Big E Host of the Day Recipients

The Host of the Day Award recognizes employees, volunteers and other members of The Big E family who exemplify the Fair's philosophy of positive customer relations. It has been part of the Exposition's customer service program since 1989, established for individuals who go "above and beyond the call" in their interactions with fairgoers. This year's Hosts were selected from more than 1,500 personnel working this year at The Big E. 

Congratulations to our 2011 Hosts!

Jackie Marien - Sunday, October 2

Jackie Marien, of Suffield, Conn., was presented The Big E Host of the Day award Saturday, Oct. 2, 2011, by Eastern States Exposition President Wayne McCary.

Marien has been a clerk at The Yankee Candle Shop for the past three years at The Big E, New England’s largest Fair.

“You make The Big E special to so many people, and your customer service is exceptional,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

Grace Damario - Saturday, October 1

Grace Damario, of West Springfield, Mass., was presented The Big E Host of the Day award Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, by Eastern States Exposition President Wayne McCary.

Damario began 13 years ago selling tickets and is now a ticket collector at the bus gate at The Big E, New England’s largest Fair.

“You are our Host of the Day and what a popular host you are,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

Warren Bushy, Gate Captain for the bus gate said, “Grace is an exceptional addition to my staff. I hope she is with us a long time.”

Ed Reeder - Friday, September 30

Ed Reeder, of Lombard, Illinois, was presented The Big E Host of the Day award Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, by Eastern States Exposition President Wayne McCary. The Big E, located in West Springfield, Mass., is the nation’s eighth largest fair.

Reeder is President of Uncommon USA, sponsor of the Circus Around The Clock exhibit at The Big E, New England’s largest Fair.

“Ed is not only a personable guy, but a good-will ambassador to The Big E. He is enthusiastic not only about his product, but with all of our fairgoers. He has developed a great personal following over the years,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

ESE Director of Sales, Greg Chiecko, said, “Ed is a fixture of the Fair. There’s never a time where he is not smiling. He loves helping people out, and it does not even have to be about sales.”

LCDR Paul Brawley - Thursday, September 29

U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Paul Brawley, formerly of Somerville, Mass., was presented The Big E Host of the Day award Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, by Eastern States Exposition President Wayne McCary.

Brawley is the Navy Community Outreach Officer and helped organize New England Navy Week at The Big E, New England’s largest Fair, located in West Springfield, Mass.

“Paul has done a tremendous job working on this Navy outreach program,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers and fellow Navy reserves.

Michael Day - Wednesday, September 28

Michael Day, of Agawam, Mass., was presented The Big E Host of the Day award Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011.

Day is a Shuttle Bus driver for The Big E, New England’s largest Fair.

“Michael is one of the people on the front line who is an all around nice guy and that’s what we are all about here at The Big E,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

 

 

Schalk Claassen - Tuesday, September 27

Schalk Claassen, of Johannesburg, South Africa, was presented The Big E Host of the Day award Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011.

Claassen works for North American Midway Entertainment and is the Speedway ride attendant in Kiddieland at The Big E, New England’s largest Fair.

“Schalk is a very important part of the traveling amusement industry. It is young people like him that provide a quality labor force for North American Midway Entertainment,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

 

Benito Landa - Monday, September 26

Benito Landa, of Guadalajara, Mexico, was presented The Big E Host of the Day award on Monday, Sept. 26, 2011.

Landa has worked for the Hanneford Circus for 14 years and is an accomplished circus performer, expert juggler, costume quick change artist and the circus “right-hand man.”

“This is a young man that represents the best of the Big E. It is because of people like Benito that 90 percent of the people say they are going to come back the following year. That is a tribute to all of the great performers. It’s the things he does that represent the spirit of the Big E,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers, co-workers and fellow circus performers.

Billy Martin, Director of the Hanneford Circus said “Benito is the pulse of the show. He is a dedicated and loyal individual and we couldn’t do it without him!”

Jim Victor - Sunday, September 25

Jim Victor, of Conshohocken, Penn., was presented The Big E Host of the Day award on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011.

Victor has worked as a butter sculptor for 15 years in the Mallary Rotunda at The Big E, New England’s largest Fair, located in West Springfield, Mass. His creation this year depicts the agricultural theme “sheep shearing.”

“Jim’s butter sculpture has become an icon for fairgoers over the years. Jim is a great ambassador with the public, answering questions about what he is doing and what it takes to do it,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

Fred Bell, William Clark, Rich Fredette, Don Whitehead Saturday, September 24

Richard Fredette of Wilbraham, Fred Bell of West Springfield, Don Whitehead of Agawam and William Clark of Springfield, Mass., were presented The Big E Host of the Day award on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011.

Fredette, Bell, Whitehead and Clark are dedicated members of the Grounds Maintenance team in the Operations Department at The Big E, New England’s largest Fair.

“Each one of you does an outstanding job and makes our grounds look great,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

Director of Operations Gerard Kiernan said, “These four men come every year. They love the fair, and they love what they do. They are in large measure the reason why our grounds are so clean. The dedication they bring to the job is unparalleled.”

Richie Mitnick - Friday, September 23

Richie Mitnick, of Agawam, Mass., was presented The Big E Host of the Day award on Friday, Sept. 23, 2011.

Mitnick is a music specialist at Falcetti Music in the Better Living Center and entertains fairgoers of all ages at The Big E, New England’s largest Fair.

“Not only does Richie have a great product, but he is a great ambassador of The Big E all year and is great with the public. It’s people like him on the front line that make people want to come back to The Big E every year,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

Margaret Hanson - Thursday, September 22

Margaret Hanson, of North Brookfield, Mass., was presented The Big E Host of the Day award on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011.

Hanson is the manager of the Mass. Dairy Booth located in the Massachusetts building at The Big E, New England’s largest Fair.

“Margaret represents Massachusetts dairy farmers. She interacts with the public in a positive way, explaining how important the dairy industry is to Massachusetts,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

At the ceremony, Hanson and her husband David, also received the Faces of Massachusetts Agriculture Award from Commissioner of Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Scott J. Soares.

Suellyn Pevlin - Wednesday, September 21

Suellyn Pevlin, of West Springfield, Mass., was presented The Big E Host of the Day award Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011.

Pevlin is a Ticket Taker in the Admissions department and works evenings at The Big E, New England’s largest Fair.

“Suellyn is a tremendous example of someone on the front line who makes a difference in the kind of day someone has when they get to The Big E,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

Gene Cassidy, ESE executive vice president, praised Pevlin’s “enthusiasm for her job and our guests.”

George Lamson - Tuesday, September 20

George Lamson, of Agawam, Mass., was presented The Big E Host of the Day award on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011.

Lamson checks supplies at Gate 8, the purveyor entrance, and is an important asset to the flow of traffic coming to and from the gate. Prior to the Fair, he maintains vendor’s dry storage. He also works numerous shows during the Fair’s off season.

“People on the back lines are just as important as those on the front lines. Gate 8 is crucial to the operation of the Fair,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

"George has a lot of important institutional knowledge about how to run the gate,” said Executive Vice President, Gene Cassidy. “He and the gate are important to the fabric of the Admissions department.

Allan Vantangoli - Monday, September 19

Allan Vantangoli, of Ludlow, Mass., was presented The Big E Host of the Day award on Monday, Sept. 19, 2011.

Folks like Al are the reason that 90 percent of the people say they want to come back to The Big E every year. Al is on the front line, always has a smile, and is always ready to help somebody out,” McCary said at the said at the ceremony which was attended by Fair officers, managers and co-workers.

During the Fair, Vantangoli assists with any situations that may arise throughout the grounds and has been a patrolman for The Big E for 43 years.

Captain David A. Stewart said, “He has gone the extra mile helping elderly fairgoers find their cars, assist tired people to their cars and many other stressful situations. If we need an officer who presents a cheerful, caring and competent demeanor, we send Al.”

Greg Parkinson - Sunday, September 18

Greg Parkinson, of Baraboo, Wisconsin, was presented The Big E Host of the Day award on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. Parkinson is the curator of the “Circus Around The Clock” exhibit in the Young Building at The Big E.

“None of us is a better ambassador of The Big E than Greg Parkinson,” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by ESE administration and staff members.

Parkinson is president of Parkinson Enterprises, and director of Administrative Services for the Wisconsin Historical Society, both in Baraboo, Wisconsin. He was affiliated with the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, for more than 24 years and has framed a total of six exhibits for The Big E, including this year’s “Circus Around The Clock.”

Anna Lopuk - Saturday, September 17

Anna Lopuk, of Chicopee Falls, Mass., was presented The Big E Host of the Day award on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. Anna is the owner of Millie’s Pierogi and this is her 29th year at The Big E.

"Anna Lopuk has always been a great advocate for The Big E and makes a great product” McCary said at the ceremony which was attended by several ESE staff and co-workers.

ESE Vice President Sue Lavoie expressed her appreciation for Anna by saying, “Despite the great loss she recently suffered, she still does a phenomenal job. She has a perpetual smile and is a great host.”

Joan Malinoski - Friday, September 16

Joan Malinoski, of Port Orange, Florida, was presented The Big E Host of the Day award Sept. 16, 2011. Malinoski, who has worked at The Big E for 9 years, works in Information Services.

"She’ll be signing autographs at one o’clock,” McCary said jokingly at the surprise presentation attended by several members of ESE Administration and a photography crew. “You’re sure going to enjoy all of this special gear,” McCary went on to say.

“Joan has such a dedication to The Big E. Although she moved to Florida last spring, she came back for 17 days to continue working with The Big E Information staff.” Moore went on to say, “She has loved the Fair since she was a youngster. Prior to or after her shifts she goes out and enjoys the Fair for herself.”

Malinoski could not believe that she had been chosen to receive the recognition. “I didn’t think this would happen to me, this is really worth the trip!”