2003Board

IAAPA’s Board of Directors consists of 21 directors elected by the general membership, including three members from the manufacturers and suppliers membership class, three members nominated by the World Council, all past presidents, a chairperson, three vice chairpersons, and a treasurer. The board manages the association; it can hire and dismiss employees, set all salaries, adopt policies, approve or reject any proposed program, and make any other executive decisions appropriate under the bylaws.

Early in the year, Funworld publishes announcements inviting any member to submit nominations for open seats on the board. Generally, to be eligible, nominees must be active IAAPA members significantly involved in the operation of an amusement park. The nominating committee, appointed by the chairman of the association, meets in late summer or early fall to sift through the nominations and make its selections. On the Wednesday morning of convention week, these final nominations are presented at the annual business meeting and voted upon by the membership. The chosen board members serve for a term of three years and are not eligible for reelection until they have been off the board for at least one year.

Rob Norris is the president and general manager for Seabreeze Park in Rochester, N.Y. Seabreeze is a mid-size amusement park accompanied by a waterpark located on Lake Ontario. It was founded in 1879 and is the fourth oldest amusement park in the U.S. The Long family, who were carousel builder/operators from Philadelphia, Pa., first came to Seabreeze in 1904. Rob is a fourth generation family owner and operator of the park.

He began working at the park in 1960 and went full-time in 1972. He graduated from Indiana Institute of Technology in 1972 with a major in structural engineering.

Rob has been active in IAAPA most of his life. He has served on many commitees such as safety, government relations, awards, executive finance, publications, and two terms as a member of the board of directors.

Rob, and his wife, Deborah, work in the park, and have a daughter, Genevieve, who also works in the park. Rob enjoys windsurfing, snow skiing, traveling, and working around the house.

William P. Haviluk, Jr., is president and general manager of Legoland California, one of the four theme parks owned by the Denmark-based Lego Company. He joined the company in April 1997 to build the executive operation team for Legoland California before the opening of the park in 1999.

A 20-year veteran of Six Flags, William began his career with the now internationally recognized theme park organization after graduating from college in 1973. He held positions with increasing responsibility in sales and marketing before being named general manager and president of Six Flags Over Mid-America.

He credits his experience with that park, which focused on family, friendliness, safety, and quality as core values, as a natural foundation to build on for his role with the Lego Group.

Leland Buttle is currently the secretary/ treasurer and a shareholder for GNS Development Corporation. He has been in the business for more than 30 years. Leland, a family man, is a college graduate and attended graduate school at the University of New Mexico.

GNS is a holding company for several closely held corporations that owns three family fun centers located in California and Arizona called Golf N’ Stuff, a mini theme park in Arizona called Castles N’ Coasters, and a dragster go-kart park called Speed Park in Daytona Beach, Fla. In addition to the parks, the corporation also owns Akshun & Akshun, an outdoor lighting manufacturer.

Chip Cleary has 24 years’ experience in the outdoor entertainment business. Chip is based in Long Island, N.Y., where he was vice president of Adventureland Amusement Park and oversaw the rebuilding and operations of the park. In 1990, as president, he supervised the building of Splish Splash park, from the concept to the gate opening. In 1999, when the park consolidation trend was so prevelant, Chip sold most of the operations to Palace Entertainment. Chip is currently the vice president of Palace Entertainment’s nine waterparks.

Chip has served on the board before and was also chair of the membership commitee. Chip says, “I like to not take life so seriously.”

Eleven years ago, Lamberto Fresnillo worked as a ride operator when he was studying for his law degree, and never thought he would join Parques Reunidos as a lawyer in the amusement industry.

Parques Reunidos operates 15 parks in Spain made up of amusement parks, waterparks, zoos, wild animals parks, and aquariums with more than 5 million visitors and 3,000 employees.

Lamberto handles legal aspects and government relations on a local, regional, and national level. He also is the secretary of the Spanish Association of Amusement and Theme Parks and a member of Europarks and the IAAPA World Council.

Greg Hale is chief safety officer and vice president of safety, accessibility, and advanced technology for Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide. He leads a team of ride design, operation, maintenance, and safety professionals in 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 licensed engineer in 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 and show engineering.

Greg is currently serving on the board of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Amusement Ride Safety Standards Committee and is chairman of the IAAPA Safety and Maintenance Committee.

John L. McReynolds is vice president of government relations for Universal Theme Parks. His primary responsibility is to coordinate all regulatory, legislative, and political interaction in the U.S.
John joined Universal in 1995 as manager of government relations and was specifically focused on the Florida park and its interaction with state and federal action. In 1999 John was named vice president of government relations. His focus was later broadened to include the Hollywood park in 2001.

Before coming to Universal Studios, John served an eight-year term with United States Senator Connie Mack (R–Florida), holding multiple positions within the organization.

John has a BA in political science and an MA in international relations. He serves on many boards including IAAPA Government Relations and several Florida- and Orlando-focused political and communinty orgnizations.

Montgomery (Monty) Lunde is a founding partner and president and CEO of Technifex, Inc., a company that designs, engineers, and produces attractions and special effects.

Before founding Technifex, Monty spent three years as a special effects designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, which recruited Monty from Stanford University to design and construct prototype special effects for EPCOT.

In 1995 and 1996, Monty served on both the manufacturer/supplier and education committees for IAAPA.

Monty graduated from Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., in 1981 with BA degrees in both design and human biology. Upon graduating, Monty received the Harley Earl Award for excellence as a design student.

Richard Pawley, FRSA, is currently the chief executive officer of Dragon Entertainment, LTD., and operations director of Drayton Manor Park in Staffordshire, England. Richard has been with the facility since 1984. From 1995 to 1997 he was the chairman of the British Association of Leisure Parks,

Piers and Attractions (BALLPA), where he currently holds the position of vice chairman.Richard is a member of the health and safety joint advisory committee to the amusement and fairground industry, while chairing the health and safety research committee, and the amusement device inspection scheme appeals committee (ADIPS).

Christine Ulaky, a third generation working in the amusement park business, found her niche as a youngster. She grew up playing at her parents’ SkeeBall alleys in New York City, and at their concession at a kiddie zoo in Fairlawn, N.J. In 1958, her parents and other partners purchased Canobie Lake Park, and Christine has worked there ever since.

Christine is a hands-on manager who works alongside staff while exercising her executive responsibilities. She currently serves as the treasurer and director of information systems for the more than 100-year-old park.

Christine has a BA in advertising from Simmons College, Boston, and has served on the board of directors for the New Hampshire Travel Council, the Greater Salem, N.H. Chamber of Commerce, and the New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

“Each year, amusement parks and attractions entertain millions of people. Most facilities I see are continuously striving to achieve higher standards of excellence, safety, and community involvement. IAAPA is an excellent conduit for the preservation of these values, and I am proud to serve its members.”