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The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) announced Europa-Park Managing Partner Roland Mack will chair the worldwide trade association’s board of directors in 2012.
Mack grew up in a family who was highly involved in the amusement industry for many years so he has been in touch with the industry his entire life. From 1969 to 1974, Mack earned a graduate engineering degree from the Technological University of Karlsruhe and started his career in the attractions industry by working in his family’s amusement ride manufacturing company, Mack Rides GmbH & Co. KG.
He is one of the founders of Europa-Park, which opened in 1975. Since then, he has been one of the managing partners who oversaw the development and innovative expansion of the largest theme park in Germany. He is also a shareholder in Mack Rides, a leading amusement ride engineering and manufacturing company.
Mack is a founding member of the German Association of Amusement Parks (VDFU) and has been an active volunteer within IAAPA for many years, including speaking at IAAPA Attractions Expo, serving on numerous committees, and guiding the association as a member of its board of directors since 2008.
Mack has received a number of prestigious awards and honors for his efforts to develop tourism in Germany; his commitment to French-German relations; his achievements as an innovative entrepreneur and hotelier; and as the leader of an organization which provides significant contributions to Germany’s economy. He has served on the Tourism Committee in the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce; the advisory board for Dresdner Bank; the Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassadors for Families; the University Council for the University in Karlsruhe; and on the advisory council of the German National Tourist Board.
2012 IAAPA Officers
The IAAPA board of directors elected the following officers for the organization for 2012: First Vice Chairman – Will Morey, president/CEO of Morey’s Piers, United States Second Vice Chairman – Mario Mamon, chairman/president of Enchanted Kingdom, Philippines Third Vice Chairman – Gerardo Arteaga, general manager of Fantasilandia, Chile
IAAPA Treasurer Rob Norris of Seabreeze Park in New York and IAAPA President and CEO Chip Cleary are also officers 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. 15:
Facility and Life Directors
Curt Caffey, CNL Lifestyle Company, United States
David Escudero, Parques Reunidos, Spain
Michelle Kapuscinski, Fiesta Village Family Fun Park, United States
Rich Langhorst, The Walt Disney Company, United States
Rachmat Sutiono, P.T. Funworld, Indonesia
Manufacturer and Supplier Director
Rajen Shah, Arihant Industrial Corporation, India
Advisory Board Member Director
Paul Serff, Texas Travel Industry Association, United States
2012 Executive Committee
The IAAPA Executive Committee is appointed by the chairman of the board. In addition to the IAAPA officers, 2012 Executive Committee members are:
Pelle Johannisson, Director, Liseberg, Sweden
Jack Mendes, Director, Bob’s Space Racers, United States
Bob Rippy, Immediate Past Chairman, Jungle Rapids/Wrightsville Farms Management, United States
Alexander Weber Jr., Member-at-Large, Six Flags, United States
2012 Committee Chairs
IAAPA is guided by the work of the board of directors and 33 member committees. The chairs of the committees are selected by the chairman of the board. Committee chairs for 2012 include:
Board Committees
Audit – R. Paul Noland, RPN Associates, United States
Compensation – Roland Mack, Europa-Park, Germany
Executive – Roland Mack, Europa-Park, Germany
Investment – Tom Wages, International Attraction Services, United States
Nominating – Darrell Metzger, Themed Attractions & Resorts, Malaysia
Strategic Planning – Will Morey, Morey’s Piers, United States
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 Ltda., Colombia
Communications – Mindy Bianca, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, 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 Chidester, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, United States
Family Entertainment Centers – Gregg Borman, Palace Entertainment, United States
Manufacturers and Suppliers – Tim Timco, TJ Timco Agency, United States
Museums – Julie Moskalyk, Science North, Canada
Waterparks – Andrew Maurek, Hyland Hills Water World, United States
Zoos and Aquariums – David Rosenberg, Monterey Bay Aquarium, United States
Program Committees
Entertainment – Robbi Lepré, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, United States
Facility Operations – Jon Storbeck, The Disneyland Resort, United States
Finance and Information Technology – Neva Richardson, Two-Headed Shark, United States
Food and Beverage – Ken Whiting, Whiting’s Foods/WAVES for Success, United States
Games – Greg Morrow, Lake Winnepesaukah, United States
Human Resources – Matt Heller, Universal Orlando Resort, United States
Marketing – Ron McKenzie, Six Flags St. Louis, United States
Merchandising – Gary Popp, Hersheypark, United States
Awards Committees
Exhibitor Awards – Chuck Corley, Bronx Toys, United States
Hall of Fame and Archives – Ron Gustafson, Quassy Amusement Park, United States
Service Awards – Bobbie Wages, International Attraction Services, United States
About IAAPA
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) is the premier trade association for the attractions industry worldwide. Founded in 1918, IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities and attractions and is dedicated to the preservation and prosperity of the attractions industry. IAAPA represents more than 4,500 facility, supplier, and individual members from more than 90 countries. Member facilities include amusement/theme parks, waterparks, attractions, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, museums, science centers, resorts, and casinos. IAAPA is a nonprofit organization. Revenue generated for the association by its involvement in trade shows and other activities are returned to the association to fund services for its members and the industry. The association’s global headquarters is in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. The association maintains regional offices in Brussels, Mexico City, and Hong Kong. www.IAAPA.org
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NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
He is one of the founders of Europa-Park, which opened in 1975. Since then, he has been one of the managing partners who oversaw the development and innovative expansion of the largest theme park in Germany. He is also a shareholder in Mack Rides, a leading amusement ride engineering and manufacturing company.
