Appreciation Guaranteed
Association honors three with IAAPA Service Awards
by Amanda Charney and Jeremy Schoolfield
 Each year, IAAPA recognizes a handful of exceptional industry leaders who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their service and advancement of the attractions industry. This year, IAAPA awarded Roland Koch of Roland Koch GmBH the Lifetime Service Award; Colin Dawson of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers, and Attractions (BALPPA) the Outstanding Service Award; and Tim Sorge of Swings-n-Things Family Fun Park the Meritorious Service Award.
The Lifetime Service Award recognizes a member individual’s or organization’s continual service to the industry. This year’s recipient was Roland Koch, who has owned and operated rides and restaurants in parks and fairs throughout Germany. He was a partner in developing Phantasialand, which has been one of the top attractions in Europe for 40 years. He also helped bring large-format films to Germany and Scandinavia. Koch has continued to be an international ambassador for IAAPA as the association expands globally. John Wood, president of Sally Corp. and chairman of the Service Awards committee, said: “When IAAPA began reaching out to Europe in a more formal way he was there to greet everyone. He was the glue that became the beginnings of international relationships.”
The Outstanding Service Award is presented to the member individual or company that fosters the spirit of goodwill, professionalism, and high levels of performance within the industry on a local or international basis. This award was presented to Colin Dawson.
“He is a second generation in the industry. He was operator at Thorpe Park and, while operator, became chairman of BALPPA and was later elected CEO,” said Wood. “During that time he furthered the international mission and British mission in both safety and government relations and obviously industry relations. As head of BALPPA, he definitely furthered its mission and made [the association] more unified and successful in serving the industry in the region.”
“If I’ve given this industry anything, it’s paid me back a thousandfold every day,” Dawson said. “I just love it, and I will treasure this forever.”
The Meritorious Service Award goes to the member individual or organization that has gone the extra mile to promote safe operations, global development, professional growth, and the commercial success of the industry. This award went to Tim Sorge.
“I am truly humbled by this award,” Sorge said. “I cannot tell you how much this means to me.”
“He’s one of those real rare operators; he is truly an entrepreneur in the family fun center industry, and he developed many unique special elements to his own facility,” said Wood. “And then he shared that information willingly with everyone by leading seminars and writing articles that helped the other people in this industry.”
In recent years, Sorge testified before Congress on behalf of the miniature golf industry; helped bring the IAAPA FEC insurance program to fruition; and shepherded the IAAPA/IALEI merger. “He has always been an operator with a real desire to help this industry and do it with enthusiasm, excitement, and success,” said Wood.
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