Next Generation Succeeds Father at Haas & Wilkerson Insurance Ryan Wilkerson will succeed his father, William, as president and chief executive officer at Haas and Wilkerson Insurance and Brokerage in Shawnee Mission, Kans. Ryan is the third-generation Wilkerson to hold the title of president and has been involved with the company since 1999. “The company enjoys a legacy of integrity and strength due to my father’s leadership, and we plan to continue in his direction with the strategies that have been so successful for our clients,” says Ryan. William Ralph “Bill” Wilkerson III passed away on February 7. He joined the family firm in 1970. Under Bill’s direction, the 67-year-old company flourished nationwide. Wilkerson was active in the national insurance industry, serving as its chairman of the council of insurance agents and brokers from October 2002 through October 2003. The amusement industry will miss Wilkerson. He and his firm have been longtime members of IAAPA and its trade show events. Haas and Wilkerson Insurance was formed in 1937, joined IAAPA in 1959, and has exhibited at the IAAPA trade shows for 27 years. Bill is survived by his wife, Patti, and their four children. Ancient City at Amersfoort Zoo The Netherlands’ Amersfoort Zoo, located near seven other zoological attractions within an hour’s drive, makes the choice of which zoo to visit a difficult one. Management believes cooperation and coexistence should be the norm with zoos in close proximity. Zoos should aim to be complementary but should also develop distinct profiles. Amersfoort looks for different stories to tell. When Antoine van Daele, former board member of Efteling, became general manager in 1998, a master plan was formed whereby themed areas of the zoo would be based upon the relationships between humans and animals. One example is De Stad der Oudheid, or Ancient City, which opened four years ago in a historical urban setting. The exhibit displays the role played by animals in the ancient pre-Christian civilizations of the Middle East. Visitors actively participate in Ancient City. They can experience the terror of entering a lion’s den. They can ride camels, play ancient games, meet a shepherd, and participate in performances in the arena. Amersfoort Zoo hopes this dramatic experience will improve a visitor’s understanding of the era and region while effectively competing with the other thrills of modern life. New IAAPA Media Relations Manager Hired Andrew Campanella will manage media outreach efforts, develop media kits and press releases, write feature stories, and contribute other content to support IAAPA’s strategic goals. IAAPA president Clark Robinson says, “We welcome Andrew and are confident his diverse experience and vitality will enhance our association’s relationships with the media. Andrew will be an integral member of our growing communications team as he helps to spread the industry’s message.” Campanella has served as an independent consultant for non-profit organizations and has held several public relations positions in the tourism industry. As manager of media relations at the Prince William County/Manassas Convention & Visitors Bureau in Virginia, Campanella spearheaded the expansion of the bureau’s National Tourism Week programs and increased media coverage. Prior to that, Campanella was the Washington, D.C., trade-media spokesperson for the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority. Campanella also recently worked as a freelance journalist for the Venice Gondolier Sun newspaper in Florida and Cincinnati FiftyPlus! magazine. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from American University in Washington, D.C., Campanella has also volunteered or consulted on more than 10 local and state-level political campaigns. Originally from southern New Jersey, he currently lives in Annandale, Va. Webcast a Hit IAAPA’s first educational webcast, Brand Leadership from Santa Claus, Indiana, was a success, attracting nearly 200 participants. The March 17 webcast, featuring HolidayWorld’s president and CEO Will Koch, IAAPA’s vice president of Communications services Beth Robertson, and The Tom Peters Company’s creative director Geoff Thatcher, discussed the step-by-step brand development and protection process. An archive version of the seminar is available at: http://main.placeware.com/demos/web_seminar_archive.cfm. Koch described how nurturing his park’s “#1 in family fun” brand helped grow attendance by eight times in fewer than 30 years. According to Robertson, the webcast was so well received, that IAAPA is planning another one in the spring. “We’re in the process of developing another presentation for members and nonmembers to learn from the experts in our industry,” she says. For more information on future IAAPA web events, go online to www.iaapa.org. IAAPA and EAASI Sign on for Euro Amusement Show IAAPA and the European Association for The Amusement Supplier Industry (EAASI) have officially agreed to jointly run and own a European Amusement Trade Show. The agreement was signed on April 15 in Moscow by IAAPA president J. Clark Robinson and EAASI president Wieland Schwarzkopf. The agreement allows the two organizations to co-own the show for 10 years. The event will serve more than 50 European countries and will be the premier show for Europe. The show will make its debut in January 2005 in Vienna, Austria. “IAAPA is pleased to join with EAASI on this promising venture,” says Robinson. “From North America to Asia and now to Europe, IAAPA will continue to vigorously promote the business of fun, education, and commerce at trade shows throughout the world.” The part ownership of this show is yet another trade show achievement for IAAPA, as it manages IAAPA Annual Convention & Trade Show, one of the largest shows in North America, and IAAPA also owns and operates the IAAPA Asian Expo, the largest of its kind in Asia. “Both EAASI and IAAPA have exceptional reputations for planning informative, unique, and extraordinary conventions and trade shows,” says Schwarzkopf. “We will work tirelessly together to make the 2005 European show even more impressive.”