Interview with Robin Innes: Public Relations Director
On Monday, March 18, 2002, Robin Innes gave Matt Gould (Webmaster) a special interview detailing what he does as director of public relations, from education to the offseason, here it is, Robin Innes: Public Relations Director
How long have you worked at Cedar Point?"I have worked at Cedar Point since 1978, full time, and am going into my 23rd year here"
What is your work history?
"I have always been in Public Relations, when I started out, I was PR representative for a few years, I was then promoted to Coordinator, then to Communications, and for a few years switched gears to collateral publications (marketing). Afterwards, I was again promoted to PR manager, and in 1995, became the director.
What are your main duties, both in the offseason and during the operating season?
"My first duty is to oversee all members of the PR department, I also cover all delegate duties. My next job is media relations. We have different territories, we have a territory for Cleveland, Lorain, and Toledo. I also have duties in community relations. I oversee activities in Sanduksy. For instance, in October Cedar Point opens just the Main Midway to over 3500 kids to come trick-or-treating at the park. Thats probably one of the really fun parts of my job, and it makes me feel good to be doing something with kids. I also oversee the Lost Change fund, I reccommend where this money should go ot, what organization. I also cover specail events, more importantly, the Red Cross auctions for first seats, such as Millennium Force, and as you'll read about soon, Wicked Twister."
What is the best part(s) about your job?
"First of all, just being at Cedar Point. I have lots of people working hard every day, they are all very confident in what they do. It makes me feel good to have everyone working together, because you know not everyday is going to go your way, weather, bad reports, and so forth. I also get to work with media companies. I have been on the Today Show, Discovery Channel, ABC, Sports Illustrated, CNN, and have worked with many others."
Other details:
"I have other duties inside Marketing as well. I have duties to approve newspapers that want to cover an event or story. I help schedule news releases, on the radio, newspapers, and even television. We make it easy for them. We either give them the story and they can print it, or they can call and schedule a report or interview. In Public Relations, you are very aggressive, and the promoting is very worthwhile, you have great staff people, and its fun overal"
His Outlook on the 2002 season:
"I believe that it was a very good decision to remove Vertigo after the incident. It was an extra-charge stand alone operation, and made its own demand. I feel that after all of the negativity surrounding the incident, it really would have lost that demand"
"We currently are cautiously optimistic. We came out with something for thrill seekers and families. You'd be surprised how many people like ice skating, it has a universal appeal overall. We will have a good season, the economy is improving, and with a break from the weather, we'll have a great season."
Thanks to Cedar Point and Robin Innes for their time for this interview!
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