TEA INSPIRE Segment Hosts & Speakers

TRACY HALAS

Disney Live Entertainment

Tracy Halas, Show Director for Disney Live Entertainment, has over 30 years’ experience as a performer, choreographer and show director for live entertainment and events. Her work has played in theatres around the world including Rome, London, Spain, Paris, and Australia. Director/ choreographer highlights include The Main Street Electrical Parade, Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular, Mickey and the Magical Map, A Musical Celebration of Coco and Walt Disney Family Museum Gala Fundraiser. She was choreographer for Disney’s Paint the Night Parade, a previous Thea Award recipient. Tracy enjoys creating magical memories for guests from around the world.

MK HALEY

UT Austin

Mk Haley is currently teaching Themed Entertainment Design in the Arts & Entertainment Technologies Program at UT Austin, after more than 25 years with Walt Disney Imagineering supporting efforts in Themed Entertainment Design, Production, and R&D. Mk has also taught Computer Animation, Building Virtual Worlds, and Themed Entertainment Design at Carnegie Mellon University, Florida State University and UCLA. With over 30 years of service to industry associations, Mk is also a long-time supporter of the ACM SIGGRAPH conference planning process as well as the TEA conferences and The Themed Experience & Attractions Academic Society.

SYLVIA HASE

Hasbas Entertainment

Sylvia is a world-class creative and producer of live shows and events worldwide. With her business partner, Steve Bass, her client list includes global brands such as Walt Disney Company, DreamWorks, Sega Sammy, Universal Studios, The Olympic Games, Samsung, and Discovery Channel. Her resume features work as the first female director in the history of the Ringling Bros., and Disney’s “Mad T Party.” International work includes live productions based on DreamWorks “Shrek” and “Madagascar” in multiple countries, and Mickey and the Wondrous Book for Hong Kong Disneyland. In Japan, her Thea-honored production of The Little Mermaid is the longest running show in Tokyo Disney Sea.

Denise Hatcher Aoa

With over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and business strategy for The Walt Disney Company, Denise has continued her passion for themed entertainment, spending the past nine years leading the company culture, human relations and business administration for AOA, an experience design, technical production and project management firm based in Orlando and California. In addition to her executive responsibilities, Denise spearheads AOA’s community outreach programs and serves on several boards, supporting the entertainment and education community including the TEA Eastern North America Division Board, the Orlando REP Theatre, University of Central Florida Themed Experience Program, and as an adjunct professor for Rollins College Business School.

JEFF HAVLIK, AIA, ICAE PGAV Destinations

Jeff Havlik is a VP at PGAV Destinations. Jeff specializes in the master planning of parks and attractions, creative writing and storytelling that sets the basis for thematic design and guest experience, and the analytical side of design that ensures capacity and operational efficiency. This balance of being creative, logical, fanciful, and analytical has led Jeff to be described as “the tether to reality for the cacophony of creative people at PGAV, providing a foundation of analysis, programming, and planning that they use to build magical places.” Jeff is a registered architect, ICAE, and has been at PGAV for 37 years.

OLIVIER HERAL Futuroscope

A graduate of the Arts Décoratifs de Nancy, Olivier joined Futuroscope 15 years ago, from the product design world. Olivier’s role in the creation of attractions is first to imagine a story, then assemble all the skills necessary to transform it into an experience. “Each attraction must take visitors on a journey through a story, and it is up to us to imagine each space as a chapter in that story.” He has assembled an internal team including writers, illustrators, designers, and scenographers, as well as external partners for other disciplines. “What interests me most is the vision of something that does not exist.”

Phil Hettema Thg

Phil is CEO of THG. With a distinguished, 40+ year legacy in themed entertainment, he leads a world-class team creating uniquely compelling guest experiences. Prior to forming his own company, Phil was SVP, Attraction Development for Universal Studios Theme Parks Worldwide for 14 years. Phil is an alumnus of ArtCenter College of Design. He has guest-lectured at Carnegie Mellon University, USITT, IAAPA, KIN, ICOM, SIGGRAPH, and TED. Phil holds four patents for entertainment technology solutions. His Thea-Awarded projects include One World Observatory (2016), Beyond All Boundaries (2010), FiestAventura (2000), The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (2000), Universal’s Islands of Adventure (2000), and Terminator 2:3D (1997). In 2017, Phil received the Buzz Price Thea Award honoring lifetime achievement.

Mike Hightower

Universal Creative

Mike Hightower was named President, Universal Creative, in January 2022 after 26 years with Universal Parks & Resorts (UPR). He oversees all aspects of planning, design and creation of Universal theme parks, resorts, restaurant and retail venues and new ventures worldwide. He has championed innovative parks, lands, attractions and experiences from concept through opening for Universal theme parks across the globe. Hightower was responsible for the delivery of UPR’s largest property to date, Universal Beijing Resort. Since joining UPR in 1995, he directed projects in Orlando, Hollywood, Japan, Spain, Dubai, and Singapore. He also led Universal Orlando Resort’s Technical Services from 2004-2008.

Chevy Humphrey

Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

Chevy Humphrey is President and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

(MSI), the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere. Humphrey is a globally recognized industry leader, business executive, and science educator. In addition, she serves as a board director for several corporate and nonprofit boards. She is the first Black American to lead a science center in the United States and the first woman and first Black American to lead MSI. Humphrey holds an MBA with specializations in marketing and entrepreneurship and innovation and a BS in Marketing.

Daniel Jenkins

Universal Creative

Dan Jenkins currently leads projects in Osaka and Orlando for Universal Creative. He has enjoyed a 25+ year career in various entertainment design positions, the last eight years with Universal Parks & Resorts. Dan brings his theatrical experience to his work, prioritizing guest experience above all. He empowers every team member to be a storyteller. Dan is immensely proud of the work completed in Beijing for Jurassic World Adventure and Universal Beijing Resort, which provided the greatest opportunities and challenges of his career. Between excellent Universal staff, great Chinese partners, and a fine list of collaborative vendors, he could not have asked for a stronger team to bring dinosaurs to life.

JAMES JENSEN Limitless Flight

James Jensen is a tech-savvy entrepreneur who lives at the forefront of technology, driven by his passion for unlocking human potential. He is focused on improving daily interactions and has a unique ability to take things apart and create new experiences. Jensen utilizes VR to transport people to another world, and believes this technology can help us discover our true selves. He has more than 20 years of experience in illustration, design, and interactive media, including working with major companies such as Sony, Disney, and DreamWorks. Jensen was co-founder of the acclaimed, immersive entertainment company, The VOID.

ANN MORROW JOHNSON

Walt Disney Imagineering

In the realm of Executive Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, Ann Morrow Johnson oversees Blue Sky, the process through which emerging trends and innovations are identified and considered in the development of Disney’s immersive theme parks, attractions, resorts, cruise ships and other themed family experiences. She was executive producer and creative director for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, the twonight vacation adventure at Walt Disney World Resort.

MICHAEL JUNG

Walt Disney Imagineering

In his role as Creative Executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, Michael is responsible for leading creative development for entertainment experiences for Disney Live Entertainment at Parks, Resorts and Cruise Lines around the world. Michael most recently led creative development for Disneyland’s nighttime spectacular Wondrous Journeys; Momentous at Hong Kong Disneyland and Illuminate at Shanghai Disneyland. Michael also helped guide the first-ever collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering, Drawn to Life, a celebration of animation accentuated by Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatic mastery.

BOB

KODZIS Flight of Ideas, Inc.

Bob Kodzis is an award-winning visual artist, an improv performer and teacher, a master facilitator, trainer, a nationally recognized writer, emcee and keynote speaker. He is also founder and principal of the creative think tank, Flight of Ideas, Inc. For 30+ years, Bob has been helping worldclass organizations plan for the future and unleash their group genius. Bob has worked with powerhouse organizations including Uber, NASA, The Federal Reserve, Universal Studios, The Orlando Magic, Walt Disney World, Siemens, Nielsen, and Vekoma. Bob is also a philanthropist who supports a wide range of causes and charities to survive and thrive in a chaotic and competitive world.

Chris Lange

Creative Studio Berlin GmbH

Chris Lange is the founder and creative force behind Creative Studio Berlin, currently engaged on various LBE and resort development projects, with 20+ years in the industry. As a former creative executive at Europa-Park, Chris