eXecutive bOarD aWarD Awarded to an individual or organization for special accomplishments in the water leisure industry that have contributed to industry knowledge and expertise for the beneft of the WWA membership. Executive Board Award Jeb Boyd

WhaLe’s taLe Water Park LinCoLn, new hAmPshire, u.s.A.

Over the years, Jeb Boyd has found the best training in life for running an outstanding guest experience-based company is simply paying attention to your own experiences as a consumer. It’s pretty easy to tell when something is right or wrong based simply on how it feels. At the Whale’s Tale, Boyd encourages his managers to take a similar approach when working with guests and employees. This very simple and practical method allows his company to take absolutely nothing for granted. The team makes sure that every policy, initiative and operating procedures doesn’t leave guests with a bad taste in their mouths, which has led to thousands of repeat visits over the years while the park has enjoyed great success and a fantastic safety record. Boyd began his career in the waterpark industry during the early ‘90s and it was simply by accident. He needed a good summer job to offset his work in the ski industry. Although at the time he was leery to work at a waterpark in northern New Hampshire, today he will openly say that this opportunity has been one of the best things that has ever happened to him. Since then, Boyd and his team have re-branded the park from a small kiddie park to what is commonly referred to as “New England’s Favorite Waterpark” by focusing on add- ing great amenities and an awesome guest experience. The thing they have consistently done at the Whale’s Tale is to never lose sight of some basic fundamentals like taking care of the people within their organization, offering professional grade operations, having a strong sense of safety for guests and employees and keeping a tight focus on fnancial responsibility by working within their means. With that as the basis, Boyd and his team con- stantly think of ways to reinvent the company every year to better serve the employees, the guests and to do their small part to shape the industry as a whole. “Never in my over 20 years of experience, have we done things just because we did them in the past, or more impor- “We take a tantly, because everyone else is doing it. We take a hard look at everything we do and keep what works and modify hard look at what doesn’t with the simple acid test of how would I like it everything we do if I were a customer of the company.” and keep what Boyd is proud of all the accomplishments that he and his works and modify staff have made such as the TripAdvisor top 25 waterparks what doesn’t.” in the U.S., the Industry Leadership award, Best in Class waterpark recognition from “Aquatics International” and many other local customer choice awards. Boyd has also served the larger waterpark industry whenever possible, including time spent of the WWA’s Board of Directors from 2005 to 2011. He looks forward to many more years in the industry and is excited for the next re-invention of the Whale’s Tale Waterpark. Boyd lives in the beautiful white mountains of New Hampshire with his wife and son. When not working, Boyd and his family play hard year-round on the lake or in the mountains.

10 u WWA AWARDS PROGRAM 2015 Executive Board Award Caribbean Bay Water Park at Everland Resort (Operated by Samsung C&T Corporation)

Yongin, south koreA

Caribbean Bay Water Park at Everland Resort is home to well-respected leaders in the attractions industry. Caribbean Bay, as one of the world’s most attended waterparks, has demonstrated its commit- ment to its guests through continued expansion, safety and innovation, garnering a stellar reputation throughout the Asia-Pacifc region with both consumers and industry professionals. Caribbean Bay, a waterpark operated by Everland Resort (an affliate of Samsung Group) in Korea, opened in 1996. The frst waterpark in Korea features the world’s best level of integrated attractions and entertainments indoors and outdoors. As the name suggests, Caribbean Bay is themed after Caribbean Bay in Central America and is home to various attractions beftting its status as the world’s premium waterpark. Some of the attraction highlights include its latest ride, the “Mega Storm,” which opened this year to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the park. “Mega Storm” is a giant composite waterslide that combines a magnetic levitation water coaster and tornado. This is the world’s second installation with the frst being at Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Notably, “Mega Storm” is the longest in the world with 355-meters. The “Aqua Loop,” opened in 2011, provides the best sensation in Caribbean Bay. The rid- ers of “Aqua Loop” experience the instantaneous disappearance of the bottom foor and vertical drop of 10 meters, and the gravitational acceleration approaching free fall. They also experience the reverse rise in the 360-degree rotational section, which gives them a pure hypersensitive thrill. Various waterslides include: “Artifcial Wave Pool,” which is one of the world’s largest at 120-meters wide and 104-meters in length; “Water Bobsleigh,” which features a free fall from 26-meters height; “Surfng Ride,” which provides a thrill of surfng as an extreme sport and “River Way,” which freely runs along the outdoor and indoor facilities to maximize adventure at Caribbean Bay. In addition to its outdoor rides, Caribbean Bay offers the indoor aquatic center, which allows visitors to be entertained regardless of weather, various spas and the ‘village,’ which is a bungalow-like resting space. The waterpark truly provides year-round water play for all. Caribbean Bay is particularly noted for having created the new waterpark culture com- bining water play and music festivals by holding its summer music festival every year.

WWA AWARDS PROGRAM 2015 u 11 Executive Board Award

SomerSplash Waterpark

For their Longest Day oF PLay event somerset, kentuCkY, u.s.A.

The Longest Day of Play is a community event held in Som- erset, Kentucky in an effort to get children physically active. The City of Somerset is located in the Appala- chian Area of South Central Kentucky. This area has a history of being high in obesity and many family incomes are below the national average. Realizing the importance of physical activity, SomerSplash Waterpark has been partnering with the local University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service offce over the past fve years to bring the event together. The Longest Day of Play is incor- porated around June 21st (the longest day of the year) in an effort to bring awareness to children and their families about health and wellness. The Longest Day of Play was originally designed for local children eighteen and under to participate in various activities; and, as an award, those children were then given the opportunity to spend the day at SomerSplash Waterpark. Also, through a state-funded program called Summer Feeding Program, lunch is provided to all participants. However, the event would not be as successful without other local businesses and orga- nizations donating their time and efforts to the SomerSplash event. Through these contributions, participants are given free books, sunscreen and other items. wanted to show Since the inception of the program, the only children there is more things that have changed are the activities that to life than simply children previously had to complete; now, the frst 400 to 500 participants are granted access sitting inside watching for the full day at SomerSplash Waterpark. TV or playing video Overall, SomerSplash wanted to show children games during the there is more to life than simply sitting inside watching TV or playing video games during the summer. summer. Also, many of the families participating in the event would be unable to afford bringing their children to the waterpark. The event has continued to grow each year with individuals coming as far as an hour away, and lines beginning to form as early as three hours before the park offcially opens for the day. With that said, The Longest Day of Play has quickly become one of the park’s major events each summer.

12 u WWA AWARDS PROGRAM 2015 Executive Board Award Nicole Van Winkle

CounsiLMan-hunsaker Los AngeLes, CALiforniA, u.s.A.

Nicole Van Winkle began her aquatics career like many oth- ers, as a lifeguard and swim instructor. Little did she know that it would develop into a lifelong passion. Van Winkle earned her master’s degree in recreation and tourism management from California State University, Northridge, focusing on aquatic therapy and experiential staff training. After fnishing gradu- ate school, Van Winkle was hired by Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District as the Aquatics Coordinator of the brand new Cove Waterpark in Riverside, Calif. With only 4 months until grand opening, Van Winkle supervised the fnal phase of construction, hired over 75 staff members and built the waterpark and swim lesson programs from the ground up! Her ability to thrive under pressure allowed The Cove Waterpark to be successful right from the start. By the second summer, The Cove Waterpark was operating at 90 percent cost recovery, despite a union- ized staff, concessions that were contracted out and several maintenance issues. Under her leadership, the waterparks earned several awards including the Wave Review Best Website Award from WWA, “Aquatics International’s” Best of Aquatics and several others. Van Winkle has always had a passion for teaching and helping individuals with disabilities. She earned her credential in Adapted Aquatics Instruction and developed an award-winning Adapted Aquatics program to serve the many needs of those in the communities she served, focusing on those with Cerebral Palsy and those on the Autism spectrum. Van Winkle most enjoyed developing new management staff, assisting them in crafting their own personal leadership style and navigating the diffcult journey from friend to supervisor over their peers. Because Van Winkle was such a crucial part of The Cove Waterpark’s success, she was tasked to assist in determining theming, operations, attractions and supervise construction of the 12-acre DropZone Waterpark. The last summer Van Winkle supervised the recreation department for Riverside County, the waterparks took over their own concessions depart- ments, generating an additional $600,000 in new revenue. Currently, Van Winkle works for Counsilman-Hunsaker, where she assists aquatics facili- ties and waterparks with developing feasibility studies, marketing plans, Model Aquatic Health Code audits, operational audits, pre-opening services and full-time management services throughout the United States. Van Winkle has always been an eager volunteer for the WWA, serving as an active member on the Public Sector Committee for several years. Her positive attitude and eagerness to help others has inspired others to remain positive throughout challenging situations. She currently serves as the Secretary for the WWA Government Relations Committee and is a member of the WWA Committee Leadership Council. She also serves as the Legislative representative for the California Parks and Recreation Society Aquatics Section. In addition to her volunteer committee and board work, Van Winkle has presented educational sessions around the coun- try focusing on positive coaching and staff development, effective hiring practices, marketing and experiential in-service trainings. Van Winkle has also written several feature and How-To articles for “World Waterpark Magazine” and other industry publications.

WWA AWARDS PROGRAM 2015 u 13