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Bruce Trout Named 2008 PS&E Employee Of The Year


AUBURN HILLS MI (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Bruce Trout was named Palace Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) 2008 Employee of the Year and John Pajak was named the "Value of the Game" recipient, it was announced by PS&E President and CEO Tom Wilson during the Annual Employee Appreciation Luncheon held recently at The Palace.

Trout, Director of Box Office Operations, has been with PS&E since the building opened in 1988. He is responsible for overseeing ticketing operations for all PS&E properties including the Detroit Pistons. His duties include building and maintaining a ticketing inventory system, producing and distribution of season tickets, working with artist/promoters on ticketing needs.

"We always tell our human resources staff to look for and hire good people.
It is much easier for all of us to enjoy our work and be successful when we work for and with good quality people – its customers first and foremost, but, truly, for all of us, it’s so much better when our colleagues are friendly, engaging, and fun to be around," said Wilson. "Bruce exemplifies those qualities and is the consummate professional. The honor is well deserved."

Prior to working in the box office, Trout began his PS&E career in the Guest Services Department as Guest Services Manager, where his duties included overseeing front of house host/hostess and ticket-taker staff for all PS&E properties, which includes DTE Energy Music Theatre and Meadow Brook Music Festival. An avid golfer, he worked as a Golf Professional at Knollwood Country Club and Novi Oaks Sports Center prior to his 20 years at PS&E.

Trout attended Central Michigan University where he majored in Business Administration. He currently resides in Berkley with his wife Lynn and four children, Jessica, Christopher, Peter and Patrick.

John Pajak, Executive Director of Housekeeping, was honored with the organization's second annual "Value of the Game" award which is given to a PS&E employee for dedication to enriching the lives of those around them by serving the community and assisting those in need.

Also receiving recognition were PS&E employees who have reached milestones for years of service with the organization. Jay Grobling, Tele-Communications Manager was honored for 35 years with PS&E, Tom Wilson, President and CEO of PS&E; Dan Hauser, Executive Vice President of Corporate Marketing; John Ciszewski, Executive Vice President of Corporate Sales and John Kapral, Senior Director of Corporate Sales were honored for their 30 years of service, Matt Dobek, Vice President of Public Relations and John O'Reilly, Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer were honored for
25 years with the organization.

Departmental "Employee of the Year" honors were awarded to:

  • Bryan Szlaga – Booking/Marketing
  • Samantha Grissom – Accounting
  • Dave Siwicki – Box Office
  • Jeremy Smoker – Broadcasting/Multimedia
  • Erika Swilley – Community Relations
  • David Humphrey – Conversions
  • Jason Thomas – Corporate Marketing
  • Craig Peiser – Corporate Marketing Salesperson
  • Stan Torres – Event/Facility Operations
  • Lori Heublein & Donna Sanders – Food & Beverage
  • Ruthann Wojtowicz – Creative Group
  • Tamara Mires – Group Sales
  • Anne Haas – Guest Services
  • Roxanne Charter – Housekeeping
  • Elizabeth Henderson – Human Resources
  • Shelley Levstek – Information Technology
  • Holly Persons – Merchandising
  • Dave Thatcher – Parking
  • Tracy Whitcomb – Physical Plant
  • Kevin Grigg – Public Relations
  • Ryan Coyle – Corporate Sales
  • Will Christy – Inside Sales
  • Laura Ramus – Shock
  • Andrew Montgomery – Security
  • Shirley Bommarito – Suite Services
  • Nick Crocenzi – Centerplate
  • Jeremiah Armstrong – P.R.M.G.
  • Teresa Spencer – MyCompanyOffer
  • Keith Langlois – Websites
  • Ann Schreier – Customer Service

    Additional PS&E employees recognized for years of service were:

    Three-Year Employees

    Carley Knox, Chris Pittenturf, James Brewer, Ryan Hoover, Michael O'Dea, Brandon Darling, Zachary Sebastian, Ryan Haverland, Jason Maynard, Erika Swilley, John Lasher, Brian Winn, Michael Jones, Amy Griswold, Shannon Bakka, Jeremy Smoker, Arthur Boddie-Bey, Tad VanSchoick, Lisa Bischoff and Kelly Webster.

    Five-Year Employees

    Christopher Greenier, Johnathan Byrd, Heidi Gilbert, Curtis Rybski, Patrick Brown, Carmencita Barbee, Raleigh Harlin and Paul Kent.

    10-Year Employees

    Amy Raczkowski, Daniyel Clark, Christine Rensberry, Bridgette Redlowsk, Jeff Grice, Keith Knight, Sara Daniel and Jackie Banks.

    15-Year Employees

    Gregory Baugh, Dave Frost and Joann Flood.

    20-Year Employees

    Debra Stachel, Jim Summers, Mike St. Peter, Judy Chiles, Bill Williams, Susan Zayed, Sue Emerick, Maria Walter, Ken Sanders, Julie Telly, Jon Dierkes, Dave Gaertner, Brian Lynch, Cindy Button, Martin Doll, Judy Dowgiert, Phyllis Dowgiert, Angie Finazzo, Terry McNeary, Kent Parham, Chip Robinson, Bruce Trout, Marlene Conrad, Dawn Kesler, Diane Ferranti, Lois Grode, Eddie Rivero and Sue Petruccioli.

    PS&E ownership includes The Palace and DTE Energy Music Theatre, as well as the management of Meadow Brook Music Festival on the campus of Oakland University. Combined, PS&E's Michigan venues average 300 events and 3.5 million guests annually. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers