IAAPA honors Fun Spot leader, announces Hall of Fame inductees

Frank Hamedl, human resources manager at Fun Spot America, has been named a winner of an IAAPA individual award. He has been tabbed by the attractions trade group as one of its IAAPA Young Professionals of the Year, representing North America.

Hamedi, a University of Central Florida alum, will be among the honorees at the inaugural IAAPA Honors ceremony in Las Vegas on March 3. Orlando-based IAAPA — aka the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions — will also present service awards and induct five people into its Hall of Fame.

“We are so proud of his accomplishment and grateful to have him as a member on our Fun Spot team,” the attraction posted on its social media account. Fun Spot has locations in Orlando, Kissimmee and near Atlanta.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include Barnette Ricci of Walt Disney Co., August Busch III of Busch Entertainment Corp. and members of the Hartman family, who created Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio.

Ricci, part of Walt Disney Imagineering, is credited with developing the Kids of the Kingdom group, choreographing the Main Street Electrical Parade and conceiving and directing “Fantasmic,” a nighttime spectacular seen at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

She was selected for “how she redefined live entertainment,” according to IAAPA’s announcement video.

Busch, whose corporation once owned SeaWorld parks, was noted for raising expectations of excellence, animal-care standards and conservation efforts, as well as for developing new attractions such as Discovery Cove and Aquatica.

Gordon and Maggie Hartman, along with their daughter Morgan Hartman, were commended for their development of a Texas theme park for people with special needs.

March’s IAAPA event will also include the announcement of the Brass Ring Awards, which previously were presented during the IAAPA Expo in Orlando each November.