Ep 7. Herschend Family Entertainment

During season 1 episode 7 of "Undercover Boss," entitled "Herschend Family Entertainment," viewers follow the President and CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment, Joel Manby, as he goes undercover in his own company. Herschend Family Entertainment is a company that operates theme parks and attractions across America, including the well-known Dollywood.

Manby poses as a contestant on a reality TV show who is competing for a job as an intern at Herschend Family Entertainment. As an intern, he works in various departments, including guest services, food service, entertainment, and maintenance. Throughout the episode, he learns about the hard work and dedication required from employees to make the company's parks successful.

The first department that Manby works with is guest services. He is tasked with greeting park visitors and directing them to the rides and attractions they want to experience. During his time in this role, he sees firsthand the importance of providing not just accurate information, but also engaging with visitors in a friendly and welcoming manner. He realizes that the employees in this department are the face of the company and are responsible for setting the tone for the guests' entire park experience.

Next, Manby moves on to work in the food service department. Here, he learns about the challenges and fast-paced environment that comes with serving food to thousands of hungry park-goers each day. He experiences the difficulty of working in a hot kitchen and manages to burn himself accidentally while trying to keep up with orders. The experience gives him a newfound appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the company's food service employees.

In the entertainment department, Manby has the opportunity to work with a group of teenage performers who put on a high-energy show several times a day. Here, he learns about the physical and emotional challenges of performing in front of large crowds. He realizes that the young performers are taking their roles seriously, and the show is a vital part of the park's overall guest experience.

Lastly, Manby works in the maintenance department, where he cleans bathrooms, picks up trash, and does other necessary tasks to keep the park looking beautiful. Here, he sees the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making a park run smoothly. He also discovers that the park's landscaping team takes just as much pride in their work as any other department and puts in an incredible amount of detail-oriented work to maintain the beauty of the parks.

Throughout the episode, Manby learns a lot about his company, and also how to improve and make the employees' lives better. He is impressed by the hard work and dedication of his employees and makes it his mission to thank them and reward them in meaningful ways. The episode demonstrates the power of leadership and understanding the work that goes into making a company or organization successful.

Overall, the "Herschend Family Entertainment" episode of "Undercover Boss" showcases the hard work, dedication, and passion required to operate a successful theme park and attraction company. It highlights the importance of understanding and respecting all roles within the company and the critical role that every employee plays in making the guest experience unforgettable.