Biography

WAVES has employed more than 5000 teens in over 50 years. We know employing teens has always come with uncertainties, and that’s truer today than ever! Raised while multi-tasking on life’s super technology highway, they can confuse, complicate, consternate, and at times contribute.

We specialize in providing solutions to the challenges of hiring teens and educating your management team on how to successfully inspire this age group.

Ken Whiting, Keynote Professional Speaker, has committed his professional life to working within the recreational, leisure-time, and restaurant industries, focusing on strategic sales building programs, customer service initiatives, and the motivating and training of a large entry-level workforce. He has spent nearly 30 years, in the trenches, managing his family’s food service business at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and Fair & Festival business unit. Ken also consults with similar types of businesses, providing cost effective solutions to growing revenue and decreasing costs.

 

He lectures regularly on the subjects of Teenage Workforce and Supervisory Success, to any organization that employs and develops youth, and has created the WAVES for Success system for improving workplace performance. He has employed thousands of teens and young adults, and continues to focus on ways of understanding, in today’s culture, what inspires them to participate, contribute and excel at work.

 

He has been very involved in amusement park and restaurant industry activities. Ken currently is the Chair of the Food & Beverage Committee for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), and has presented regularly at their annual convention.

 

The total cost of turnover of just one entry level hourly employee can exceed $3,000! It’s time you took a fresh look at what motivates this age group.

“Ken’s hands-on operational background comes through when he talks. No theory here… he’s lived it. When our customers want to improve their operations through improved performance of their teen staff, I’d recommend Ken…. And I highly recommend him to you.”

Dan Fachner, President, ICEE Company

 For more endorsers, visit: http://www.wavesforsuccess.com/endorsers