ICON - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Certified Venue Executive
Brian is a Certified Venue Executive (CVE) and brings over 30 years of experience to ICON Leisure Services in public, private, and not-for-profit sectors with expertise in operational concept design, new construction, renovations, expansions, executive and general management, and real estate. Brian's experience includes serving in numerous operations and executive roles for water parks, amphitheaters, performing arts centers, arenas, and resort hospitality properties in San Diego, Denver, Austin, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Nashville.
As a former Board Member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Brian provided both leadership and growth for the organization including the contribution of editorial content for "The IAVM Blueprint: Event Management" textbook as well as serving on numerous committees within IAVM including Governance Committee and Industry Affairs Committee.
Brian has been in and around the resort and entertainment business since he first became a lifeguard. Since then, in addition to starting three of his own companies and a non-profit organization, Brian has held management and executive roles for recognizable industry leaders including Schlitterbahn Waterparks & Resorts, House of Blues Entertainment, Live Nation Entertainment, The University of Texas at Austin, Marriott, and Ryman Hospitality Properties.
Curtis Parks, a family entertainment and attraction veteran, is a Partner of ICON Leisure Services, LLC. Curtis previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President with PARC Management LLC. Curtis was part of the founding management team, assisting in acquiring 18 properties in under two years.
Formerly, Curtis worked at Schlitterbahn Waterparks & Resorts where he held the position of Vice President of Operations. During his tenure, Parks worked closely with ownership to successfully complete the development of Schlitterbahn Galveston, a partnership property between Schlitterbahn and American National Insurance Company.
Curtis is an active member of IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions), the World Waterpark Association (WWA), an IAAPA Certified Attractions Executive, and has served as a national faculty member of the Ellis & Associates International Aquatic School.
Eli currently serves as a Partner of ICON Leisure Services, LLC. He is a hands-on operator with more than 30 years of executive and general management experience leading multiple unit attractions in the Entertainment & Hospitality Industry.
Eli has worked with industry-leading brands such as Schlitterbahn Waterparks & Resorts, Wet n Wild Waterparks, Raging Waters Waterparks, Palace Entertainment, Elitch Gardens Theme Park, Darien Lake Theme Park & Resort, Great Wolf Lodge, Hawaiian Falls Waterparks, and NASCAR Speed parks.
Eli is an IAAPA Certified Attractions Executive, (ICAE), an alumnus of the 2008 IAAPA Wharton Executive Institute, and served as the Chairman of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Finance & IT Committee and currently serves on the IAAPA Government Relations committee.