Herschend Family Entertainment Announces Management Promotions

ATLANTA----Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation (HFE) CEO and President Joel Manby announced today three key promotions as the company continues to grow its portfolio and position itself for the future. Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation owns, operates or partners in 23 properties in 10 states. "In recent years, we've been building upon our attractions strategy while creating a leadership team of some of the most respected people in our industry," said Manby. "Bringing talent and expertise together within the corporation, while ensuring each region has strong leadership on its own, is making us a better company all around," Manby said. Jane Cooper Promoted to President, Herschend Family Entertainment Attractions Jane Cooper, who joined the company in 2006, is promoted to President, Herschend Family Entertainment Attractions. Cooper will be responsible for all regions and properties except those within the Dollywood Company. Cooper is long respected in the industry for her strategic instincts and exemplary industry leadership. She served 25 years with Paramount Parks, as president for 8 of those years, and served as chairman (2005) of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Cooper holds an MBA in Finance from Xavier University and BA from the University of Cincinnati. She operates out of the HFE Atlanta headquarters. Ken Bell Named President of The Dollywood Company Dolly Parton joins HFE to announce this new position of President for the Dollywood Company, which is based in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Ken Bell, known for his keen insight, is a nearly four-decade veteran of Herschend Family Entertainment, having served in many disciplines in Tennessee and Missouri. As senior vice president for the past 18 years, Bell has overseen the operations and expansions for Dollywood theme park, and later, Dollywood's Splash Country water park. This promotion comes after both properties experienced years of substantial growth under Bell's leadership. He will continue to serve on the board of the Dixie Stampede properties (part of the Dollywood Company). Bell is a graduate of Missouri State University. Brad Thomas Promoted to Senior Vice President of Silver Dollar City Attractions Brad Thomas, named as Senior Vice President of Silver Dollar City Attractions, is in his 18th year with HFE, having served as the general manager of the Silver Dollar City theme park for the past 5 years. Thomas is known for quality-driven, innovative projects, most specifically in special events and park operations. He will now oversee the HFE/Silver Dollar City Attractions located in Branson, Missouri. Thomas has an MBA degree and a BS degree in Management & Marketing from Missouri State University. He is active in many community and outreach programs such as Leadership Missouri, International Festivals and Events, and multiple civic and Christian-based organizations. "This business is all about people – and with these moves, we are placing very strong leaders in the most senior operating positions in our company to assure we continue to provide outstanding, wholesome family entertainment in the future," Manby concluded. HFE owns, operates or partners in 23 properties in 10 states Properties include Branson, Missouri's Silver Dollar City theme park, Showboat Branson Belle lake attraction, White Water water park, Talking Rocks Cavern, The Wilderness at Silver Dollar City campground and Celebration City theme park. HFE is an operating partner with Dolly Parton in the Dollywood Company, which owns the Dollywood theme park and Dollywood's Splash Country water park, both in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The Dollywood Company is also the largest shareholder in the Dixie Stampede dinner attractions located in Branson, Pigeon Forge and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In Georgia, HFE operates Atlanta's Stone Mountain Park in conjunction with the State of Georgia, and owns Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta. HFE owns and/or licenses Ride The Ducks amphibious tours in Branson, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Stone Mountain Park, Newport, Kentucky (at Newport Aquarium), Seattle, and San Francisco; also in San Francisco, HFE operates Classic Cable Car Sightseeing, the oldest land-based sightseeing company in the Bay Area. HFE also owns and operates two aquariums: Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky, across the river from downtown Cincinnati, and Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey, across the river from downtown Philadelphia. Since the company was founded in the early 1960s, the many properties have been internationally awarded numerous times for excellence in theme, presentation and operations, including the worldwide Applause Award for excellence and the THEA Award (Themed Entertainment Assoc.). -- http://www.bransonedge.com http://www.bransonmissouri.blogspot.com