Jeff Smith Email & Phone Number

United Arab Emirates

Dubai

Strategize and implement Attraction technical development and management processes, safeguarding creative intent while standardizing end-to-end design and procurement activities. Direct design reviews to ensure safety, operational viability as well as regulatory compliance of manufactured, integrated and delivered Show and Ride systems. Establishing and leading the corporate engineering group and resort-wide Sustaining Engineering function in support of three theme parks, a water park and future project development has been particularly rewarding. Manage a core group of sixteen staff tasked with technical and management oversight of more than USD 1 Billion of Show and Ride Equipment. Integrate creative design, technical and contractual specification, procurement and project management towards increased efficiencies and process simplification. Facilitate corporate relationship with Dubai Municipality and associated agencies, nurturing mutual good will and governmental currency on park development status. There continue to be so many things to learn, fresh cultural understandings and different ways of doing work which broaden the horizon - this is what I thrive upon and am grateful for. Many lessons have unfolded as opportunities for DXB's improvement, including stark reminders of our industry's fundamentals which greatly reduce risk to delivery and quality. I wish the staff, company and nation well as I depart for new experiences and renewal of relationships.

Wanda Movie Park - Wuhan, Prc/Orlando, Florida Usa

Directed design, production, integration and successful delivery of two world-class story-telling experiences to Dalian Wanda Group in the Peoples Republic of China; a 96 passenger motion simulation ride and a 500 seat multi-sensory live stage/media show. $80 million plus (USD) budget, exclusive of core, shell, area development and non-thematic fitout. Both Attractions are extensively populated with media, A/V/C, special effects, show action equipment, theatrical lighting and thematic treatments, requiring high levels of performance testing and integration. Responsible for facilitating seamless up/down communications between Chinese client, executive management, project team and vendor base, ensuring ready flow of progress status and critical project information in support of planning and real-time decision making. Worked closely with Operations and Maintenance organizations to develop integrated expectations and validated implementation. Upheld continuous emphasis on personnel and equipment safety, bringing many years of personal and team experience to this new themed entertainment market.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Provided senior management vision and oversight in support of a diverse array of entertainment projects and themed destinations including theme parks, museums, waterparks and visitor centers. Steered project expectations, creative planning, design, construction risk analyses, scheduling and budget to successful delivery. Guided strategic organizational, financial and program direction. Created innovative solutions to meet the challenges inherent to the dynamic business of storytelling. Comprehensively responsible for actioning cost-effective builds of highly immersive guest experiences. Executive Producer for a new theme and water park development in Turkey, led project team for facilities, rides, shows, infrastructure and systems. Partnered with client construction team, always going the extra distance to exceed the expectations of both owner and guest.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

As Aldar's principal themed entertainment guy it was an exhilarating effort, providing Ferrari World client leadership to our team and having brought the Middle East's first major theme park to reality! Extraordinary lessons learned about achieving management, creative and technical success in this challenging new frontier of unique opportunities and rich, fascinating culture.Have the singular good fortune of being the only client/owner across our entire industry that has delivered a full spectrum, major theme park in the Middle East. The world's largest indoor park at that. Directed all Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Ride and Show development, providing construction, installation, testing and commissioning guidance to our cadre of builders and vendors. USD 1 Billion+ of exciting thematic guest immersion into one of the world's most renowned brands. Opening and operation was a great success and the park continues to provide the gold standard for the MENA region's continued experiential development. The roller coasters (the fastest coaster on the planet!), dark rides, racing simulators, flume and shot rides, interactive theatres, high-end culinary, retail and lots of Ferrari eye candy provide guests with incomparable thrills!

Worldwide

Highly experienced, client-focused concept-to-completion theme park development services, dedicated to bringing client creative vision into world-class reality. Project Direction from blue sky, feasibility, specification and procurement through build, test, integration, operation and maintenance. Client representation and international assignments, short or long term. Extensive theme park construction experience in Asia, the Middle East and North America. Projects include development management for the new Happyland park in Vietnam and Universal Studios Wizarding World and Diagon Alley expansions. Very honored to have contributed to the success of many award-winning themed entertainment projects and in particular as United States Navy's owner rep on the BattleStations 21 project. Love this industry, passionate for the product and people, and providing guests with unparalleled, immersive experiences.

Part of the Universal story for many years; Attraction development and management sums it up, but the journey has so many great and wonderful elements, fulfilling connections with passionate, talented people who've made a huge positive difference. Providing fantastic guest experiences was always a thrill, integrating high creative vision with project, operational and maintenance realities. Most recently Simpsons Ride, Disaster!, Hollywood Dream (Japan); lots of successes in challenging situations and extraordinary efforts with gifted world-class teams.

Complete management oversight of project execution and technical vision. Focused the collective energies of this highly dynamic, extraordinary group of talented professionals into a winning work flow. Lots of rewarding, fun experiences on diverse and very successful projects, in a closely-bonded working environment. Clients included Hard Rock, Busch Entertainment, Universal Studios, AT&T and Walt Disney Imagineering.

Outer space stuff - Space Shuttle, BIG rockets and satellite processing/operations. Mostly super double secret pinky shakes and hushed tones in the dimly lit recesses of unmentioned places. Actually it is pretty amazing how much themed entertainment development parallels the space biz. Safety, safety, safety; the rockin' out of this world experience, the glowing alien life forms. Nothing like it!