Walt Davis How does a career at the Pentagon prepare you for theme park management? As Walt Davis described it, “operating and maintaining an amusement park is not that different from a military air base except that the paint is a little brighter in the amusement park and the machinery that transports people looks a little bit different than it does on an air force base.” With those words, Walt Davis forged ahead as Director of Park Services for Kings Island (now Paramount’s Kings Island) in southwestern Ohio. His first task was to help build “The Beast” — which still holds the record for being the longest (and one of the fastest) wooden roller coasters. Davis has also worked as a consultant int he design, construction and operation of parks in China, Taiwan and Denver, Colorado. Most recently, he served as Vice President of TOGO International, a Japanese-American manufacturer of large steel roller coasters. Currently Walt Davis is Business and Industry Liaison for the Warren County Career Center. Randy Smith As Executive Director of Planning & Design for Jack Rouse Associates, Randy Smith has what many of us would consider the world’s best job. He’s designed and built places the rest of us visit and enjoy: theme park projects for Warner Bros. and Universal Studios, the Cincinnati History Museum, the University of Kentucky Basketball Museum & Hall of Fame, and Kellogg’s Cereal City USA and LEGOLAND parks in Windsor, England and Carlsbad, California. “Legoland is definitely one of my favorites,” says Randy. “Whenever you hear someone just enjoying themselves, that’s probably the proudest moment you have. It’s important that the operator or owner makes money on the park, but we’re doing this for the guest as well. If they’re not having fun, if they’re not enjoying themselves, we’re not doing our job right.” Smith is currently directing JRA's work for clients such as The Fort Worth Zoo, The Field Museum, and the Crawford Museum of Transportation and Industry. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, School of Design, Architecture, Art & Planning. Paramount’s Kings Island Paramount’s Kings Island opens the park to teachers and students each year for Math & Science Days — an exciting way for teachers and students to see math in action! And Paramount’s Kings Island Math & Science Days become more popular each year, as word spreads of opportunity and activities associated with this event. Each year, more and more activities are created for students by Prentice-Hall, a leading publisher of educational materials for young people. The activities are based on proficiency test learning outcomes, with guidance from a panel of teachers. When teachers register for the program, they are given a complimentary workbook that contains education-based activities grouped according to grade level. Teachers can decide which activities to pursue with their class. The workbook includes activities that are fun, but require the students to think, too. And not all of the lessons are based on riding the rides; some are based on observing. During Math & Science Days, the park is open exclusively to students and teachers. For 2000, the dates are May 5 and May 19, and priority registration forms for one of those days must be returned to Paramount’s Kings Island by January 7, 2000, if you want to ensure your request is honored. For more information, teachers can contact the Group Sales office at Paramount’s Kings Island at 1-800-333-8080.