On March 18 – 20, 2019, more than 100 delegates involved in the amusement park and attractions industry gathered at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ (NEAAPA) 106th Anniversary Education Conference and Annual Meeting.

The climax of event took place at the Annual Dinner Meeting, with the induction of Gene Dean, owner of Fiesta Shows/Dean Enterprises into the NEAAPA Hall of Fame.

Gene Dean was unable to attend the prestigious event so his son, E.J. Dean, accepted the award on his father’s behalf, chronicling his father’s history in the industry, which started at Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts, before the family branched out into the carnival business in 1967.

Now with more than 70 rides, Fiesta Shows is said to be New England’s largest carnival. Gene Dean is the first carnival operator to be given the honour of entering the prestigious Hall of Fame since it was established in 1998.

The 106th NEAAPA involved two days of seminars, which began with the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Regional Meeting.

During the IAAPA meeting, John Hallenbeck, vice president and executive director of IAAPA North America, provided an update on the association’s activities, including membership, educational opportunities, trade shows and the IAAPA foundation.

Another keynote speaker was Erika Scheffer, IAAPA’s director of state advocacy, who addressed industry issues on state, regional and national levels. Scheffer explored pressing topics, including flights over amusement facilities by unauthorised third-party drones, the minimum wage and a school calendar with a post Labor Day start.

More than 100 delegates attended the NEAAPA’s Annual Dinner Meeting and gala meeting.

NEAAPA secretary Ed Hodgdon, who is marketing and Internet technology manager at Funtown Splashtown USA, welcomed attendees to the dinner.

Throughout the dinner, a video presentation was broadcast which highlighted the history of NEAAPA as well as clips from many of its current member properties.

Towards the end of the dinner, Ed Hodgson was presented with the President’s Award, who has served as NEAAPA secretary for eight years.

President, Eric Anderson, president of Quassy Amusement & Waterpark, Middlebury, Conn., then took to the stage, presenting a number of highly prestigious awards.

The Safety Award, given to an individual who has demonstrated unparalleled commitment to safety in the amusement parks and attractions industry, was awarded to Rimas Grazulis, maintenance manager, Edaville Family Theme Park, Carver, Massachusetts.

Ron Gustafson, director of marketing and public relations, Quassy Amusement & Waterpark, received the Paragon Award, for the creation of outreach or advertising pieces that demonstrated unequalled excellence in graphic promotion.

The Pinnacle Award was awarded to Carson Natali, Sodexo at Canobie Lake Park, Salem, New Hampshire, for demonstrating peak perfection in customer service.