IAAPA Attractions Expo 2017

Ron Sutula
General Manager
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island


Ron Sutula has more than 41 years of leadership management experience in the waterpark and theme park entertainment industry. He has directed the opening of six successful parks, including two Wet ‘n Wild waterparks and Schlitterbahn Galveston Island. He began his career at Marriott’s Great America Theme Park in Illinois. He rose through the ranks to become director of park operation at Marriott’s Playland Park in New York State. He joined the Funtime Inc. organization in the early 1980s, working at Darien Lake and Wyandot Lake theme parks as operations director. He wasVice President of Operations at Wet ‘n Wild, Orlando, Fla. When Wet ‘n Wild expanded to Brazil, he opened the park in Sao Paulo and served as Vice President and General Manager for the first two years. Ron served as Director of Resort Operations for Universal Studios in Orlando for five years, where he was responsible for the overall operation of the 840-acre facility which includes Universal, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk. He joined the Schlitterbahn family of waterparks in 2005 as General Manager to oversee all operations of the Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, Ron served on the Board of Directors for the World Waterpark Association for eight years, received the Executive Board Award in 2008 for his service to the industry, and an Executive Board Award in 2014 for the innovative two story cabanas and is a World Waterpark Association Hall of Fame member. .

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