AIMS International, the non-profit association committed to improving amusement Industry safety through training and education, has announced new board officers and directors for 2019.

Franceen Gonzales, EVP business development–the Americas, for WhiteWater, is now president of the AIMS board of directors, taking over from Tim Viox who served as board president for the past two years.

Tony Claassen, rides maintenance compliance officer at Herschend Family Entertainment, has been appointed as vice president and AIMS International’s new secretary is now George Tso, engineering executive director at Ocean Park, Hong Kong. Linda Freeman of Rockwell Automation remains the organisation’s treasurer.

Three new board directors have also joined the board having been elected at the annual membership meeting in January.

The new board directors include Monty Jasper, corporate vice-president of safety and engineering for the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.  Jasper is a registered professional engineer with experience in operations, maintenance, construction, safety and engineering and holds Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Mechanical Engineering.

Dr. Kathryn Woodcock, CCPE ICAE PEng, a Professor at Ryerson University in Toronto who specialises on the research of mobilisation activities focused on human factors of amusement rides and attractions, was elected as a board director in January 2019.

Dr. Woodcock is also a member of TEA, ASTM Committee F24, Ontario TSSA Amusement Devices Advisory Council, Global Safety Committee of IAAPA, IAAPA Foundation Academic Advisory Council, and Board of Directors of the Canadian National Exhibition.

David Bromilow, Global Director of Parks and Attractions, Mobaro Park, is AIMS International’s third new board director. Bromilow has more than 40 years’ experience in the amusement industry, beginning as an apprentice engineer at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Bromilow is also chairman of the IAAPA EMEA Safety Committee, as well as serving on the IAAPA Global Safety Committee.