Preliminary Education Program Speaker Biographies
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2009 Asian Attractions Expo Education Sessions are sponsored by:
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Full Day* IAAPA Safety Institute
10:00am - 5:00pm
Greg Hale is Chief Safety Officer and Vice President of Safety, Accessibility and Advanced Technology for Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide. He leads a global team of ride design, operation, maintenance and safety professionals around the world that keep Disney on the leading edge of theme park safety, accessibility for guests with disabilities and technology advancements. Greg received his BSEE from the University of Mississippi in 1976 and is a license Professional Engineer in the State of Florida. In 1988, Greg joined Walt Disney World Co. and has held several key positions including Director of Facilities and Attractions Regulatory Compliance and Director of Ride & Show Engineering. Prior to his present position, he was Vice President of Design & Engineering and Regulatory Compliance. Greg pro-actively participates in national standards committees and has been recognized for his work on accessibility standards for persons with disabilities and for amusement ride safety standards and training. He is currently serving on the Executive Committee of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Amusement Ride Safety Standards Committee. Greg is on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), he is Chairman of their Safety and Maintenance Committee and was also co-chair of IAAPA’s Strategic Planning Program Committee. Greg is on the Board of Directors for the National Safety Council and Vice President for their Community Safety Division. Greg served on the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board’s Recreation Access Advisory Committee, and he is responsible for numerous innovations and inventions that have advanced accessibility for persons with disabilities. The most recent of which is hand-held captioning that for the first time, provides captioning for the deaf on moving rides and attractions. In addition, he is a co-inventor and patent holder for Disney’s FASTPASS®, eliminating long lines at Disney theme park rides and attractions.
Richard A. Carroll (RAC), Senior Vice President/COO, has been involved in the aquatic amusement industry for 22 years and is currently the Sr. VP/COO for Jeff Ellis & Associates Inc. “International Aquatic Safety & Risk Management Consultants”. RAC has been involved at every level of park operations prior to his current position with E&A where he is responsible for day to day oversight of the firm’s operations, programs, client services and professional risk management consulting. RAC has serves on various standards committees, state regulatory committees and was recently presented the World Waterpark Association Commitment to Excellence Award 2008. RAC resides in Long Island New York with his wife Julianne and 2 children Kyle and Lauren
Ho,Yongpom, Asia Client Director, has been involved in the aquatic safety industry for 20 years. Yohan serves as the Asia Client Director of Jeff Ellis & Associates Inc. - “International Aquatic Safety & Risk Management Consultants”In this role, he is responsible for the lifeguard training, audit and professional risk management consulting for the major waterpark clients in Korea and Singapore.Yohan’s main goal is to ensure the aquatic safety standards for the Asia region, to promote a uniform level of global safety. Yohan resides in Mansfield Ohio with wife Raunda.
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Choongyul Son
Vice-Chairman, Safety & Technical Committee
KAAPA
South Korea
Overview of Safety in Korean Parks and Attractions
Joe Schott
Vice President, Representative Director
Walt Disney Attractions Japan
Joe Schott is currently Vice President and Representative Director of Walt Disney Attractions Japan, where he has been since 2006. In his current position, Schott is responsible for overseeing Disney operations at the Tokyo Disney Resort and managing the day-to-day relationship with the Oriental Land Co., which owns and operates the Tokyo Disney Resort and the Disney Stores in Japan. A 27-year Disney veteran, Schott was previously Director of Park Operations at Walt Disney World. Throughout his career he has had the opportunity to work in opening several new Disney experiences which include Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s California Adventure and Disneyland Paris. He began his Disney career as an attractions host at Walt Disney World.
Cynthia R. Mamon
Cynthia R. Mamon is the Vice President, SMILE Division- Sales, Marketing, Imagineering, Leisure and Entertainment of Enchanted Kingdom, Inc. Cynthia started as a Consultant for the Sales and Marketing Division and had helped transform the new SMILE Division to help achieve the business goals of Enchanted Kingdom. She brings with her almost twenty years of experience in the field of sales and marketing most especially in information technology. She also serves as the President & Managing Director of Sun Microsystems Philippines, Inc., the local joint venture partner of Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation of California, USA in the Philippines. A dynamic leader and dedicated worker, Cynthia earned her Bachelor's of Science Degree in Home Technology, a Masters Degree in Agribusiness Management from the University of the Philippines as a government scholar; and a PhD in Management (summa cum laude) from Letran University at Calamba Laguna. She also earned a certificate from the Information Systems Specialist Program (ISSP) of George Washington University in Washington DC, USA, as well as other courses at the Hague, Netherlands and Montpellier, France. Her achievements in the IT Industry have not gone unnoticed, having been awarded various citations and recognitions from her alma mater & various professional organizations as well as heading national organizations like the Information Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP), IT Foundation of the Philippines (ITFP) and being an active member of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham). She is married to Mr. Mario Mamon, the President and Chairman of Enchanted Kingdom.
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009
1:00pm - 5:00pm
Kim, Jung-Rae
Managing Director, Lotteworld
South Korea
Mr. Kim joined Lotteworld in 1987 and was appointed Managing Director in 2008. He has worked in Korea's theme park industry for the past 20 years, gaining vast knowledge and experience, particularly in the area of visitor and guest services. He studied at Kwandong University, and graduated Youngnam University in 1989 with a master's degree in history. Mr. Kim was born in 1956.
Greg Hale, Vice President and Chief Safety Officer, Worldwide Safety and Accessibility, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts (See Above)
Tom Mehrmann is the Chief Executive of Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong’s sea-life and animal theme park hosting over 4 million visitors annually.
Mr. Mehrmann started his career in the theme park industry at Knott’s Berry Farm in the United States as a park service attendant in 1977. From there, he spent the next 21 years working through the ranks eventually becoming Vice President of Park Operations and Entertainment.
In 1998, he joined Six Flags Marine World as Vice President and General Manager, and later accepted an appointment as VP and GM of Warner Brothers Movie World in Madrid when the park was taken over by Six Flags in 2000. He had the responsibility for the design, development and construction of the US$380 million Madrid Movie World, which opened in April 2002 with revenues of US$71 million a year. Since joining Ocean Park in 2004, he has directed the activities of the park to achieve 4 successive years of the highest attendance, revenue and surpluses in the company history, while leading the effort of defining the Concept Master Plan for the future of Ocean Park. The Concept Master Plan received government approval to proceed in December 2005 and syndicated loan financing of HK$5.5 billion was secured in 2006. Ground breaking began in 2006 and the project is estimated to be complete in 2012. Highlighting the growth and evolution of Ocean Park under Mr. Mehrmann’s direction, Forbes.com in 2006 named the park as one of the 10 most popular theme parks in the world based on annual attendance of over 5.0 million guests.
Mr. Mehrmann is serving under the following organizations:
- Advisory Committee Member of the School of Hotel & Tourism Management, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Advisory Committee Member of the Hotel & Tourism Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Committee Member of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries, Travel/Tourism Committee
- Member of the Hong Kong Employer’s Federation of Hong Kong
- Member of the American Chamber of Commerce
- Member of the Tourism Orientation Programme Advisory Committee, Hong Kong Tourism Board
- Sector/Subject Specialist for the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation
A graduate of California State University, Fullerton, Tom Mehrmann holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. He also completed the Advanced Courses (IAAPA*) in Theme Park Management at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
* International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
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Thursday, June 11, 2009
12:00 noon - 5:00pm
Leadership Luncheon:
Wang Gang is currently serving as the vice president of Shenzhen OCT Holdings Company, a subsidiary in charge of the tourism business for the bigger OCT Group. Since 1989 when his career at OCT Group started, he has been participating in projects development and management at OCT. He used to be the director of the Folk Culture Village Project Office, director of the Splendid China·America Project Office, director of the Administration Department, Development & Investment Department, Tourism Management Department of OCT Enterprises Company. Mr. Wang Gang was designated to working on the project in Orlando, Florida, where he learned how Americans develop tourist projects.
Since 1997, Mr. Wang Gang has been the committee member of National Tourism & Leisure Standardization Technical Committee, as well as committee member of National Tourism & Leisure Standardization Technical Experts Committee, participating in drafting National Standard in Tourism sector.
Mr. Wang Gang graduated as a physicist bachelor from the University of Overseas Chinese, and as a master in Mechanic & Engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University. He is now studying for his doctor degree in Tourism Enterprises Management in Xi’an Jiaotong University.
Lee-Li Ng
Lee Li is currently a Lecturer and Section Head at The Tourism Academy @ Sentosa (TAS), a remote campus of Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore. She lectures in topics related to Research, Tourism and Attractions Management to students and adult learners. She is also a regular trainer for Singapore Tourism Board’s customized training programmes and the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s sponsored programme for overseas participants on tourism. She is often sought as a resource person for interviews by the TV, radio and print media on topics related to attractions, tourism and service training.
Prior to joining TAS in 2005, she headed the Public Relations and Marketing Department (PRM) and served as the Quality Service Manager at the Science Centre Singapore. Besides promoting the Science Centre for 4.5 years, she also spent over a year heading the newly restructured Visitor Services Department on top of the Public Relations & Marketing functions. While at the Centre she was also a presenter at the Annual Excellence Service Awards 2004, Asian Amusement Expo 2004, Asian Seminar on Learning 2005 and Asia Business Forum 2005.
Before joining the Science Centre in October 2000, she lectured for 7 years in the School of Business Management at Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore where she taught travel & tourism and marketing subjects to full time and part time adult students.
Prior to lecturing, she spent 4 years in the Sales and Marketing Department for Sentosa Development Corporation, a statutory board responsible for the management of Sentosa - a resort island. Her duties included sales promotion, marketing as well as event management.
Lee Li obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Sociology with a minor in Leisure Science from Oklahoma State University, USA in 1987 and graduated in 1988 with a Masters Degree in Recreation, Parks and Tourism from Virginia Commonwealth University, USA. She is married with 2 children ages 12 and 14.
Tony Sze, General Manager - Group Investment of ChimeLong Group Co., Ltd, one of the fastest growing Chinese conglomerates focuses on amusement attractions. He is responsible for the company’s overall investment plans in theme park business.
With high ambitions, Tony arrived in Canada in the late sixties and earned his Honor BA and MA degrees in University of Waterloo in just three years. After being Accounting Manager of Warner Communication Inc. Canada and Director – Management Reporting and Internal Control of Sony Music Canada Ltd. (previously known as CBS Music Canada Ltd.), he came back to Asia in 1992, as CFO for Haking Enterprises, Hong Kong, and expanded eight manufacturing operations in China for the company. Then he became Finance Director of Kodak – Great Asia Region. Tony excelled his ability on investment development and launched an equipment financing program for Kodak retail stores in China. This practice was reported by Wall Street Journal as one of the most significant strategic programs of Kodak in setting set up a strong foothold in China.
Since he joined ChimeLong Group in 2005, Tony has launched five ChimeLong park investment projects: Paradise Amusement Park Phase I, II, III, and ChimeLong Water Park Phase I, Phase II. ChimeLong Group attractions host well over 9 million visitors annually. The latest addition to Chimelong Group attractions was ChimeLong Water Park who won the IAAPA “Must See Water Park 2007 Award” in its first year of operation, and was awarded “2008 Industry Innovation Award”.
Tony leads in the operation strategies of the ChimeLong parks. Due to his dedication of safe, he arranged equipment safety audit with TUV, Munich to ensure ChimeLong Paradise’s equipment and systems are in compliance with the Chinese and International safety standard. Tony has arranged an on-going program with other international parks for staff training in both operation and equipment safety maintenance.
Tony Sze is a member of CMA – a professional accounting body of Certified Management Accountant, Canada, an enthusiastic mentor to his staff of all levels, and a talent speaker. He was guest speaker for America Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai Chapter on Channel and Equipment Financing Programs and for Bank of China, Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation and Euro Monetary Authority in Beijing on “How foreign invested enterprises can be benefited from China banking system”. Tony is currently serving as a committee member for the Asia Advisory Committee, IAAPA.
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Friday, June 12, 2009
10:00am - 2:00pm
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Hong, Young Ki
Mr. Hong started his park management career in 1995 at the Samsung Everland Resorts. He worked as the deputy General Manager for the Caribbean Bay Waterpark for 7 years. Mr. Hong was the first Korean waterpark manager to start a total aquatic risk management program, and he has worked closely with Jeff Ellis & Associates Inc. since 2003 to continue promoting safety as a top priority at his waterparks. Since joining Ocean World in 2006, has helped the park grow to one of the most attended waterparks in the world, while maintaining an outstanding safety record. In 2007, Ocean World unveiled a uniquely designed massive out door wave pool which now a favorite attraction in Korea. As Chief Operations Officer, Mr. Hong’s marketed the new attractions by implementing new branding initiatives, which led to year-over-year attendance increases of 66% and in 2007 and 39% in 2008.
His final project for Ocean World is currently nearing completion. In late May 2009, Ocean World will launch another attraction zone, featuring the 300 meter long Master Blaster, Super Family Boomerango, and Giant Aqua Play area. Expected attendance at this world-class waterpark is expected to approach 1.5 million visitors in 2009.
Recently, Mr. Hong has joined Triple Square as Managing Director. He will be responsible for developing and overseeing a massive new waterpark project. Proposed operations at Triple Square include building a huge multi-function resort complex in Pusan-Korea, including guest towers with up to 117 stories. He lives in Yongin City with wife and 2 sons.
Leadership Luncheon:
Lee, Won Hyo is currently Director General, Seoul Grand Park(SGP), Seoul Metropolitan Government(SMG). SGP site is a leisure and culture complex includes Seoul Zoo, Themed Garden, a camping ground, Seoul Land theme park, National Contemporary Museum. SMG manages the site and operates the zoo, garden, camping ground, and leasing out Seoul Land as a BTO(Build, transfer, Operate). Prior to joining SGP, Mr. Lee served as Managing Director of Marketing at Lotte World in Seoul. This included responsibility for all Marketing related areas; Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing Planning, Group Sales Administration,and Shows and Events. Previously, Mr. Lee was the VP of Marketing and Operations, Yamay , Taiwan, where he initiated pre-opening and opening of Mala Bay, a new water park and of Discovery World, a new theme park. Mr. Lee has also served as Director of Marketing, Samsung Everland, where he was responsible for all Marketing related areas; Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing Planning, Group Sales Administration, Shows and Events. As subsequent General Manager of Marketing, Business Planning, Samsung Everland he introduced two highly popular things; “Fable Fantasy Parade” with 12 floats and 150 performers and “The Miraculous Show” a spectacular show with lasers, fountains, lightings, sound and pyrotechnics. He also introduced various systems and events that helped to increase sales such as “Annual Pass System” and Customer Service and a seasonal event “Rose Festival. And attendance in June grow from 177 thousand in 1985 to 800 thousand in 1994 in consequence. Visitors increased to 7.8milion and Everland became the 8th largest theme park in the world in ’97.
Mr. Lee’s education includes an MBA from Yonsei Graduate School, and a BBA from Kyung Hee University. He has also studied Marketing Strategy, at theGraduate School of Pittsburgh, USA and attended the Advanced Program for Samsung Executives, Wharton School. Born in Seoul in 1953, Mr. Lee resides in Korea with his wife, a son, and a daughter
2009 Asian Attractions Expo Education Sessions are sponsored by:
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