Co-directors Bobbie and Tom Wages bring heart to the nonprofit
AT: Ron Gustafson
ORLANDO — Bobbie and Tom Wages have been on a mission since 2016 to help shape some of tomorrow’s leaders in the global attractions industry.
As co-executive directors of the IAAPA Foundation, the husband-and-wife team are leading an enthusiastic charge to bring new blood into a business that serves up healthy portions of fun and excitement.
“We work with students and others who are interested in getting into our industry,” Tom said of the organization during a recent interview with Amusement Today.
And there are, perhaps, no better ambassadors for this undertaking than the Wages. The daughter of late industry icon Charley (Charles) Wood, Bobbie grew up in the amusement park business.
Wood was often described as the “grandfather of the American theme park,” as his Storytown U.S.A. in Queensbury, N.Y., was one of the first parks to incorporate themes into its attractions.
Tom joined Wood’s company in the 1970s and eventually became general manager of another Wood property, Fantasy Island in Grand Island, N.Y., before returning to Lake George as president of the The Great Escape theme park (the rebranded Storytown). He later took a post with Kennywood Entertainment Co. as general manager of Lake Compounce in Bristol, Conn.
Though retired from the daily rigors of amusement park life, the couple has remained active with IAAPA. Both served as treasurers of the organization, and Tom was its board chairman in 1986.
A directional shift
Formed in 2010, the IAAPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was originally established to do research and studies related to the industry.
During a 2015 IAAPA Board of Directors meeting, it was determined that the foundation would take a new direction in moving toward cultivating new attractions industry leadership.
Then-foundation chair Jane Cooper, president and chief operating officer of Herschend Family Entertainment, presented the revised mission to IAAPA’s board, on which Tom was serving on at the time.
“I came home and asked Bobbie if she wanted to help with the new initiative, which she did,” Tom recalled. “We immediately called Jane and she spoke to the IAAPA Foundation board to get its support for our involvement.”
The Wages are quick to point out that success stories related to the foundation’s work keeps them “juiced” about the tasks at hand.
“When working with students, it’s very exciting to see them participate and watch their eyes open about the prospects of getting involved in our industry,” Tom said.
Added Bobbie: “One of the things we have been working on at numerous locations is job shadowing. We have also invited students to attend student forums at [IAAPA trade shows]. They have the opportunity to listen to industry executives explain how they got into the business. The students really eat it up and then go out on the show floor.”
During an IAAPA event in Amsterdam, Netherlands, students were eager to listen and learn while exploring the expo floor.
“The next thing we knew, security was asking us to leave, as the convention hall was being closed for the day,” Bobbie said of the exchange. “The lively conversations between a few industry experts and students spilled into the hallway and we were booted out of there, as well.”
The group made its way to the sidewalk, where the dialogue continued.
“These experiences are certainly life-changing for some young people — we see that as they have the opportunity to speak with industry executives and see the expo,” Tom said.
The foundation also focuses on colleges and universities that have programs to develop disciplines essential to the attractions industry.
Rosen College of Hospitality Management, an academic college of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, is a prime example of an institution that achieves just that.
The IAAPA Foundation is “the only organization to offer scholarships exclusively for students who are following the attractions management track at Rosen College,” Bobbie said. “We have had the opportunity to bring scholarship winners to the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando and monitor their progress as they work toward getting into the industry.”
As a measure of the success attributed to the scholarship program, the Wages said four out of five recipients are currently working in the business, while one is still in school. Among them is Frank Hamedl.
During a summer break from Rosen College, Hamedl drove from his home in New York’s Hudson Valley to Connecticut’s Quassy Amusement & Waterpark, where he became part of the rides department. His willingness to learn, along with keen attention to detail, quickly led to his being promoted to a manager of the rides staff — a position he held until graduating from Rosen in 2017. He also played an important role on the property’s safety committee.
In 2017 he was named Mr. Golden Ticket, an honor bestowed for the annual Golden Ticket Awards presented by Amusement Today (AT). Each year, AT recognizes college students who plan to pursue a career in the amusement industry and are employed by the Golden Ticket Awards host park.
These individuals exemplify the spirit and integrity of the amusement industry by promoting the cornerstones of safety, service, courtesy and cleanliness at the highest level while consistently exceeding job expectations. The annual designation by AT aims to promote education in the field of hospitality.
Today, Frank works fulltime for Universal Orlando Resort.
“It’s really a great story,” Bobbie said of Frank’s success. “The idea of connecting universities and colleges to the industry is really working worldwide. We are working with them on curriculum as well as exchange programs.”
At IAAPA Attractions Expo 2018 in Orlando, held in November, there were nearly 60 educators in attendance.
“It was fun to see them connect there, be guest speakers and work together at roundtable discussions,” Bobbie said. “We are also encouraging industry executives to be executives in residence at universities to share their professional experiences.”
Looking ahead
“People need to know about and understand the foundation,” Tom said, emphasizing the organization’s goal of increasing student and industry engagement. “We have a great board and Jane Cooper has really pushed us from the get-go. She is the driver [of the board] and supporter of what we do.”
“We really are making a difference with multiple institutions now involved,” Cooper said of the efforts. “We always need funding to continue the progress we’ve made, not only academically, but also in getting more of our industry experts involved.”
“We’re geared up to help students train to be the next generation of industry leadership,” Tom said. “As with any career, when you come out of college with a focused degree, it gives you a leg up on the job market.
“In looking ahead, we’ll continually look for more ways to serve our mission.”
Visit the IAAPA Foundation website for more information.
This article appears in the FEBRUARY 2019 issue of Amusement Today.
