Kevin Lembke Appointed New Park President

[Luke]

LEADERSHIP CHANGE AT BUSCH GARDENS® WILLIAMSBURG
AND WATER COUNTRY USA®

Kevin Lembke Promoted to President of Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA  

WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia (Jan. 25, 2018) – Today, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Inc. announces the appointment of Kevin Lembke as president of Busch Gardens® Williamsburg and Water Country USA®
Lembke will assume his responsibilities on Feb. 1, 2018, succeeding David Cromwell, who is stepping down to pursue an opportunity with a sports franchise.

“Kevin is an entrepreneurial leader with both park support center and park experience,” said John Reilly, chief operating officer for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “He has achieved a strong record of financial performance and guest satisfaction results.”
Lembke has been with SeaWorld since 2000, when he started his career as an area manager. He has held several leadership roles including vice president of merchandise for Busch Gardens Williamsburg from 2013 to 2016, and most recently, vice president of culinary operations for Busch Gardens Tampa. Lembke is a graduate of the University of Buffalo. His wife and their four children will relocate to Virginia in the coming weeks.

Cromwell served as park president since 2016. He started his SeaWorld career in 1997, serving in various operational roles before landing in Williamsburg.

“David has had an impeccable career with our company. His leadership has helped guide the Williamsburg theme parks into premier local and tourist destinations,” Reilly said.  “We wish David all the best and thank him for his many years of service and accomplishments with the company.”

 

[warfelg]

RE: BGW Searching for New Park President (Again)

He looks 12!

 

[Coaster Takes]

RE: BGW Searching for New Park President (Again)

Damnit Luke you beat me to it.

 

[Lord Robert]

RE: BGW Searching for New Park President (Again)

Hmmm interesting. Let's see how this goes.

 

[Pretzel Kaiser]

RE: BGW Searching for New Park President (Again)

Can we please not start this management change with comments on his appearance? A little decorum, people.

 

[Lord Robert]

RE: BGW Searching for New Park President (Again)

Unlike Carl Lum, Kevin Lembke has worked at Busch Gardens Williamsburg before so at least there's that.

 

[Nicole]

Thread split.  Please use this one to discuss the new appointment.

 

[warfelg]

In all seriousness, I'm glad they stayed in house with this hire and someone who has been with the company for a while, understands the park and the guests, and hopefully keeps the current trajectory the park is on of new attractions.

 

[Merboy]

“Kevin is an entrepreneurial leader with both park support center and park experience,” said John Reilly, chief operating officer for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.

I think the real news here is that John C Reilly is the chief operating officer for SP&E.

 

[Coaster Takes]

I’m just going to say. The merch in 2013-2016 got REALLY good. He did a good job there, let’s hope he does a good job with the entire park.

 

[Pretzel Kaiser]

I do hope for InvadR merch without the stats...

 

[SLC Headache]

I do hope for InvadR merch without the stats...

Always thought stat shirts made no sense for older and/or family coasters.

 

[Shane]

So something I found really interesting about this article is not the new Park President of Busch Gardens Williamsbug, but the person that introduces him in that article; Does the name John Reilly sound familiar to anyone?

John Reilly is the former Park President of Busch Gardens Willaimsburg before he was relocated to SeaWorld San Diego. It appears that he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer at somepoint after being replaced by Carl Lum and now.

[EDIT]

---

“Kevin is an entrepreneurial leader with both park support center and park experience,” said John Reilly, chief operating officer for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.

I think the real news here is that John C Reilly is the chief operating officer for SP&E.

I totally missed your post, you caught it first!

 

[Lord Robert]

John Reilly is certainly climbing up the SEAS ladder isn't he? Otherwise I wish the best for our new park President; here's to Kevin Lembke, long may he reign.

 

[Flyer]

If Kevin Lembke is the one responsible for Acadia Traders and for getting rid of the tacky crap that used to be sold in the La Belle Maison shop in France and introducing nicer items that actually fit in with the whole French/Parisian theme, then he's got my vote!

 

[Lord Robert]

He was in charge of the park's merchandise from 2013-16 so yeah he was responsible for that. Can you imagine what he'd do to the rest of the park?

 

[Coaster Takes]

His performance in the merchandise department was absolutely phenomenal. We got the new designs of the specific coaster shirts. Some really nice draw string bags. The stuffed animals that got placed in the emporium. ACADIA TRADERS which is a fantastic store. You could see the decline of new merchandise when InvadR merch came in. If lembke was still VP of merch in 2017, I guartenee the merchandise for InvadR would be fantastic. I have high hopes and expectations for Lembke. Hope he doesn’t disappoint.

 

[Lord Robert]

Here's this pretty cool interview that our new president gave to Coaster101.

https://www.coaster101.com/2018/02/25/chat-new-busch-gardens-williamsburg-park-president-kevin-lembke/

This quote in particular puts my mind at ease about Kevin's leadership and vision for Busch Gardens Williamsburg:

"Looking towards the future, looking for ways to be innovative, and looking for new ways to bring attractions to our guests in a way that helps us evolve but at the same time keeps with the traditions and the essence of what Busch Gardens Williamsburg is about. We aren’t like our regional competitors in the theme and quality we bring forward. I think you can evolve and innovate, but still protect the DNA and charm of this park, and what keeps people coming back."

 

[warfelg]

Here's this pretty cool interview that our new president gave to Coaster101.

https://www.coaster101.com/2018/02/25/chat-new-busch-gardens-williamsburg-park-president-kevin-lembke/

This quote in particular puts my mind at ease about Kevin's leadership and vision for Busch Gardens Williamsburg:

"Looking towards the future, looking for ways to be innovative, and looking for new ways to bring attractions to our guests in a way that helps us evolve but at the same time keeps with the traditions and the essence of what Busch Gardens Williamsburg is about. We aren’t like our regional competitors in the theme and quality we bring forward. I think you can evolve and innovate, but still protect the DNA and charm of this park, and what keeps people coming back."

I love that quote so much and makes me trust him so much. I love how he said it's important to move forward while still honoring the past. That's all I want this park to do. Not everything has to be perfectly preserved the way the park was in the past and left untouched.

 

[Lord Robert]

Exactly, Kevin may be the type of president who will innovate and change but will make sure the original DNA and charm of the park will remain in place. Wish someone could've told Carl Lum and Scott Gasparich that.