VOL 26 ISSUE 21, May 27, 2025
Main caption: Pictured above during a May 1 team member appreciation event focused on sustainability are (left to right) Daniel Valencia, warehouse manager; Mitch Wilson, food and beverage (F&B) manager; Diana Wadsworth, Canyon Village Market store manager; Jeff Fortin, operations manager; Eric Christiansen maintenance manager; Justin Warnat F&B director; Eduyn Graterol, project manager; and Seth Arthur Lougee, human resources coordinator.
Delaware North’s team at Grand Canyon National Park has been keeping busy ahead of peak tourist season with several events impacting the park’s operations.
Beautifying the environment
The team at Yavapai Lodge, located inside the park, organized a litter cleanup for Earth Month in April, collecting an impressive 55 pounds of trash. Delaware North also sponsored a litter cleanup for local culinary students at Grand Canyon High School, during which 20 pounds of debris were collected near school grounds.
Another successful Fix-It Clinic
Delaware North at the Grand Canyon also brought back a Fix-it Clinic last month, where community members were encouraged to bring broken household items for free repairs.
The team achieved an impressive 94% repair rate on items, including bikes, heaters, clothing, vacuums and toys, with 36 items (weighing 536 pounds) repaired and diverted from landfill.
The event was made possible by 10 volunteer fixers, a majority of whom work for Delaware North, who each brought their unique specialties to the repair process.
“The event is fun and a wonderful way to support both the community and the environment,” said Eric Christiansen, maintenance manager. “We wish we could do a Fix-It Clinic every month.”
Employee appreciation event spotlights sustainability
Delaware North at the Grand Canyon hosted its monthly team member appreciation event on May 1 with over 100 team members in attendance. With help from the culinary team, managers served a spring-themed menu featuring chicken Caesar wraps, veggie wraps, fresh salad, orzo pasta salad, hoagies and blueberry buckle.
Team members learned about the importance of minimizing waste and championing the composting and recycling programs available on the property. All waste from the event was funneled through a centralized collection center, where staff guided sorting efforts.
Ultimately, an impressive 90.26% of waste generated was successfully diverted using existing programs, fulfilling the team’s goal of hosting a zero-waste event.
The Bag Monster and Earth Man delighted attendees with their appearances for photos. This year, Warehouse Manager Daniel Valencia dressed up as the Bag Monster, while Human Resources Coordinator Seth Arthur Lougee took on the role of Earth Man.
The Bag Monster costume, created from the number of plastic bags the average American uses in a year, aimed to raise awareness about the large number of single-use plastics sent to landfill.
A pedal generator crafted by the maintenance team was also on display, and team members were invited to pedal and experience the energy differences required for powering various types of light bulbs, underscoring the importance of switching to LED – an ongoing commitment at the national park.
Team members also had the chance to win one of 35 raffle prizes – including a grand prize helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.