Connie Finch

Long-time volunteer and board member Connie Finch is the glue that holds The Park Center together. This capable and gentle matriarch has been involved with The Park almost since its beginning. For nearly two decades, she’s used her varied skills to help bring art, entertainment, and quality libations to the Hayward community.

Why does The Park offer ten varieties of wine and a dozen varieties of beer, including local craft beer from Angry Minnow, non-alcoholic choices and Miller Lite?

It’s because of Connie’s attention to her customers. 

She saw that varied acts drew varied audiences with distinctive preferences. Every audience loves the $2 popcorn, but some prefer Spotted Cow or Miller Lite, while others prefer wine or craft beers. Over the years, she’s tailored orders to satisfy customer requests, including those for quality local sweets: dark chocolate-covered almonds from Lynn Marie’s Candies are fan favorites.

Besides keeping concessions stocked, she’s also the vibrant and smiling woman serving customers at most performances. 

Connie knows which volunteers will be there to help her since she heads up the volunteer committee. She recruits volunteers to work the concession stand, sell wine, take tickets, and a myriad of other tasks required to make the venue run smoothly. 

“One thing that amazes me about this whole area is the volunteer force,” she says. “I’ve never been anywhere where people were just so willing to volunteer their time for good causes.”

Connie will celebrate 40 years of calling Hayward home on July 14, her 82nd birthday. She grew up in Davenport, Iowa, and had fond memories of family vacations to the area. She decided it was the perfect place to raise her four school-aged children.

“This is where I belong,” she said. “I love it up here. I don’t want to live anywhere else.” 

Connie worked at a variety of jobs over the years to help support her family. 

“I met Hobie (Hobart) and Kathi (Dunn), and we just hit it off right away,” she said. She was a receptionist and secretary for their Dunn & Associates Design business for nearly a decade, followed by a short stint in a similar role at the Cable Natural History Museum.

She was later recruited by Molly Otis to help manage a new endeavor, “Madelaine’s”, a small restaurant located in Tony Wise’s former home on the corner of Kansas Avenue and East Second Street.

“It was supposed to just be a little coffee shop, but it ended up being so much more,” said Connie. “Good food, plus music on Wednesday nights. It was fun.” 

When that venture ended, she worked as the office manager for an appliance repairman, answering the phone and placing orders. One of her now-adult children worked at the local video store, so Connie decided to join her there, working there part-time for eight years, until the place closed. She loved working with people.

Her involvement with Serendipity, a local acting group, further introduced her to the local arts scene. She struck a friendship with Deanna Persson while helping set up Applause for Paws, an annual fundraiser for the Northwoods Humane Society. Persson was heavily involved with the initial organization of The Park Center, encouraged her to join The Park Board of Directors. She’s been there ever since.

What keeps her involved with The Park Center? 

“The people — and the fact that a town this small has something like this available,” she said. “It just amazes me. I like entertainment and seeing the many different things that come through here. Some I like better than others, but that’s the way we all are — we have our own likes and dislikes. It’s pretty cool.”

If you would like to offer your time and talents to The Park Center, contact Connie at info@theparkcenter.com or call (715) 634-4596