IAAPA Safety Institute - December 2019

Mike Denninger is an accomplished design and engineering professional with over 29-years of theme park and attraction industry experience.  Over a career that has stretched from theme park operations to engineering and design, with both park and corporate responsibilities, Mike has taken on a number of diverse roles for significant theme park investment projects and industry safety initiatives.  

Mike currently leads and oversees all attraction development, rides and engineering, creative development, and entertainment production at SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment’s (SEA’s) twelve theme parks operated in the United States.  Mike also oversees the international expansion of SEA theme parks and the future development of new parks and resorts for the SEA brands (SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica, etc.).  Mike’s responsibilities in the development of exciting and innovative new products and attractions for a system of world-class theme and water parks include coordinating the creative and technical aspects of attractions, from front-end concept development into design and through fabrication, installation, and commissioning; management of architectural, engineering, and thematic design resources; oversight of construction, project budgets and schedule management; and technical expertise for ride operations, maintenance, and safety engineering. 

Mike is a registered Professional Engineer, and holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering, as well as a Master of Business Administration.

Mike is an active member of the ASTM F24 Committee on Amusement Rides & Devices, and is a member of the IAAPA North America Safety Committee.