TOP HONORS: The New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (NEAAPA) inducted Suzanne McHugh Piscitello, proprietor of Canobie Gifts LLC, and the late Conrad Ferla of Rocky Point Park in Warwick, Rhode Island, into its Hall of Fame. Piscitello began working at the gift shop at Canobie Lake Park in Salem, New Hampshire, in 1950, alongside her father, Frank McHugh, who acquired a percentage of the gift shop. She continues to own and operate six souvenir stands at the park; this is her 60th season at the park. Ferla came to the United States from Siracusa, Italy, in 1948—a former member of the Italian Army during World War II. He served as president and general manager of Rocky Point Park for 37 years before retiring in 1986. Ferla served on the board of directors of NEAAPA and in other capacities for more than 40 years. www.neaapa.com
BROADWAY-BOUND: RWS and Associates Entertainment has moved into new offices in New York City’s historic Actors Equity Building in Times Square. The office features space for an expanding staff, on-site auditions, rehearsals, production meetings, and storage. RWS provides custom designed and prepackaged entertainment for attractions. www.rwsandassociates.com
GROWTH & GAINS: Daryl Matzke has been promoted to vice president of engineering firm Ramaker & Associates from his former position as director of aquatics. He will continue to work with the aquatics department while ensuring organization of the company’s work flow, growth, and development. Matzke has worked at Ramaker since 1997 and has more than 20 years of experience with civil and aquatic projects. www.ramaker.com
SAFETY IN NUMBERS: Jim Seay, owner and president of Premier Rides Inc., was re-elected chairman of ASTM International Committee F-24 on Amusement Rides and Devices. Seay has been an ASTM International member since 1989 and currently serves on several subcommittees. The 500-member F-24 committee is responsible for developing and refining standards that cover manufacturing, maintenance, inspection, and operations for amusement rides, water-related rides and devices, and special rides and attractions. www.astm.org
QUALITY RESOURCES: Merlin Entertainments Group appointed Tea Colaianni to group human resources director in February. She also joined the Merlin Group Executive Board and is based at the company’s headquarters in Poole, England. Colaianni was formerly vice president of human resources, Europe, at Hilton Hotels Corporation and has held multiple human resources roles throughout Europe. www.merlinentertainments.biz
GROWTH SPURT: Great Wolf Resorts Inc. recently named Nikki Donofrio vice president of business development and Derrek Kinzel regional vice president of operations. At regional locations, Angela Brown was promoted to general manager of Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and Mike Lusky was named general manager of the Grand Mound, Washington, facility. Donofrio is responsible for licensing and management opportunities for the Great Wolf Lodge brand; she previously worked at Six Flags’ headquarters in New York City as director of marketing. Kinzel oversees Great Wolf Lodge resorts in Wisconsin, Michigan, Kansas, Washington, and two in Ohio, and has been with the company since 2001. Brown and Lusky are responsible for the successful daily operation and management of their facilities and more than 800 combined team members. www.greatwolf.com
PRODUCTS
MAKE A STATEMENT: The Sirius line is the latest product from Global Display Solutions. The digital signage line— available in 46- and 65-inch options—is designed for outdoor communication and uses white-power LED backlight, a cooling system, and G-Bond optical enhancements. The use of LED allows a power savings of nearly 40 percent when compared with the typical CCFL backlight, and the traditional dimming reduces the risk of burning effects on the screen, improving the system’s shelf life. www.gds.com
BIGGER & BETTER: NanoLumens now offers large, thin, and flexible video screens at 112 inches high, less than 100 pounds, and only one-inch thick. The screens can be wrapped around columns and are three times brighter than LCD and plasma screens. The screens were designed with high-traffic areas in mind and can display full-motion video content, menus, branding messages, or guest information such as weather, safety, and queue information. www.nanolumens.com
THINK INSIDE THE BOX: The turnkey In-a-BoX Interactive Theater from Alterface is compact and highly mobile with a rugged design so it can be moved every two, three, or six months between facilities. Ideal for family entertainment centers, In-a-BoX measures 20 feet by 30 feet and entertains up to nine players per session, while combining a 3-D special effects film on a 16-foot screen with special effects in the theater like wind, water, and strobe lights. www.alterface.com
TOP HONORS: The New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (NEAAPA) inducted Suzanne McHugh Piscitello, proprietor of Canobie Gifts LLC, and the late Conrad Ferla of Rocky Point Park in Warwick, Rhode Island, into its Hall of Fame. Piscitello began working at the gift shop at Canobie Lake Park in Salem, New Hampshire, in 1950, alongside her father, Frank McHugh, 
who acquired a percentage of the gift shop. She continues to own and operate six souvenir stands at the park; this is her 60th season at the park. Ferla came to the United States from Siracusa, Italy, in 1948—a former member of the Italian Army during World War II. He served as president and general manager of Rocky Point Park for 37 years before retiring in 1986. Ferla served on the board of directors of NEAAPA and in other capacities for more than 40 years. 
GROWTH & GAINS: Daryl Matzke has been promoted to vice president of engineering firm Ramaker & Associates from his former position as director of aquatics. He will continue to work with the aquatics department while ensuring organization of the company’s work flow, growth, and development. Matzke has worked at Ramaker since 1997 and has more than 20 years of experience with civil and aquatic projects. 
QUALITY RESOURCES: Merlin Entertainments Group appointed Tea Colaianni to group human resources director in February. She also joined the Merlin Group Executive Board and is based at the company’s headquarters in Poole, England. Colaianni was formerly vice president of human resources, Europe, at Hilton Hotels Corporation and has held multiple human resources roles throughout Europe. 
MAKE A STATEMENT: The Sirius line is the latest product from Global Display Solutions. The digital signage line— available in 46- and 65-inch options—is designed for outdoor communication and uses white-power LED backlight, a cooling system, and G-Bond optical enhancements. The use of LED allows a power savings of nearly 40 percent when compared with the typical CCFL backlight, and the traditional dimming reduces the risk of burning effects on the screen, improving the system’s shelf life. 
BIGGER & BETTER: NanoLumens now offers large, thin, and flexible video screens at 112 inches high, less than 100 pounds, and only one-inch thick. The screens can be wrapped around columns and are three times brighter than LCD and plasma screens. The screens were designed with high-traffic areas in mind and can display full-motion video content, menus, branding messages, or guest information such as weather, safety, and queue information. 
THINK INSIDE THE BOX: The turnkey In-a-BoX Interactive Theater from Alterface is compact and highly mobile with a rugged design so it can be moved every two, three, or six months between facilities. Ideal for family entertainment centers, In-a-BoX measures 20 feet by 30 feet and entertains up to nine players per session, while combining a 3-D special effects film on a 16-foot screen with special effects in the theater like wind, water, and strobe lights.