| Creative Talent Pushing the Envelope
We are a team of companies dedicated to producing the holy grail of entertainment concepts.
The "Realm" project is the culmination of years of thinking, observing, conceptualizing and planning for one of the most ambitious and rewarding creations in the entertainment industry. Our background and organization is a consortium of highly experienced companies who are committed to creating the next generation of destination entertainment products.
Our team members are in the business of creating, managing and delivering medium and large scale projects such as destination resorts, themed attractions, entertainment venues, fun centers, museums, and theatre-based megaplexes containing amusement and interactive experiences and products. The team for the "Realm" development is a project-oriented group of highly-skilled experts operating as independent enterprises for the duration of the design.
We are managed under well-defined guidelines of administration, operation and methodology which allows the consortium to expand and adjust our level of support as dictated by the project. The ability to operate as a uniform team is the most cost-effective means to provide consistent, high-quality designs.
The Highly Experienced Development Team
To create this new show venue we have assembled a development partnership team which was formed from some of the best talent in the entertainment industry including Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and others, with experience across all entertainment and project development disciplines, including shows, location based entertainment and destination resort development.Mr. Robert Goodman, Bob Goodman and AssociatesProducerVeteran producer, Robert H. ‘Bob’ Goodman began his four decade professional career in the fabled William Morris Agency NYC mailroom from where he rose to Senior Television and Motion Picture Packaging and Literary Agent. During 22 years at the Agency, he specialized in developing and selling entertainment properties to the major studios, television networks and advertising agencies by securing rights and materials and representing writers, producers, actors, and negotiating for licenses and facilities. The Agency brought him from New York to Beverly Hills in 1977. Within only a six year period, Bob successfully packaged and sold more than two dozen motion pictures for television starring such talent as Raquel Welch, Sophia Loren, Bette Davis, Natalie Wood, Shelley Long, Ben Gazzara, Charles Durning, Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss. Mr. Goodman is the founder of Bob Goodman & Associates, a theatrical production and management consulting firm, which creates projects for the major Hollywood Studios and television networks. Bob lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Nancy, a longtime executive with the NBC Television Network.Michael Escher and Rancho Calamari Productions
Show Concepts and Show ProductionWith more than 23 years of entertainment industry experience, Michael Escher’s visionary and creative talents have been showcased in many innovative entertainment projects. His credentials include themed attraction and show concept design utilizing modern virtual reality techniques, unique story content, special effects, and immersive adventure games. In addition to these noteworthy projects, Michael’s creative writing and producing talents have been highlighted in various entertainment projects for worldwide companies, such as Universal Studios, Activision Studios, The Discovery Channel, Iwerks Entertainment, Project M, Crossroads Films and Marathon Entertainment. Michael’s educational credentials include a Master of Arts Degree in Communications/Film Production from Loyola Marymount University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Photography from the California Institute of the Arts. http://www.ranchocalamari.comMichael Strong, Cyber Design Corporation
Original Show Concept, Show Engineering and Project ManagementMichael Strong is a 22-year theme park and show production expert who has acquired substantial innovative skills in the specification, design and completion of four of the largest and most successful theme parks in the entertainment market. In the past two decades, Mike has been responsible for the completion of many of the most technologically advanced show, ride and effects systems ever produced for The Walt Disney Company and Universal Studios. His credits include managing and directing teams for Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and a host of other industry attractions. He has designed many of the systems now in use world-wide for theme parks and location based entertainment, including work with SARCOS, producing the most complicated animation figures ever used in the entertainment industry. Mike is a 1976 engineering graduate of Bradley University. He has been involved in entertainment and theatrical production engineering as both a career and hobby for more than three decades. He was the sole graduate in high school and college who worked concurrently as an engineer and a theatrical performer, comedian and stage technician. After post graduate work, Mike became an inventor and designer working at the University of Illinois working on the ILLIAC and PLATO systems as precursors to today’s PCs and the Internet. Through his experience, Mike fully understands the creative and engineering aspects of show production and the application of technology. He began his career in Chicago as an electrical engineer at U.S. Steel Corporation where he quickly earned a reputation as a hands-on, no-nonsense innovator, with the ability to manage and inspire excellent performance in a high-pressure, high-risk environment. Mike’s spring-board career provided the means to complete numerous high-visibility projects as both a designer and mentor. He was the designer of the world’s first commercially produced LCD projector in the mid 1980s sold by Proxima and InFocus which rocketed each of these companies to $100 million dollars in annual sales. Mike has also worked as an engineer / inventor at JPL/NASA in Pasadena on various proprietary systems. Mike is a co-founder of Cyber Design Corporation, incorporated in 1985. His consulting company specializes in technology related to automation control systems, system design, networks and entertainment engineering inventions.
Matthew Priddy
Show Production and FacilitiesMatt has 20-plus years of themed entertainment and construction experience with Walt Disney Imagineering. His production expertise and team building skills helped elevate him through the organization, ultimately holding the position of Senior Vice President, Worldwide Production in charge of nearly 1800 Imagineers. During his career, he successfully directed the fulfillment of $2 billion worth of projects, including Disney MGM Studios- Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Mickey’s Toon Town, Indiana Jones Adventure, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder ships for the Disney Cruise Line, Splash Mountain, Disney Stores for Disney Consumer Products, and nearly 40 various other new and rehabbed themed attractions and location venues. Matthew is a native Californian and graduate of UCLA.Scott Crittenden, PICO
Entertainment Operations and ConstructionScott Crittenden is a 30-year veteran in training and operating high quality entertainment venues. He is an expert in the operations aspects of the themed entertainment and leisure industries both domestically and internationally. He is adept at planning, directing and controlling new and established operational procedures and guest management. Scott is a proven leader and problem solver for organizational development, planning and appropriate operations strategies. Scott directed the Operations Division for Euro Disney which included the attractions, group sales, ticketing, custodial, merchandise, guest relations, communications and special events teams. With more than 3,000 employees, annual merchandise and operations revenues of $245 million and $400 million respectively, Scott provided primary input to establish the Euro Disneyland master plan for 11 divisions and 8,000 employees, successfully opening on time and within budget. In recent years, he directed construction and turnkey operations for the Disney Hong Kong development. In the early 1980’s he helped to develop and implement the Tokyo Disneyland theme park pre‑opening master plan. Scott organized and created procedures for the operations division to include merchandise, concessions, security, fire, safety, guest relations, communications and box office. Mr. Crittenden holds a B.A. in Business Administration, California State Fullerton, California.Greg Holleran, Vice President Themed Entertainment, PICO
Show Production and ConstructionGreg most recently completed the Hong Kong Disneyland project for PICO Hong Kong Ltd., a firm contracted by Walt Disney Imagineering for park-wide show installation, themed paint, and live entertainment installation. Previous to his employment at PICO, Greg spent 24 years with Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) in Glendale, California. In his final decade at WDI, he served as the Director of Production. He managed the design, budget, strategy, schedule and production for all themed elements in the $ 2 billion theme park, hotel and resort project in Tokyo, Japan. This included 16 attractions, 23 restaurants and 25 shops. Prior to the Tokyo project, he was the Show/Ride manager for various projects at Disneyland, Walt Disney World and also spent seven years working on the Euro Disneyland resort near Paris. Greg has also worked with the Walt Disney Studio as the design and construction manager for world premieres of Disney features in New York, San Francisco and New Orleans.Jim Jarvis, PMP
Project Business Management and DirectionJames is a seasoned professional with more than 19 years of experience in Project Management, Software Development and Logistics Management within Commercial and Department of Defense organizations. Within this timeframe he has succeeded at many different positions such as: Director Business Operations, Project Manager, Business Process Consultant, ERP/MRO Software Designer, and Logistics Manager. Through this diverse background, he has acquired formidable business acumen with the skills to handle complex decisions in the most challenging business environments. His successes amid diverse corporate cultures have also allowed him to obtain a myriad of business, managerial and technical skills, to include: Business Operations with Profit and Loss responsibility, Functional and Technical Software Design, Software Implementation, Material and Component Repair Management, Airline Operational Business Processes, Software Training and Project Management industry-standard techniques. James’ vast and unique industry knowledge is attributed to many years of experience working with companies such as Continental Express, American Eagle, Frontier and Sun Country Airlines. James holds a BA in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University with an emphasis on Organizational Development and Business Administration. He is a certified Project Manager (PMP) from the Project Management Institute and a certified Naval Logistics Specialist. Additionally, James is the President and Principal Consultant of Jarvis Consulting Services, LLC, a private company that he established for contract and consulting work.Joel J. Gread, Joel J. Gread Associates
Show Engineering and OperationsJoel Gread has been involved in leisure and recreation projects that literally span the globe, from Wynn Las Vegas to Disneyland Paris in France to Universal Studios in Florida to Tokyo Disneyland in Japan to Ocean Park in Hong Kong to Warner’s Movie World in Australia. For over thirty years, Mr. Gread has been active in all phases of complex themed entertainment development including design, installation and operations at the Disney parks and Knott’s Berry Farm. In 1990, he formed Joel J. Gread Associates (JJGA), offering his proven talents and expertise to the Leisure and Recreation Industry on a consulting basis. Services include Project Management, Technical Direction, and Audio, Video, and Control System Design. Clients have included Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal, Sea World, Disneyland, Warner’s, Wynn Design and Development, and other major industry players and municipalities. Mr. Gread holds an MBA degree from California State University, Fullerton and an Electronic Engineering degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He is a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), a charter member of the Themed Entertainment Association and on the Board of Managers of the Hollywood section of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), for whom he co-produced several acclaimed retrospective shows at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.Roger H. Mandel
Contract Management and Program AnalystRoger is a Senior Contract Program Analyst and Consultant doing business with Department of Defense, various commercial construction firms and two universities. Roger brings over 35 years of experience in the fields of contract administration, application engineering, manufacturing and project management with extensive experience in internationally in contracts, training and negotiations. He has managed and analyzed billion-dollar construction programs and the creation of military and commercial products and is expert in problem identification, resolution and processes. Mr. Mandel is a senior instructor using the Socratic Method of teaching at DeVry University/Keller Graduate School of Management, University of California and San Diego State University. He is considered a subject matter expert in Earned Value Project Management (Cost, Schedule and Technical Performance Monitoring), Management Systems, Procurement & Contracting, Contract Law, Negotiations, Program and Quality Management. Mr. Mandel holds a Bachelors of Science in Business & Production Management and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management along with certification in Business Contract Management.Doug Seele, Pacific Rim Consulting
Show Engineering, Media Systems, EffectsDoug Seele entered the entertainment industry in 1979 as Walt Disney Imagineering’s Manager of Show/Ride & Audio/Video System Development for Tokyo Disneyland. Doug served as Director of the Control Systems Group at Disney for the Euro Disney Project, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and other major park developments throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. Doug joined MCA Recreation (Universal Studios) in 1996 as the Director of the Systems group for the Universal Studios Project in Osaka, Japan. Doug has owned and operated a successful consulting company with notable client such as NASA, Matsushita, and Sega. Mr. Seele graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering.Loron Hays, Hayscope Unlimited
Show Concepts and Story DevelopmentFor more than a decade, the creative talents of Loron Hays have been featured in a variety of entertainment projects, including theatre, film, screenwriting, and radio. He has been responsible for many successful entertainment projects in numerous different marketing areas, both as a performer and a writer. Behind the scenes, Loron has had success as a director and engineer of a number of well-received entertainment ventures and continues to display an unmatched understanding of what audiences crave from their entertainment. Loron holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Wichita State University.Richard Sidley, PE, SRS Engineering
Senior Technical Project ManagementRich is one of our most experienced technical managers and senior principal engineers bringing with him an extraordinary history in developing entertainment systems in international theme parks, including Tokyo Disneyland, EPCOT, and Euro Disney. Rich has spent more than 30 years developing his skills for executing cross-functional, global, project-based initiatives whichencompass creation of requirements, specifications and implementation methodology. Rich possesses an excellent record in managing project execution; system design, facilities development, hardware, software and equipment fabrication. He is adept in supervising and creating project documentation; certifications; while developing, implementing and following proper engineering procedures. Rich possesses a unique ability to rapidly understand a project’s goals then define, establish, and deliver simple, appropriate technical solutions. He has a demonstrated record as a senior principal engineer over teams of Disney Imagineers in developing theme park systems, safely conveying over 1 billion guests over the past three decades. Rich holds an MSEE and a BSEE from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida and North Carolina.Ron Olch
Show EngineeringAs a Principal Engineer for Walt Disney Imagineering for over 16 years, Ron specialized in research and development of electronic systems for use in theme park attractions. He has provided innovative design solutions for show and ride electronic controls, onboard audio systems, sensors and vehicle controls used in Disney theme parks, worldwide. Ron was also a Show Project Engineer for nine shows at Disneyland Paris, where he was responsible for electronic control systems design and installation. As Principal Engineer, he conceptualized, designed and oversaw production of primary aspects of the last three generations of electronic systems used for show control in Disney theme park attractions since 1992. He has more than 30 years experience in electronics and computers as a consultant, entrepreneur, aerospace engineer and as an Imagineer. Ron has been granted two patents for vehicle navigation and optical communications systems developed for Disney. Ron graduated from UCLA with BS and MS degrees in engineering and computer science.Phil Groves
Show Engineering and ProgrammingPhil Groves has over 26 years of in-depth experience in the creation of themed attractions worldwide. He has worked on the design, development and installation of shows and rides at seven of the world’s major theme parks in the US, Europe and Asia, including the design and development of virtual reality games at LBE venues in the US. For the past 17 years, Phil has been providing consulting services to major corporations in the themed entertainment industry. The attractions on which Phil has worked have met, or exceeded, the high operational requirements of the theme park industry (99.5% operational uptime). His credits include work with Disney, Universal and other LBE venues. Phil graduated from Hatfield Polytechnic (University) in the UK, with Honors, in computer science. He has worked in numerous industry sectors since, including the banking, food manufacturing, government, and entertainment sectors.Mark T. Hanlon, P.E. and Hanlon Engineering
Show Engineering, Mechanical and EffectsMark is the co-founder, Vice President of Engineering and Chief Financial Officer of Hanlon Engineering, Inc., a firm specializing in the design of themed entertainment venues primarily in the Las Vegas market. Some of the noteworthy projects of the 160 his firm has completed include the design of “Star Trek the Experience”, RIO Casino Sky Parade, and Cirque du Soleil “O” (all three are recipients of the Themed Entertainment Association “THEO” Award). For Walt Disney Imagineering, Mark was a Senior Project Manager for the Euro Disney in Paris, France. During his early career, Mark worked for NASA/JPL and Northrop designing inertial guidance and launch systems and other classified projects. Mark graduated from Northeastern University in Boston Massachusetts in 1983 as Manufacturing Engineer.
|
