Once upon a time in the picturesque landscapes of Salt Lake City, amidst falling snowflakes and low-hanging clouds.. No, but honestly, that’s not an exaggerated take on the setting Erica Edmonds wakes up to every day as the general manager of Sun Outdoors Salt Lake City. Sharing her inspiring career journey in a virtual meeting with us, Erica’s energy was contagious as she unfolded the story of her path to success.
Her journey at Sun Outdoors SLC all began with a serendipitous call while she was attending OHI’s OHCE last November. A recruiter, drawn in by her LinkedIn profile, reached out with an opportunity to land her current role. The spark of inspiration in that initial phone conversation led Erica to take a leap of faith, relocating and embracing a new position.
As the general manager, Erica’s days are filled with managing budgets, leading her team, and ensuring top-notch guest experiences. But Sun Outdoors SLC isn’t your typical park – nestled in an industrial area, it serves as an unexpected oasis. Erica painted a vivid picture of the park’s beauty, an escape from the surrounding industrialism, with amenities like a pool, bicycles, and proximity to the expansive Jordan trail. The park’s unique location, just eight minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, blends urban connectivity with the tranquility of nature.
Reflecting on her journey, Erica attributes her early career success to her time among the leadership team at Travel Resorts of America. They provided her with invaluable experiences, allowing her to travel along the East Coast, assist in managing different resorts, and immerse herself in various management styles. One standout moment was her time at 1000 Palms Resort in Central Florida, where she took her first lead in managing an entire park. This experience defined her management style, emphasizing collaboration, vision-sharing, and a strong team dynamic.
What makes Erica’s story even more remarkable is her unconventional entry into the world of Outdoor Hospitality. Prior to this, she managed an Aldi grocery store in East Tennessee. Her shift to the Outdoor Hospitality Industry brought a breath of fresh air, allowing her to step back and embrace a role in an industry that values relaxation and creating lifetime memories.
And she didn’t grow up in the industry or work for a family-owned park. Her interest in the outdoors and a desire for a career change led her to explore the Outdoor Hospitality Industry with fresh eyes. She became a catalyst for change, taking to established norms with an outside perspective and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
Having worked primarily in corporately owned parks, Erica acknowledges the structured environment and support systems they provide. This corporate background, she explained, plays a pivotal role in shaping her approach to management, providing a framework for decision-making and fostering a supportive environment. She’s able to take established practices and make them work for her management style and team, and she credits this structure to her flourishing.
Erica also knows the power and importance of professional development and involvement. She’s the current professional development chair of OHI’s Young Professionals Group and she recently graduated from year 1 of OHI’s George O’Leary National School of Outdoor Hospitality. This allowed her to dive deeper into the importance of understanding the “why” behind industry standards and operations. The newfound clarity allows her to communicate effectively with her team and elevate the overall park experience and therefore her own success.
She dreams big too. As she leads Sun Outdoors SLC into a new era, she envisions a future where cabins are revamped, themed experiences are created, and a strong sense of value is instilled in her team. She’s looking forward to establishing connections with nearby ski resorts and exploring collaborations with local businesses so guests can enjoy the vibrant downtown Salt Lake City. The anticipation of positive changes in the park is palpable in her voice.
We’ll leave you with Erica’s own words when we asked her about her dreams for the future, as they’re inspiring and paint the perfect picture of who she is:
“I think, I always just go back to my personal why, which is that we cannot evolve in anything we do unless we get involved. When I first got into this industry, my point was that I don’t have a glass ceiling. You know, I don’t ever want to hit it. As far as I can fly, I want to learn how far I can fly as well as I’m sure my bosses do. So any challenge that comes up or any way I can push myself, I’m down for it because it’s only going to create a better me and that’s what I strive to do every single day.”
