Experience
Ken Vondriska has over 50 years of experience in the leisure industry and facility maintenance and safety. Ken entered the leisure and entertainment industry with Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California) in 1974 as a maintenance technician. He advanced himself through the ranks and, by 1980, supervisor.
In 1980, Ken was named Manager of Maintenance at Six Flags over Mid-America (St. Louis, Missouri). During his tenure, he completely revised and updated the preventative maintenance policies and procedures for the amusement park's rides and attractions.
In 1983, Ken was named Director of Operations and Maintenance for Six Flags AutoWorld (Flint, Michigan), a $75 million indoor themed entertainment complex. Ken's experience expanded to include maintenance, operations, safety, security, first aid and new construction.
In 1984, Ken was named Director of Operations and Maintenance at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom (Allentown, Pennsylvania). He developed new operations and maintenance policies and procedures for security, personnel, first aid, maintenance, ride/attraction operations and new construction. In January 1985 Ken became a ride inspector in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
From 1988-90, Ken as Vice President of Facilities for International Theme Park Services, Inc. ("ITPS") (Cincinnati, Ohio), resided in Seoul, Korea to coordinate the maintenance, safety and operations programs for LottWorld, a new $l.3 billion indoor/outdoor theme park.
From 1990 -2004, after returning from Seoul, and eventually achieving the position of Chief Operating Officer, Ken oversaw new theme park projects in Manila, Philippines; Shanghai and Guangzhou, China; Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; Edinburg, TX; New Orleans, LA to name a few. Also, Ken was responsible for the safety, maintenance and operational on-site inspection for Grupo Magico a Mexican company with amusement and water parks in Mexico City, Naulcpan, Acapulco and Guadalajara, Mexico and Bogotá, Colombia.
From November 2004 to August 2012, Ken joined Essential Services & Programs as Vice President - Loss Control and was responsible for over 750 family entertainment centers throughout the United States insured under the Sterling & Sterling/Family Entertainment Center Safety Association insurance program. This responsibility included on-site facility inspections throughout the United States. Ken was also responsible for loss control inspections of Jewish Community Centers and assisted living facilities insured through Sterling & Sterling, Inc. During Ken's tenure with Sterling & Sterling, Inc. he inspected over 1,200 family entertainment enters, Jewish community centers and assisted living facilities. Ken is also an approved inspector through Interstate Fire and Casualty for the Texas Department of Insurance.
In May 2007, Ken formed Vondriska Leisure Consultants, LLC ("VLC"). VLC has performed valuations, loss control inspections and other consultation work for the leisure industry. This includes:
- Property and equipment valuation for Andretti Thrill Park, Melbourne, FL.
- Locomotive valuation for the Tulsa Zoo.
- Developed manufacturer's manual for new Mountain Luge attraction for Amusement Plus mfg.
- Performed loss control inspection for Salitre Magico and CiCi Aquapark, Bogotá, Columbia.
- Equipment valuation for water park, Maricopa County, AZ
- Verifying that new flume ride meets ASTM F-24 standards.
- Verifying that new water play structure meets ASTM F-24 standards.
- Joyland Park, Lubbock, TX valuation of rides and equipment.
- Delaware North, Buffalo, NY consulting services.
Ken is a member of the American Society of Testing Materials ("ASTM"), F-24 committee for amusement device safety; Amusement Industry Manufacturers and Suppliers International ("AIMS"); and International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions ("IAAPA"). During the past decade, Ken has performed safety, maintenance, and operations inspections for clients worldwide including China, Philippines, Colombia, Thailand, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Netherlands, England, and the United States. Ken conducts safety seminars for amusement industry safety professionals at the AIMS safety seminars and safety seminars for the Pennsylvania Amusement Park Association.
Amanda Adams has joined Vondriska Leisure Consultants LLC as Partner and Operations Director. Amanda has over 30 years experience in the aquatics and leisure industry beginning at New Heritage USA in Fort Mill, SC as a lifeguard. She has held several positions with companies such as Fort Wayne Pools, Anthony and Sylvan Pools in Charlotte, NC and Mastin Aquatic Group in North Wilkesboro, NC.
Amanda is a graduate of East Carolina University in Greenville, NC
Amanda's experience in the aquatics and leisure industry brings a new dimension to Vondriska Leisure Consultants that will enhance the services provided to Vondriska Leisure Consultants clients.