Kalahari Resorts and Conventions is well on its way to filling many of the high-level positions the company requires when the sprawling new indoor water park opens its Spotsylvania County facility in November.
Brian Shanle, the resort’s general manager, is most pleased that the company has already helped some local residents eliminate their commutes to Washington, D.C.
Shanle said the company hired a local food and beverage director who had been commuting to Washington for the last 20 years. Kalahari also hired a director of security who lives in Spotsylvania but was making the daily trek to the Pentagon.
“We’ve been really lucky,” Shanle said.
In addition to those positions, Kalahari secured its executive chef, human resources director, five sales managers, IT director, director of facilities, and an assistant general manager.
Kalahari officials are hoping that run continues when it holds its first big hiring event on June 13 at 2 p.m. at North Stafford High School. That’s the site of the annual Planning District 16 Juneteenth Celebration.
The previous three years, Juneteenth coordinators typically held a multifaceted job fair, but this year Kalahari is sponsoring the event and will be the sole hiring agency on site as it looks to fill 1,200 out of 1,400 total positions.
“We have been hiring most of our top-level jobs, our director-level jobs,” Shanle said … “It’s a big place. Our target is 1,400 or so employees, so it’s a lot to be done.”
Kalahari officials were having a conversation with Spotsylvania NAACP President Moe Petway when they learned about the Juneteenth event. Petway put them in contact with one of the the event’s organizers, longtime Stafford County resident Gary Holland.
Holland pitched the idea of Kalahari hosting the job fair at the Juneteenth celebration, and the company’s representatives were immediately receptive.
“This is the sixth year we’ve done the Juneteenth event and this will be the fourth year we’ve done the job fair,” Holland noted. “It’s had mixed results. But this year, the timing is perfect because of what Kalahari is doing. They’re hiring across all career fields … so, there’s something for everybody in this entire region. I’m hoping that a lot of folks come out and take advantage of it.”
The Stafford event is the first large hiring fair for Kalahari. Shanle said the resort, which is located off Patriot Highway (U.S. Route 1) in the Thornburg area, also plans to hold events in Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, and Caroline.
“The one in Stafford, there’s not another event like that one,” Shanle said. “It just fell into our hands, and it’s good people and good timing. So, that one took care of itself.”
For the other events, Kalahari representatives are working to secure dates and locations. Shanle said that when the resort opened in other parts of the country, officials held informational sessions explaining the types of jobs available, and there was always a large turnout.
“We have a lot of people show up,” Shanle said. “We’re a massive construction site right now, so we can’t let that many people come to a construction site. There’s upwards from 700 to 1,000 people working every day to build it. We’re trying to find locations that can handle, possibly 500 people or it could be 1,000 or more that show up. We’ve got to be prepared for that.”
Holland is hopeful to have thousands at the Juneteenth celebration, which is moving from Virginia Credit Union Stadium. In addition to the job fair, there will be vendors, food trucks, a family fun zone, and live entertainment. A $1,500 scholarship will be presented to both of the winners of the Mr. and Mrs. Juneteenth pageant. Also, organizers will present the Eunice Haigler and Forrest Parker community service awards.
“This is a great opportunity for people looking for employment,” Holland said. “And while they’re there, they can enjoy a great event.”
