Matt Heller, ICAE

Matt Heller has spent over 35 years in the attractions industry so far; starting as a ride operator then working his way up through the ranks of operations management. He eventually found himself in human resources as his passion for developing people became obvious. 

After 20+ years working for organizations like Canobie Lake Park, Cedar Fair, and Universal Orlando Resort, Matt created Performance Optimist Consulting in 2011 with one simple goal: Help Leaders Grow. He does this through large scale keynotes and workshops, executive coaching and advising on organizational effectiveness.

Matt is the author of two books: The Myth of Employee Burnout, and ALL CLEAR! A Practical Guide for First Time Leaders and the People Who Support Them. He also co-hosts the AttractionPros podcast, the preeminent long-form resource for leaders building their career in the attractions industry.

Matt, his wife Linda, and their dog Otis, live in Hendersonville, North Carolina.