The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) kicked off their annual expo in Orlando Tuesday. IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities worldwide. The organization represents more than 4,300 facility, supplier, and individual members from more than 97 countries. Every year the IAAPA Expo showcases not only the newest and latest innovations in the amusement industry, but also has several programs both teaching and honoring those in the industry. Today IAAPA honored new honorees into the Hall of Fame and also named a new Chairman for the Board in 2013.
Hall of Fame
The IAAPA Hall of Fame was introduced in 1990 to honor those in the amusement industry who are considered legends and pioneers in the attractions industry. Inductees are those who have given significant and last contributions to the attractions and amusement industry, those who have given to the growth and strength of the industry.
Bob Masterson
Bob Masterson is a prime example of how far a vision can take you. After returning to San Francisco in 1973 from United States military service in Vietnam, Masterson was a manager at a roadside oddity museum called Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Thirty-six years later, Masterson retired as the president of Ripley Entertainment.
In Masterson’s time with Ripley Entertainment, 25 years of which he spent as president, the business grew from 11 locations to a diverse and global small attraction chain with more than 73 museum attractions, aquariums, theatres, and more in 13 countries.
In addition to his contributions to Ripley Entertainment, Masterson has remained a loyal ambassador for the attractions industry. He has served on several IAAPA committees, the IAAPA board of directors, and was the association’s chairman of the board for 2008.
Currently, Masterson is the chairman of Amusement Management Partners LLC.
PT Barnum
PT Barnum’s name and legacy will forever be associated with the circus and mobile attractions industry as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (better known as The Greatest Show On Earth) that has toured the United States for more than 142 years and remains a popular family experience for children of all ages. However; his contributions to the attractions and museum industry and the art of selling tickets, though less celebrated, perhaps surpass the importance of his achievements under the big top.
Barnum pioneered The American Museum, which operated from 1841 to 1865 in New York City. He used his legendary promotional skills to draw attention to his newly created attraction of the strange, the educational, the whimsical, and the mysterious.
Offering exhibits such as the Fiji Mermaid, exotic snakes and animals, and General Tom Thumb – the 25-inch dwarf who Barnum would turn into a worldwide celebrity – Barnum built the reputation of the museum as a must-see attraction of New York City. For 23 years, it was recognized as the city’s most popular attraction.
Though Barnum would go on to make an even larger name for himself through the mobile attractions industry, his marketing ability and inclusion of attention-grabbing acts propelled him and the museum industry to new heights, laying the groundwork for many of today’s most popular attractions.
Kathy Maher, Executive Director/Curator for the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Connecticut, accepted the award on behalf of PT Barnum’s family.
IAAPA named Will Morey as the Chair for the 2013 worldwide trade association’s board of directors. Will Morey is president and CEO of Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey. He has been an active member in the amusement industry for many years, and a member of IAAPA for almost as long.
As chairman of the board, Morey will lead IAAPA for the next year and oversee the ongoing development and implementation of the association’s 2013-2015 Strategic Plan. He will travel around the world to represent the association and the global industry.
2013 IAAPA Officers
The IAAPA Board of Directors elected the following officers for the organization for 2013:
First Vice Chairman – Mario Mamon, chairman/president, Enchanted Kingdom, Philippines
Second Vice Chairman – Gerardo Arteaga, general manager, Fantasilandia, Chile
Third Vice Chairman – John McReynolds, senior vice president, Universal Parks and Resorts, United States
IAAPA Treasurer – Rob Norris, president, Seabreeze, United States
Incoming IAAPA President and CEO Paul Noland will also be an officer of the association.
New Board Members
The following IAAPA members were elected to the board of directors at the association’s annual business meeting on Nov. 12:
Facility and Life Directors
Gregg Borman, Palace Entertainment, United States
Richard Koh, World Entertainment SDN, BHD, Malaysia
Julie Moskalyk, Science North, Canada
Chris Perry, Jumeirah Group/Wild Wadi Waterpark, United Arab Emirates
Amanda Thompson, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
Julio Vanegas, Carruseles, Colombia
Manufacturer and Supplier Director
Michael Turner, Neptune Benson, United States
Advisory Board Member Director
Tom Wages, International Attraction Services, United States
2013 Executive Committee
The IAAPA Executive Committee is appointed by the chairman of the board. In addition to the IAAPA officers, 2013 Executive Committee members are:
Michelle Kapuscinski, Fiesta Village Family Fun Park, United States
Roland Mack, Europa-Park and Immediate Past Chair, Germany
Michael Turner, Neptune Benson, United States
Alexander Weber, Jr., Ph.D, Kings Leisure Partners, United States
2013 Committee Chairs
IAAPA is guided by the work of the board of directors and 32 member committees. The chairs of the committees are selected by the chairman of the board. Committee chairs for 2013 include:
Board Committees
Audit – Hal McEvoy, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, United States
Compensation – Will Morey, Morey’s Piers, United States
Executive – Will Morey, Morey’s Piers, United States
Investment – Tom Wages, International Attraction Services, United States
Nominating – Darrell Metzger, Themed Attractions & Destination Resorts, Malaysia
Strategic Planning – Mario Mamon, Enchanted Kingdom, Philippines
Advisory Committees
Asian Advisory – Mario Mamon, Enchanted Kingdom, Philippines
European Advisory – Bart de Boer, Efteling B.V., The Netherlands
Latin American Advisory – Julio Vanegas, Carruseles, Colombia
Communications – Pete Owens, Dollywood, United States
Education – Doug Stagner, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, United States
Government Relations – Barbara Heffernan, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, United States
Membership – Franceen Gonzales, Great Wolf Resorts Inc., United States
Safety and Maintenance – Steve Blum, Universal Orlando Resort, United States
Space Allocation – Jeffrey P. Hudson, Skee Ball Inc., United States
Constituency Committees
Amusement Parks and Attractions – John Norris, Seabreeze, United States
Family Entertainment Centers – Gregg Borman, Palace Entertainment, United States
Manufacturers and Suppliers – Michael Turner, Neptune Benson, United States
Museums – Ike Kwon, California Academy of Sciences, United States
Water Parks – Chris Perry, Jumeirah Group/Wild Wadi Waterpark, United Arab Emirates
Zoos and Aquariums – David Rosenberg, Monterey Bay Aquarium, United States
Program Committees
Entertainment – Robbi Lepré, Busch Gardens Tampa, United States
Facility Operations – Jon Storbeck, The Disneyland Resort, United States
Financial Management and IT – Eli Stovall, Amusement Management Partners, United States
Food and Beverage – Ken Whiting, Whiting’s Foods/WAVES for Success, United States
Games – Greg Morrow, Lake Winnepesaukah, United States
Human Resources – Shaun McKeogh, ProFun/Happyland, Vietnam
Marketing – Heather Moyer, Legoland California, United States
Merchandising – Adrea Gibbs, Dolphin Quest, United States
Awards Committees
Exhibitor Awards – Bob Logan, Innovative Leisure Partners, United States
Hall of Fame and Archives – Ron Gustafson, Quassy Amusement Park, United States
Service Awards – Bobbie Wages, International Attraction Services, United States
