Attentive teenage server named Employee of the Month

There's one teenage face that seems to pop up in many places around town, and he's known for his dedication to not only school and work, but also to volunteer service. Josh Homiston, a senior at New Rockford-Sheyenne School, was chosen as the Chamber's Employee of the Month for June.

New Rockford resident Sharon Young nominated Homiston for the award after a pleasant experience she had with him at the golf course. Homiston has been a server at the onsite bar and grill for nearly two years.

The dining room and bar were humming with guests on Friday night, when Homiston was surprised with the award. In the midst of the chaos, he kept everyone's drinks full while they waited for their food, and he checked in to ensure that their meals were prepared to their satisfaction. His face lit up in a wide smile when he heard the news, as evidenced from the photo at left.

Homiston hasn't lived here long, but he has had the opportunity to serve many people in that short time. In January 2017, his family moved here from Cooperstown after his mom, Tanya, got married.

A year later, he was just old enough to go to work, and he didn't waste time seeking employment. He soon found a spot on staff at the Latte Lobby.

"I actually applied when Nick (Presnell) and I were there eating pizza, and Joey Gray was working," Homiston said. Gray told him, "It's a pretty cool place to work." And that was all the encouragement he needed. As is typical in a small town, Belquist hired him about a month later, without any formal interview. She simply asked if he was still interested in coming to work, and upon confirmation that he did, she hired him on the spot.

Homiston continues to work after school and during breaks as a barista at the Latte Lobby. He also covers the bistro at Old Church Theatre during live show runs for DPRCA.

Knowing his work ethic and commitment to customer service, Belquist asked him if he wanted to work at the golf course about a year later. She had taken over the manager position there and needed servers. Homiston started there in September 2019.

He took some time to chat while working at the Latte Lobby Monday morning, a bit quieter scene than the bar and grill on a summer Friday night.

What does he love about working at the golf course? "It's fun. I like it when it's busy. It's eventful," he replied.

What does he recommend to guests? "The most expensive thing on the menu," he declared matter-a-factly. He's referring, of course, to the South American ribeye steak. "It's also my favorite thing on the menu," he noted.

The GC Bar & Grill, the formal name for the golf course's restaurant, is open to the public year-round for dinner service. In the summer, it's open Wednesday through Saturday nights from 5-9 p.m., with a wide variety of dinner selections, including several entrees, flatbreads, sandwiches, wraps and salads.

Homiston has already begun his post-secondary education, and he has a clear career path in mind, and it is emergency service. He joined the Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford in the middle of the pandemic last October, and he quickly advanced from CPR driver to Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) within two months by taking an online course. Just last week, he enrolled in a hybrid online/in-person EMT class, which he hopes will not only result in his EMT certification, but also some high school credit. He plans to take the test to become certified two days after he turns 18.

He has covered 147 shifts for the ambulance in the past eight months, averaging 250-300 on call hours per month. He covers both day and night shifts, as the school allows students to take ambulance calls during the school day. His service allows him to get the patient contacts he needs to continue his education.

Having a mom who is an RN and EMT is also very helpful. "It's nice having my mom to go over everything with," he said.

After high school, he plans to enroll in a paramedic program at a state university. From there, he said there are plenty of opportunities to advance his career in emergency services.

For now, he'll take all the shifts he can get at the golf course, which will help pay for college. Make a point to plan an evening out for business or pleasure, and chances are he will be there to serve you.

Have you had a memorable customer service experience recently? There's a person behind that interaction that deserves to be recognized! Please consider nominating someone for the Employee of the Month award by filling out the form online at http://www.cityofnewrockford.com. Nomination are also accepted by email to [email protected]. The Chamber board of directors chooses one person to receive the award each month.