IAAPA Institute for Attractions Managers Online

Neil Dwyer has spent the last 16 years in theme parks and has extensive experience in many areas of attractions (both revenue and non-revenue generating). 

Born and educated in the UK, Neil begun his career working with some of the UK’s most famous theme parks. Neil held prior roles as the Director of Carnaval Entertainments with Global Village, and the Director of Operations at IMG Worlds of Adventure, the world’s largest indoor theme park. He also held the Park Operations Manager position at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, UK’s largest amusement park. Neil also spent time in various other theme parks in the UK including managing the operations of Camelot Theme Park and being instrumental in the development of Spooky World - a multi-million-pound Halloween attraction in Cheshire, UK.

Neil is also a Committee Member of the Amusement Parks and Attractions Constituency Committee.

Andy began his waterpark industry career in 1979 hosing the sand off guest’s feet just before they rode down the newly installed water slide at Hyland Hills Water World in Denver, CO. The following years included seasonal positions in all of Water World’s department’s, eventually settling in as the Operations Director on the Management team. Andy was responsible for developing recruiting, training, and leadership programs, building and managing the safety and operations departments, and providing creative direction for over 30 years to Hyland Hills.

Andy has served on, shared with and developed programs for multiple industry communities including the IAAPA Waterpark, Education and Membership Committees, National Aquatic Safety Company, Ellis and Associates and the American Red Cross lifeguarding programs, World Waterpark and the National and Colorado Park and Recreation Associations.

In his current role as VP of Business Development for Proslide Technology Inc., Andy is extremely excited to share his experience, knowledge and expertise to help the waterpark industry design, develop and build the World’s Best Water Parks.

Matt Heller has spent 31 years in the attractions industry, spending time in both operations and human resources. In 2011, Matt created his own leadership development consulting company, Performance Optimist Consulting, where he now gets to help leaders from all over the industry make sure they are getting the most out of themselves and their teams.

Vanessa Lewis has over 30 years of experience in accounting and financial reporting, and currently is an independent museum consultant.  She received her CPA experience with Ernst & Young, then developed reporting and planning skills at private and public manufacturing companies before finding her niche in the non-profit world.  She spent over 8 years as the CFO of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach before transitioning to a consultative role. She received her BA in Anthropology from UCLA and serves on the board of the USS IOWA and the Historical Naval Ships Association. Vanessa served as a member of the IAAPA Finance & IT Subcommittee from 2017 to 2019.

Founder and CEO of Hownd, an experience promotion platform for LBEs and Attractions across the world, Brandon Willey has developed a passion for the attractions industry and experience economy as well as a deep knowledge of the local marketing ecosystem. Brandon is the chair of IAAPA’s FEC/LBE Committee, on the IAM faculty, and can be found at most IAAPA events around the world.

Currently headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, you can connect with him at LinkedIn.com/in/bwilley.

The views expressed by speakers or other third parties in IAAPA webinars, events and/or conferences are those of the speaker or third-party and not, necessarily, of IAAPA. With regard to any information presented by a speaker or third-party at any IAAPA event, IAAPA does not make any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, and specifically disclaims any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product, service or process presented and makes no representation that its use would not infringe upon privately owned rights. Furthermore, the presentation of any material or information by a third party regarding any specific opinion, commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply IAAPA’s endorsement or recommendation of such opinion, process, service, item or organization. Any such material or information presented by a third-party in any format at an IAAPA event, without limitation, is for informational purposes only.