Alumni in 5
Ben McLoskey '13
Employer
General Manager of The Rink at Rockefeller Center
LinkedIn Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-mcloskey/
1. Tell us about your journey since graduation.
The year after graduation I juggled multiple jobs related to my
degree. I enjoyed the different roles but had the urge to expand my
professional scope and skillset. A combination of wanderlust and
curiosity led me to work onboard cruise ships for the next four years
as a Youth Activities Manager with Royal Caribbean. My time at sea
allowed me to make friends from all over the world, see beautiful
places, and improve my leadership skills in a dynamic environment. It
was an incredibly fun and rewarding experience however, it’s difficult
to build a life when you’re on a ship so while I didn’t know exactly
what I wanted to do in this next chapter I knew I would figure it out
in New York. I moved to the city in 2018 and quickly found my way back
to my rink-rat-roots by joining the world of ice rink operations. In
2019, I was tasked to run the first rooftop ice rink in NY and the
following year I joined the team at Rockefeller Center to launch The
Rink as a new operating business under the property owner, Tishman
Speyer. We continue to improve the venue and overall guest experience
for both summer and winter activations. I take pride in being the
primary caretaker of this landmark attraction and applying all the
knowledge I gained from my time at GVSU.
2. Share a favorite Grand Valley memory.
Mid-winter, my sophomore year, the concrete slab on Pierce Street
that is typically flooded froze over. My friends and I organized a
pond hockey game and played all day. In retrospect, it’s easy to see
the clear correlation/foreshadowing to my current career path.
(Shoutout to JV who wore a banana costume on the ice the entire day)
3. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Follow your curiosity and effort. I feel that ‘follow your
passion’ lacks actionable insight and can lead toward a pursuit that
turns your passion into a chore. If you follow your effort, your
curiosity, and what you’re truly good at it, you will develop a growth
mindset and an intrinsic reward system that allows you to embrace new
challenges and regularly reinvent yourself throughout your life.
4. List three words you would use to describe your Grand
Valley experience.
Formative, Stimulating, and CopperBeech
5. What difference would you like to make in the world?
To create community and connection in as many ways possible with
as many people as possible.
August 2023
Interest Area(s)
Exercise Science
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