things differentlyFINALS27:06 - 9/11 changed the game30:50 - Working with the Secret ServiceMIXED ZONE35:38 - The Event Services workforce38:00 - "It was a pleasure"PODIUM41:02 - "A washing machine of activity"45:56 - The Olympic TrialsCOOL DOWN49:15 - Advice and wrap-up

The master of accommodation(s), John Sindelar, joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and gives us listeners an online Accommodation 101 course  (recorded 17 March 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome John!PRELIMS04:13 - Marooned on an island07:06 - Hotel management during the bidQUARTERFINALS11:47 - The supply-demand lensSEMIFINALS18:32 - The allocation process22:35 - A lengthy processFINALS26:46 - Contract negotiation challenges31:25 - Building a accommodation teamMIXED ZONE34:12 - Workforce accommodation36:55 - Spectator accommodationPODIUM40:45 - Accommodation pre-Games43:36 - Family involvement with the GamesCOOL DOWN49:41 - A post-Games decision to make55:05 - Advice and wrap-up

One of our most requested guests ever, the incomparable Allen Brooks, joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and remembers giving up team handball for an opportunity to work the Games, his parents living in Ogden and finding something within you that you didn't know you had (recorded 17 March 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Allen!02:08 - A pivot to leadership / a light on what is really importantPRELIMS08:57 - Marooned on an island12:08 - An introduction to Doug Arnot at ACOGQUARTERFINALS17:33 - Overseeing the ice hockey venues20:49 - Creating a leadership approach SEMIFINALS24:16 - A diverse OCOG in a homogenous society28:28 - "An immediate connection"FINALS32:05 - The refinement of venue management35:33 - Building a venue teamMIXED ZONE38:43 - The big challenges44:33 - People doing jobs they've never done beforePODIUM46:43 - A family affair / the Paralympic Games53:41 - The people that shaped AllenCOOL DOWN57:14 - Wrap up

Brad Eggert, global event safety and security professional and former manager of the County Ice Center and Acord Ice Arenas, joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and recalls a Pulp Fiction moment, fire alarms and mom driving the Zamboni (recorded 17 March 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Brad!04:20 - An odd road to Salt LakePRELIMS05:48 - Lake Placid08:29 - Helping out with test eventsQUARTERFINALS12:00 - A paid internship / first impressions of Utah14:53 - Leadership with training wheels SEMIFINALS17:27 - Transitioning to management18:46 - Unexpected issues part 1 - adrenalineFINALS22:52 - Unexpected issues part 2 - angry athletes25:40 - Unexpected issues part 3 - evacuationMIXED ZONE29:19 - Brad's parents sleep on an air mattress33:09 - College 2.0PODIUM34:59 - The personal relationships39:41 - Closing Ceremony

Our first VOLUNTEER(!!!), the wonderful Jill Andrews, joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and remembers pin trading, losing a volunteer assignment only to get a better one, living in a 16-foot trailer during Games-time and a guest book signed by Olympians from around the world (recorded 10 March 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Jill!03:05 - Applying for Salt Lake 2002PRELIMS05:40 - A systems glitch changes Jill's volunteer assignment10:04 - Hardcore pin tradingQUARTERFINALS12:00 - Staying in a trailer on Hill Air Force Base14:25 - A family affair / Opening Ceremony SEMIFINALS18:41 - Working the 4am shift22:01 - McDonald's in the VillageFINALS23:15 - A memorable drive to Snowbasin26:47 - Greeting the athletes in their own languageMIXED ZONE29:24 - The volunteer wall34:04 - Does anyone speak Russian?PODIUM35:38 - Pictures on the building38:31 - Jill's one pin-trading ruleCOOL DOWN40:17 - Wrap up

Mark Hyde, former Soldier Hollow International Client Services Manager and now Public Health Scientist and Physician Assistant, joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and remembers being hired by Maureen Sweeney, being interviewed by NPR and  (recorded 10 March 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Mark!04:20 - Marooned on an islandPRELIMS07:00 - An Estonian volunteer opportunity09:58 - The ICS venue manager roleQUARTERFINALS11:12 - Todd Dennett - flag expert14:47 - The smell of the buildingSEMIFINALS16:55 - Imposter syndrome19:02 - The Russian biathleteFINALS23:54 - Small talk25:33 - Sleeping in the condoMIXED ZONE30:38 - Working the Opening Ceremony red carpet32:47 - Tom and Linda WhitakerPODIUM37:00 - The Paralympic Games40:25 - My path chose meCOOL DOWN43:39 - Advice / wrap up

Pauline Ploquin, President and Partner at Struck, joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and remembers there is no "I" in team (except there is in French), banging her head on a desk and a great turn of phrase from Libby Hyland (recorded 2 March 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Pauline!02:33 - Personal pursuitsPRELIMS04:08 - Marooned on an island09:34 - From Paris to Salt LakeQUARTERFINALS11:56 - First impressions of Salt Lake14:56 - Roles in Creative ServicesSEMIFINALS20:34 - Overwhelming needs22:31 - Establishing prioritiesFINALS24:58 - Brand should be there from the beginning28:10 - Flying cupcakesMIXED ZONE32:17 - "I'll do your taxes, you do my creative"34:17 - The Olympic photo bookPODIUM37:12 - Games-time responsibilities / mascot opportunities40:48 - Opening CeremonyCOOL DOWN43:46 - Post-Games / advice

IOC advisor and major event expert Adam Gray joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and remembers an unconventional wedding proposal, winning over skeptics, needing more snowcats and a dirty bus gets into the venue (recorded 23 February 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Adam!03:31 - Tokyo 2020 plansPRELIMS06:32 - Tokyo as an inflection point10:06 - From Sydney to Salt LakeQUARTERFINALS12:41 - A Christmas plan15:07 - The phone callSEMIFINALS18:47 - Swimming to skiing (and skeptics)22:41 - The discipline of delivering major eventsFINALS30:14 - A request from Spence Eccles33:41 - Snowbasin contingenciesMIXED ZONE40:42 - The first time skiing at Snowbasin44:45 - Skiing the downhill with Herwig DemscharPODIUM50:04 - A training accident54:59 - "I was asleep for two days"COOL DOWN59:38 - Avoiding a venue evacuation1:08:16 - "Two ears and one mouth"

Connie Nelson, Director of the Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum and Alf Engen Ski Museum joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and stops in Utah for a ski trip, gains great respect for lugers and is surprised to learn the names of some famous celebrity visitors (recorded 22 February 2021). For more information about Utah Olympic Park and the museums please visit https://utaholympiclegacy.org/If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Connie!02:43 - Pathway to UOPPRELIMS06:51 - Closing down for COVID-1911:01 - One of the first to reopen in 2020QUARTERFINALS12:56 - A tourist destination15:41 - Australians convince Connie to Ski Utah!SEMIFINALS18:01 - The UOP Business Manager role 23:05 - A juggling act FINALS27:17 - Surround yourself with people smarter than you32:32 - Inspired by athletesMIXED ZONE35:58 - Learning from test events39:15 - Games-time in a parking lotPODIUM42:39 - "I was very fit at the end of those 17 days"45:34 - "Wilson!"COOL DOWN48:55 - Jay Leno's garage51:58 - Watching the American flag

Former E Center Venue Operations Manager John Piester - now President, RedPeg Marketing - joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and remembers starting a family in Salt Lake, a unique vantage point for USA v Russia and the inspiration of the Paralympic Games (recorded 17 February 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome John!03:21 - Everyone on ZoomPRELIMS05:19 - COVID's impact on experiential marketing09:27 - Marooned on an islandQUARTERFINALS11:22 - From Endicott to Salt Lake15:06 - Transitioning into a new roleSEMIFINALS16:35 - "Your driving is making me sick"19:54 - Family mattersFINALS22:32 - An experienced team / piece-by-piece27:42 - How to function quickly as as teamMIXED ZONE30:11 - Transitioning to venue33:04 - "I don't remember seeing a lot of daylight"PODIUM35:42 - The Paralympic Games37:16 - Mike Eruzione can't get in / a call in The GlobeCOOL DOWN41:08 - USA v Russia puck drop43:12 - Post-SLOC life / career advice

A giant in the ski industry, Herwig Demschar - Senior Vice President / International Business Development at Powdr Corp - joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and remembers marriage-saving advice from a mentor, the impact of Jerry Anderson and controversial ski wax (recorded 16 February 2021). For more information about the work Herwig is doing, please contact him at herwigd@powdr.com.If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Herwig!03:51 - From 180,000 miles per year to zeroPRELIMS07:31 - Sheltering with the family10:43 - Marooned on an island13:39 - From Austria to Salt Lake CityQUARTERFINALS18:01 - "I wanted to jump the fence"22:05 - Quickly humbledSEMIFINALS23:40 - "A really cool team"28:07 - Two seismic events / a wax controversyFINALS31:33 - White powder / forerunners33:42 - Nobody said noMIXED ZONE38:09 - "It was not that easy in the beginning"41:56 - Life during the GamesPODIUM43:34 - The Paralympic Games48:09 - The volunteers / Stephan EberharterCOOL DOWN51:03 - Career / life advice and show wrap up

Capping off a fantastic week, Jim Brown - Executive Chair of the USA Rugby 2027/2031 Rugby World Cup bid and Principal and CEO of JBC International - joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and shares his favorite meal, Mitt and Fraser asking lots of questions and a special flower ceremony (recorded 10 February 2021). For more information about the work Jim is doing, please contact Jim at jim.brown@jbcintl.com.If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Jim!03:47 - Locking downPRELIMS04:54 - Pandemic impacts09:01 - Marooned on an islandQUARTERFINALS12:20 - From Malaysia to Salt Lake15:22 - Joining the venue management teamSEMIFINALS19:08 - Blending a talented and experienced workforce21:08 - A step-by-step, last-minute processFINALS25:57 - The impact of 9/1128:38 - The work during Games-time / Mitt and FraserMIXED ZONE33:49 - Scale adjustments during the Games37:12 - Weather challengesPODIUM38:19 - Jim's most nervewracking moment40:02 - Lighting the cauldron / life post-GamesCOOL DOWN45:08 - Calm under pressure49:08 - Wrap up

In a very special episode, Sarah Kawahara - Canada, USA and World Figure Skating Hall of Fame inductee and Emmy-award winning director and choreographer -  joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and tells the incredible behind-the-scenes story of the Opening Ceremony ice program (recorded 9 February 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Watercolors and piano04:06 - Figure skating - a melange of the artsPRELIMS06:12 - From skater to choreographer10:08 - A ring of fire leads to Salt LakeQUARTERFINALS12:10 - Sarah signs on to help Don Mischer and Kenny Ortega13:50 - "I had never been pushed that far, ever, in my life"SEMIFINALS17:05 - Costume challenges20:52 - A town to cover the ice, replaced by trainsFINALS22:57 - Day one in Rice-Eccles26:37 - "People's lives were uprooted"MIXED ZONE28:37 - The scale of the Ceremonies32:28 - Choreographing to soundscapes and stopwatchesPODIUM35:47 - Staging the performers / watching from the audience41:47 - Rings of fire ("it had to be perfect!")COOL DOWN45:00 - Walk through the door50:18 - Cruise challenges / wrap up

Major event expert Joan Junker, international business consultant, best-selling author and former Results Publishing Manager for Xerox Worldwide Olympics, joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and shares memories of running the Results Book Center (recorded 4 February 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Joan!PRELIMS03:40 - Marooned on an island07:15 - From a Barcelona 1992 coffee mug to SLCQUARTERFINALS10:58 - Life in Salt Lake City14:37 - Driving in a whiteoutSEMIFINALS15:57 - Results Publishing 10119:55 - Going digitalFINALS22:02 - How much paper?23:36 - Meeting tight deadlinesMIXED ZONE27:46 - A problem at Soldier Hollow29:58 - A chance to see competitionsPODIUM31:46 - A Christmas card view33:12 - The look on the athletes' facesCOOL DOWN35:46 - Simplify and serve others39:26 - Tie down your equipment!

Steve Dittmore, Assistant Dean / Sport Management Professor at the University of Arkansas, joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and talks about cheering for the LA Dodgers, the story behind the pairs figure skating scandal and the one less students remember (recorded 25 January 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Steve!04:04 - Marooned on an islandPRELIMS06:13 - Born in LA08:18 - The long journey to SLOCQUARTERFINALS12:20 - Wanting to be a sports reporter14:18 - Planning press operations for 13 venuesSEMIFINALS17:58 - Frank Zang eases the transition to SLC20:35 - Taking care of the pressFINALS22:56 - Building out the team26:38 - Role during Games-timeMIXED ZONE28:15 - Arrowhead vs Dasani31:03 - Creative solutions to the mixed zonePODIUM34:42 - Media reaction to press operations services39:32 - The 9/11 flagbearers COOL DOWN41:37 - The difference between delay, postpone and cancel

Eric Roy, perhaps the most enthusiastic finance person I've ever met, joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast. Eric finds SLOC through Accountemps, works under Lane Critchfield and Brett Hopkins in Finance, Chris Crowley at Park City, and is cheered on by hundreds of elementary school kids (recorded 19 January 2021). If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Eric joins from Durango!02:48 - #vanlife and a trip around the worldPRELIMS05:24 - Teaching during COVID-1908:40 - Marooned on an islandQUARTERFINALS10:47 - From lobster fishing to brine shrimping15:11 - Ski bum / beach bum plan is foiledSEMIFINALS19:21 - Creativity in finance23:41 - Managing three budgets FINALS25:33 - A number's an onion30:34 - Finance as a partnerMIXED ZONE35:13 - Park City at Games-time38:20 - Hervig snowboards for the first timePODIUM41:33 - The perfect day43:29 - Sleeping in during the Torch RelayCOOL DOWN49:16 - Sugar smacks53:05 - Career / life advice

Scott Givens, Founder and President of FiveCurrents, joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast in an extended episode (recorded 13 January 2021). Scott remembers dual reporting to Mitt and Fraser, the "six inch powder rule," and assembling a fantastic team under Libby Hyland, Bob Finley and Sayre Wiseman.If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.Show Notes:WARM UP00:26 - Welcome Scott!02:58 - FiveCurrents approach to the pandemicPRELIMS07:05 - Preparing for the pendulum11:45 - Needing a hugQUARTERFINALS15:39 - The card guy18:43 - Three questionsSEMIFINALS23:12 - The six inch powder rule27:25 - Birth of a slogan FINALS31:12 - Three direct reports37:52 - Don Mischer ProductionsMIXED ZONE41:37 - The cityscape program47:02 - The story of the ringsPODIUM50:30 - Scott during Games-time53:16 - The flag in the Opening CeremonyCOOL DOWN58:48 - "Unrelentingingly driven"1:04:05 - Three pieces of advice