Herschend Entertainment promotes three to senior management

Herschend Family Entertainment Corp. on Friday promoted three key executives to position the Branson and Atlanta-based theme park company for future growth.

Silver Dollar City General Manager Brad Thomas was named senior vice president of Silver Dollar City Attractions, giving him full oversight of the Branson theme park. Thomas, who has a Master of Business Administration and a management and marketing degree from Missouri State University, worked the last five years as SDC GM.

At Dollywood Co. in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., HFE officials and Dolly Parton appointed Ken Bell as president. Bell, a nearly four-decade HFE veteran in Tennessee and Missouri and a senior vice president for the past 18 years, has overseen the operations and expansions for Dollywood theme park and Dollywood's Splash Country water park. His promotion comes after both properties experienced years of substantial growth. Bell, a graduate of MSU, will continue to serve on the board of the Dixie Stampede properties.

At the Atlanta headquarters, two-year HFE employee Jane Cooper was promoted to president of Herschend Family Entertainment Attractions, making her responsible for all regions and properties except those within the Dollywood Co. HFE owns, operates or partners in 23 properties in 10 states. Cooper worked 25 years for Paramount Parks - as president for eight years - and served as 2005 chairman of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Cooper holds an MBA in finance from Xavier University.

"This business is all about people," HFE CEO and President Joel Manby said in a news release. "And with these moves, we are placing very strong leaders in the most senior operating positions in our company to assure we continue to provide outstanding, wholesome family entertainment."

HFE properties include SDC, Showboat Branson Belle, White Water, Talking Rocks Cavern and Celebration City in Branson. HFE is an operating partner with Parton in Dollywood Co., which owns Dollywood and the Splash Country water park in Pigeon Forge. Dollywood Co. is also the largest shareholder in the Dixie Stampede dinner attractions located in Branson, Pigeon Forge and Myrtle Beach, S.C. In Georgia, HFE operates Atlanta's Stone Mountain Park in conjunction with the state of Georgia, and owns Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta.

HFE owns and/or licenses Ride The Ducks amphibious tours in Branson, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Newport, Ky., Seattle and San Francisco. Also in San Francisco, HFE operates Classic Cable Car Sightseeing.