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Home > Blog > Exhibit Train Blog, 2011-2012 > Hialeah/Miami Employee Appreciation Day, Feb. 25 and 26

Hialeah/Miami Employee Appreciation Day, Feb. 25 and 26

Posted by admin at Mar 08, 2012 09:20 AM |
Service awards, games, and good food added up to a family-friendly Employee Appreciation Day in Miami.
Cotton candy spun out for the kids at the Hialeah facility's Employee Appreciation Day
Three of the cooks on board the Exhibit Train
APD K-9 officers take a break at the Hialeah day out

Cotton candy spun out for the kids at the Hialeah facility's Employee Appreciation Day

Three of the cooks on board the Exhibit Train

APD K-9 officers take a break at the Hialeah day out

It’s kind of hard to believe that the Exhibit Train has been traveling the country for almost a year, visiting towns both large and small. Along the way, we’ve made special stops at big employee centers such as Miami. Walking through the displays gives long-time employees the chance to recall some good memories (often punctuated with bouts of laughter as people admire the groovy 1970s uniforms and other items), while newer staff gains an opportunity to better understand Amtrak’s origins and the evolution of intercity passenger rail in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The creation of Amtrak represented the first time that the United States had ever possessed a truly national passenger rail system that stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans and from Canada down to the border with Mexico.

Miami is the headquarters of Amtrak’s Southern Division, which covers most of the southeastern states. Florida has a diverse pool of Amtrak employees working primarily in the Transportation and Mechanical departments. The Hialeah facility near the Miami station is a major maintenance and repair shop where skilled crews perform inspections and undertake maintenance on passenger rail equipment used in long-distance and state-supported corridor services.

On Saturday, the Exhibit Train was open to all current and retired Amtrak employees and their families. To take advantage of the train’s presence, the Southern Division held an Employee Appreciation Day. Managers organized an awards ceremony to recognize employees with excellent service and attendance records, impeccable dress standards, and other merits. Brian Gallagher, Director of Operations and Coordination within the Executive Office, represented Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman at the event. He was joined by Barry Melnkovic, Chief Human Capital Officer, and Mike Frazier, Director of Systems Operation.

As you might imagine, the day was very much a “family reunion” that found old friends deep in conversation while kids enjoyed games and sweet treats. Employees volunteered their culinary talents to make old-time favorites, spinning delicate threads of pink cotton candy and sculpting snow cones that were doused with flavored syrups. The team even printed special aprons with the 40th Anniversary logo. A catered lunch included barbeque chicken and ribs, sides and salads. Along the platform, Operation Lifesaver and the Miami Safety Team set up displays, and many people lined up to buy tickets for a chance to win Amtrak 40th Anniversary merchandising items.

—PK