River City Six – Sarah Riedmann
Meet Sarah Riedmann, hiring manager for Fun-Plex Waterpark & Rides (fun-plex.com).
Tell us a little about your business.
Located off of 70th and Q St., Fun-Plex is home to Nebraska’s best water and ride park. From Memorial Day to Labor Day every year, we offer the Metro area something unique to do in the summer. With two large water slide complexes, go-karts, a lazy river, an aqua play structure, adult swim up bar, and other water and ride park favorites, we are the perfect destination for a fun little staycation in Omaha.
How did you get started in the business?
Luckily for me, Fun-Plex is our family business. I was initiated as a ride park worker in 2005 and the culture of the park engulfed me. Summer after summer, I came back. When there was an opening, I took a position in the office, which offered year-round work. Soon after that, I started helping out with human resources and eventually took over the role.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally?
Every year, we hire 170 high schoolers, and every year, they present new challenges to us—from how to reach them and how to teach them. My favorite part of working is engaging with the teens and watching them grow year after year…just like I did!
Tell us a little about your family.
I am married to a sound engineer and we are parents to two small girls and three cats. We enjoy snow days, game nights, cooking, and movies. Being a parent in this industry can be difficult, my busiest time of the year is when the kids are out of school. I am lucky to have a husband who is supportive and able to pick up all of the parenting slack I leave on the table when I’m working overtime and on-call during those three precious months of the year.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?
In the summer time, a lot of my days off are spent taking the kids to Fun-Plex. It’s the best perk of the job!
Who inspires you?
I am frequently inspired by our operations manager, Katie Anderson. She is a very fierce business woman who knows how to make work fun for everyone. She has a work ethic that can’t be beat and she genuinely cares about our staff and customers.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“Life is 10% what happens, 90% how you react to it.”
If you had a theme song, what would it be?
It would be weird if humans had theme songs, but I was curious so I took a BuzzFeed quiz and I got “Intergalactic” by the beastie boys. Funny enough, that was the reception entrance song played at my wedding! However, I don’t think I could handle it every time I walked in to a room.
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Invisibility. I would solve a lot of mysteries.
What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why?
I am very passionate about The Women’s Center for Advancement, an organization that assists people dealing with sexual assault and domestic violence.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?
I am almost finished reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. It is certainly one of the best books I have read.
What is your favorite movie?
My default answer to this question is always Men in Black.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be?
Robin Williams.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?
Email is best (SarahRiedmann@fun-plex.com), otherwise, call the park at (402) 331-8436 or visit fun-plex.com.