A thirst for knowledge and an unwillingness to settle for small-town life proved key ingredients when Joelene Elliott landed a new job in Rotorua.
As the new operations manager at the Energy Events Centre, Miss Elliott says she was fortunate that every opportunity that's come her way in the past 17
years was coupled with mentors (both managers and colleagues) who encouraged her to add further strands to her basket of knowledge.
"I love Rotorua and I love what we are about as an industry. This is another great opportunity for me because, while the complex already leads the way as a nationally (and internationally) recognised venue, there's still huge potential to make a difference and contribute to growing our business."
Of Ngati Awa, Te Arawa and Te Whanau a Apanui descent, Miss Elliott credits an iwi transition programme held at Rotorua's Waiariki Polytechnic (now Institute of Technology) for putting her on the path to success.
Covering aspects of business and tourism as well as hotel work, the course provided a good basic foundation. Through it she gained enough confidence to apply for a marketing assistant's role with Tourism Rotorua on completion of her course in 1994.
"It was the start of the [tourism] wave and I was lucky enough to be part of that. Being exposed to and mentored by not only Steve [Pike] but those who followed in his footsteps, Tim Cossar and Oscar Nathan - and their teams - added greatly to my expanding knowledge."
Eventually gaining a Diploma of Tourism Industry Management in 2000, Miss Elliott was promoted to operations manager at the Convention Centre in 2001. She then went on to complete a two-year Public Venues Management course.
Miss Elliott says her new team is a force to be reckoned with. They often have to do midnight turn-arounds; moving in at the close of one conference to ensure the complex is ready to go for another function the following day. "And it's done seamlessly, smoothly and without fuss. That's our strength."
