Derby Ahlstone Email & Phone Number

Southern California And International Locations

Provides Owner's Technical Management Services on a wide variety of specialty projects in the themed entertainment industry from concept through operation. Most projects involve complex safety critical systems and development of new technologies.Some notable accomplishments are as follows:• For Universal Studios Beijing provided peer review of technical documentation for the new parade floats, and flame effects that will operate in the park in 2021.• Review, assess, and report… Show more Provides Owner's Technical Management Services on a wide variety of specialty projects in the themed entertainment industry from concept through operation. Most projects involve complex safety critical systems and development of new technologies.Some notable accomplishments are as follows:• For Universal Studios Beijing provided peer review of technical documentation for the new parade floats, and flame effects that will operate in the park in 2021.• Review, assess, and report on fabrication and testing of scenic and animatronic show elements that are being installed in major Universal Studios Japan attractions in 2019 and 2020.• Technical oversight and review of various ride and show systems being developed for a new Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida.• Technical oversight and coordination of very large glass doors for a new Apple Store in Mexico, Valley Fair, & Los Angeles.• Technical management and oversight on the development, from concept through commissioning, of the automated "Solar Wings" equipment operating on the balcony of the Apple Store in Dubai (Designed by Foster & Partners and built by Premier Composite Technologies).• Show Technical Director services during the Schematic Design Phase on a Wanda Park in China.• Technical Installation and Site Acceptance Test oversight for Universal Studios Singapore. • Co-designed a patented industrial irigation pipe assembly & laying machines for use by Kingman Farms.• Managed the concept development of unique period correct battery operated trolley intended to be produced for the Galaxy Casino in Macau.• Provided technical management and oversight on the design/build of the highly themed battery powered trolley built by Gomaco Trolley Company for Caruso Affiliated in Glendale, California• Designed and managed the build, installation, and testing of safety systems for popular Disneyland dark ride. Show less

Ventura, California And International Locations

Managed the development, integration, and installation of a wide variety of specialty equipment used in theme park rides, attractions, shows, and parades; television; special events; around the world. Some notable accomplishments:• Developed the electro-mechanical rigging concept and provided ongoing technical support for a new lobby show developed by The Hettema Group opening at the Galaxy Casino in Macau, 2021.• Supported the development, including compliance, of flame… Show more Managed the development, integration, and installation of a wide variety of specialty equipment used in theme park rides, attractions, shows, and parades; television; special events; around the world. Some notable accomplishments:• Developed the electro-mechanical rigging concept and provided ongoing technical support for a new lobby show developed by The Hettema Group opening at the Galaxy Casino in Macau, 2021.• Supported the development, including compliance, of flame effects and pyrotechnics to be used in Universal Studios Beijing.• Ride and Show Technical Director services for a new park in Korea being developed by the CJ Group. Effort included co-development of scopes of work and technical specifications for all ride systems, as well as ongoing ride and show technical coordination and vendor strategy.• Managed the development of the pyrotechnics program to be used in Dubai Parks and Resorts.• Managed 14x ride contracts & show development of the Doha Oasis Park in Qatar from the Concept Refinement through Detailed Design phase.• Technical Director on the NYC One World Observatory experience with focus on See Forever Theater and SkyPod Experiences.• Provided Technical Director services on theme park projects around the world (e.g. Marvel & Universal Studios Dubailand, Warner Brother Abu Dhabi, Dubai Parks & Resorts, Shanghai Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland, Fox World Malaysia, Universal Studios Singapore, Lotte World Korea). • Engineered & managed the development of all aspects of over 30 major parade floats used in many Disney and 6 Flags parks• Provided Technical Production Services for Microsoft launch press events in Hollywood, Shanghai, & Dubai• Managed the technical production of converting 50+ shipping containers into "training centers" for the Department of Defense.• Managed & engineered custom automation equipment used in top television shows over a multi-year period (e.g. American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, Americas Got Talent). Show less

Goleta, California

Managed multi-discipline teams responsible for writing proposals, estimating labor costs, estimating spare parts requirements, providing field engineering support, writing technical manuals, and performing customer training on both domestic and foreign armored vehicle programs.• Participated on multiple product development teams to identify and contribute the post-production engineering support activities to the proposal.• Wrote and compiled over 15 proposals ranging in size from… Show more Managed multi-discipline teams responsible for writing proposals, estimating labor costs, estimating spare parts requirements, providing field engineering support, writing technical manuals, and performing customer training on both domestic and foreign armored vehicle programs.• Participated on multiple product development teams to identify and contribute the post-production engineering support activities to the proposal.• Wrote and compiled over 15 proposals ranging in size from $200,000 to $7 million in labor and $10,000 to $100 million in materials. Managed multi-discipline teams with up to 15 members. Show less

Ventura, California

Automotive after-market manufacturer of air suspension systems for light to medium duty trucks focusing on the ambulance and shuttle-bus markets.Responsible for leading a team comprised of one mechanical engineer and three senior designers to develop new air suspension systems that replaced existing stock leaf spring suspensions for "softer" ride and leveling control.• Created the first air suspension systems used on the 2002 Ford E550 and the GM5500 cab-chassis trucks. Met with… Show more Automotive after-market manufacturer of air suspension systems for light to medium duty trucks focusing on the ambulance and shuttle-bus markets.Responsible for leading a team comprised of one mechanical engineer and three senior designers to develop new air suspension systems that replaced existing stock leaf spring suspensions for "softer" ride and leveling control.• Created the first air suspension systems used on the 2002 Ford E550 and the GM5500 cab-chassis trucks. Met with installers and customers, performed stress analysis, redefined manufacturing techniques, improved the initial design concept, and generated drawings resulting in an increase in quality and strength to weight ratio. Reduced manufacturing costs by 10 percent and installation time by 50 percent. • Conducted technical sales presentations, in partnership with marketing representative, to the top executives from General Motors Truck Division and their ship-thru sub-contractors resulting in an increase in sales. Show less

Universal City, California And Osaka, Japan

• Managed $4.5 million flame effect, $1 million pyrotechnic effect, and $250,000 guns/ammo effect contracts including concept development, construction, on-site installation, and commissioning.• Designated the primary point of contact for all flame and pyrotechnic effects, guns and ammo equipment used in the theme park and special event activities requiring Japanese local and national government and corporate executive approvals. Composed and conducted formal presentations, demonstrations,… Show more • Managed $4.5 million flame effect, $1 million pyrotechnic effect, and $250,000 guns/ammo effect contracts including concept development, construction, on-site installation, and commissioning.• Designated the primary point of contact for all flame and pyrotechnic effects, guns and ammo equipment used in the theme park and special event activities requiring Japanese local and national government and corporate executive approvals. Composed and conducted formal presentations, demonstrations, and meetings through an interpreter when necessary. • Participated on a multi-discipline team to select and manage vendors including leading the writing of the scope of work and technical specification documents, and estimating the budgets and schedules, that were used to control over 150 different ride/show equipment contracts ranging in size from $150,000 to $15 million. • Was heavily involved in the following attractions: Waterworld, Wild West Stunt Show, Beetlejuice, Lagoon Show, Backdraft, Jaws Ride, and Terminator 2. Show less

Camarillo & Moorpark, California

Provided special effect equipment for the international theme-park industry including mechanical, structural, pneumatic, hydraulic, water, electrical, controls, and flammable gas systems.Most notable projects:• Led a team of engineers and designers that developed a 65-foot tall 3-tier waterfall, whirlpool, geyser, laminar flow, flame, and mechanical effects for a Hirakata theme park in Japan within schedule. This project was noted as the most profitable project in the company and… Show more Provided special effect equipment for the international theme-park industry including mechanical, structural, pneumatic, hydraulic, water, electrical, controls, and flammable gas systems.Most notable projects:• Led a team of engineers and designers that developed a 65-foot tall 3-tier waterfall, whirlpool, geyser, laminar flow, flame, and mechanical effects for a Hirakata theme park in Japan within schedule. This project was noted as the most profitable project in the company and had a contract value of $2 million.• Designed and engineered a 110x 7-seat drop mechanisms currently used in the Universal Studios Florida Terminator 2 attraction. Entire effort was completed below the $1M budget and on schedule. In addition, provided initial technical concept of the motorcycle gag used in this attraction.• Designed and engineered various water effects, fog effects, steam blasts, 60' finale splitting waterfall, show doors, bogie & track system used in the car drop gag operating in the Universal Studios Hollywood Jurassic Park Ride.• Assisted in the design and drafting of the seaplane launcher and flame effects used in the Universal Studios Hollywood Waterworld show.• Designed and engineered the Merlin dragon fire and house haze systems used in the EFX show at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.• Designed and engineered vertical traveling flume ride show doors and ride vehicle tracking tilting mirror system for the Flume Ride in Porta Europa Park in Wakayama Marina City, Japan.• Designed and engineered the collapsing balcony, falling facade shock absorber system, keg performer prop, pyro & strobe lights mounting brackets for the Viking Stunt Show in Porta Europa Park in Wakayama Marina City, Japan. Show less

Ventura, California

Provided offshore engineering and diving services in addition to providing all aspects of the Jaws animated sharks operating in Universal Studios Florida.• Designed submersible water-free chamber that kept the hydraulic control valves dry when submerged. Approximately 50 penetrations were required for hydraulic lines and electrical cables. The valves controlled several legs and other mechanical elements of a large submersible sewage pipe laying system.• Assisted senior engineers… Show more Provided offshore engineering and diving services in addition to providing all aspects of the Jaws animated sharks operating in Universal Studios Florida.• Designed submersible water-free chamber that kept the hydraulic control valves dry when submerged. Approximately 50 penetrations were required for hydraulic lines and electrical cables. The valves controlled several legs and other mechanical elements of a large submersible sewage pipe laying system.• Assisted senior engineers on various hydraulic, mechanical, and structural systems utilized on the Jaws animated sharks used in Universal Studios Florida. Show less