17-Year Tenure by Rob Parkins Ends June 30
PALM SPRINGS, CA (June 21, 2017) After 17 years at the helm of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, General Manager Rob Parkins has announced his retirement effective June 30.
According to Jerry Ogburn, chair of the Mt. San Jacinto Winter Park Authority, the Tramway’s governing body, “Rob’s contributions to the Tramway over the past 17 years are too numerous to mention, but the framework he created is what got us to where we are today. Under Rob’s leadership, annual ridership went from approximately 400,000 to over 600,000, as we end our current fiscal year. He has assembled a solid team, who I know will continue the great culture he created. On behalf of the entire board, I would like to extend our collective thanks for the extraordinary job he performed and wish him the best in retirement.”
Prior to joining the Tram, Parkins served as city manager for the City of Palm Springs and, previously, in the same capacity for the City of Miami Beach, Florida.
In an email to Tram staff last week, Parkins thanked his team for their support and dedication through these many years, adding that he will miss the wonderful sense of family at the Tramway.
Adds Tramway Executive Vice President Jim Whitmore, “And we will all miss Rob. On behalf of the Tram staff, I want him to know how much we appreciate his wise stewardship, counsel and friendship.”
Named new general manager is 30-year Tramway veteran, Nancy Nichols, current vice president of sales and marketing. “I am very honored to be entrusted with this position, but will miss Rob greatly,” says Nichols.