Erik Neergaard

2022-07-22T17:23:41+00:00

William Alton Chief Creative Officer Erik is the Chief Creative Officer and COO of THG, an experience design and production studio based in Pasadena, CA. He has acted in a host of creative leadership and advisory roles for signature parks and attractions for some of the world’s most high value brands, IPs and developers such as Universal, Dreamworks, Paramount, Sony, and McKinsey to list just a few. Whether cultural, entertainment or a blend of the two, Erik is able to elevate an experience to the delight of the audience and the success of the developer. Highly accomplished and well respected within his industry, Erik is recognized as a dynamic, creative visionary with a long history of developing innovative and award-winning experiences all over the globe. Back to team

Scott Sinclair

2022-07-22T17:30:38+00:00

Scott Sinclair Executive Director of Design Scott has played leadership roles in the conceptualization and design of many high-profile themed entertainment projects, including the Dragons Wild Shooting interactive dark ride at Lotte World in Seoul, Korea; the Hello Kitty Theme Park in Anji, China; Tokyo DisneySea; Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland; Sony’s Metreon retail entertainment center in San Francisco and Mediage in Tokyo; and multiple live shows and parades for Disneyland’s Marketing and Entertainment Division. He has served as lead designer on numerous other ambitious projects, including Paul Allen’s Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, The National Ag Science Center in Central California, Ski Dubai indoor ski resort, and Paul Allen’s “Flying Heritage Collection,” a WWII fighter plane display in Seattle. EDUCATION B.A., Theater Technology/Set Design, California State University, Long Beach NOTABLE PROJECTS & CLIENTS Magic Kingdom, Tomorrowland Tokyo DisneySea Ski Dubai Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, Seattle Abbey Road Studios Chicago Museum of Science & Industry Dollywood Universal Studios Shanghai Disneyland Dreamworks Chimelong Ocean Kingdom Back to team

William Alton

2022-07-22T17:31:21+00:00

William Alton Senior Director of Design William Alton is Senior Director of Design with over 25 years working in the Theme Park, Hospitality, Retail and Restaurant industries. He has been Design Team Lead for the Universal Studios Hollywood Jurassic World. the Dodgers Stadium Renovation and Entertainment Plaza projects, the Atlantis The Palm Dubai Aquaventure and many other projects in the United States and internationally. He served as Vice President of Design for Paramount Pictures Parks and Resorts where he supervised the creative and design development of all other national and international aspects of recreation and hospitality for Paramount Pictures. He had development oversight on many R&D projects, including VR and AR themed entertainment experiences based on Paramount Films. Alton also worked with major game companies in developing Next-Gen Gamified experiences for theme park applications and worked as a creative consultant and concept designer for Walt Disney Imagineering in the development of attractions and resorts for Disney’s Anaheim, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Back to team

Beth Semler

2024-03-12T18:26:24+00:00

William Alton Design Manager Beth Semler is a passionate designer of scenic and interactive experiences for theme park attractions, museum exhibits, theater, and anything else that can immerse an audience. She is comfortable designing for both the physical and digital world, with past roles including Set Designer, Exhibit Designer, Art Director, 3D Modeler, CAD Manager, Interactive Designer, Game Designer & Media Producer. Beth loves not only creating a world for people to enjoy, but then pushing to find ways for them to interact with that world through gameplay, media, and physical experiences. She takes the many requirements and constraints of a project (including accessibility, safety, operational, technical, facility, budget scale, intellectual property, and of course artistic goals) and incorporates them into one coherent and exciting design that always puts the story and guest experience first. EDUCATION Bachelor of Drama, Scenic Design Carnegie Mellon University Master of Entertainment Technology Carnegie Mellon University NOTABLE PROJECTS Super Nintendo World and Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge,  Universal Studios Hollywood The Secret Life of Pets,: Off the Leash, Universal Studios Hollywood Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Universal's Islands of Adventure Toy Story Midway Mania, Disneyland and Magic Kingdom Back to team

Carolina Ricardo

2024-03-12T19:22:46+00:00

William Alton Graphic Designer Carolina Ricardo initiated her professional journey as an intern at Universal Creative, seamlessly transitioning into a career at THG Creative. Specializing in crafting graphics for themed environments, she has played a pivotal role in projects creating environmental signage, show graphics, marketing materials, and more. Outside of work, Carolina enjoys reading, cycling, and dancing in her free time. KEY SKILLS Environmental Graphics, Logo & Branding, Typography, Illustration, Graphic Layout EDUCATION B.F.A. Graphic Design University of Central Florida NOTABLE PROJECTS Universal Studios IAPPA 2023 Back to team

Charlie Otte

2024-03-12T18:29:44+00:00

William Alton Senior Creative Producer Charlie Otte is a producer/director whose work crosses multiple platforms and genres. He is known for creating large-scale immersive entertainment and story-driven productions that can be seen on television, online, onstage, in theme parks, and in museums. He has worked with Disney, Universal, Busch Gardens, LA Opera, KCET,A&E, Discovery, Monty Python productions, and others. During his 5years as a Sr. Producer at Universal Creative, he completed work as the Land Producer for Minion Land at the Universal Beijing Resort in China. Additional producing and directing work can be seen online at KCET in the award-winning production Vireo, or at the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield Illinois. He spent many years producing and directing theater, including the premier of the Philip Glass opera La Belle et La Bete. Every project is an opportunity for new discoveries, and Otte is happy to be here working at THG on the best work the industry has to offer KEY SKILLS Projection Design, Lighting Design, Editing, Music EDUCATION MFA in Film Production - USC NOTABLE PROJECTS Produce Minion Land – Universal Beijing Produce Minion Blast – Universal Orlando Creative Direct Lincoln Presidential Library – Illinois Creative Direct Spirit of Texas – Texas State Museum, Austin Produce and Direct Vireo – KCET, Los Angeles (Emmy Nominee) Produce and Direct Beer Nutz – HDTV Produce and Direct Biography – A&E Back to team

Christopher Merritt

2024-05-09T19:17:17+00:00

William Alton Senior Art Director Southern California native Christopher Merritt has over 25 years of ride and show design experience creating theme park attractions and environments around the world. He has served as an Art Director and Production Designer at theme parks located in California, Florida, Tokyo, Singapore and Shanghai. In 2010, Chris's Knott's Berry Farm pictorial history, 'Knott's Preserved', was published to critical acclaim. 2014 saw the release of 'Pacific Ocean Park: The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles' Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier' along with co-author Domenic Priore. After five years of research and design, co-authoring with Pete Docter, the coffee table book 'Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks' is out now. Chris currently lives in Southern California. NOTABLE PROJECTS Art Director and Creative Director on the Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-thru at Disneyland, CA in 2008 Show Designer on The Little Mermaid attraction (Ariel's Undersea Adventure) at Disney California Adventure in 2006 Art Director and Senior Production Designer on Mickey Avenue at Shanghai Disneyland Lead Show Designer for Radiator Springs Racers for Disney California Adventure Author of 'Knott's Preserved', 'Pacific Ocean Park: The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles' Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier' along with co-author Domenic Priore, and 'Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks' with co-author Domenic Priore. Back to team

Connor Sinclair

2022-07-22T18:22:14+00:00

William Alton Senior Graphic Designer Connor Sinclair is a Los Angeles based graphic designer specializing in environmental graphics, marquee signage, and brand identity. As the senior graphic designer at The Hettema Group, he helps to create a wide array of projects ranging from experiential show graphics to marketing collateral material and client presentations. Outside of work, Connor’s interests include typography, Japanese robot anime, rollerblading, and modified cars. EDUCATION B.A. Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) NOTABLE PROJECTS Motiongate, Dubai Bollywood Park, Dubai Dragons Wild Shooting Seoul, South Korea One World Observatory, New York City Back to team

D’Angelo Reyes

2023-08-31T18:28:54+00:00

William Alton Designer D’Angelo is a designer at THG who strives for harmony between the creative and the technical. He works extensively with AutoCAD and Revit for show set drawings and packages, in addition to Rhino and 3ds Max for 3d modeling. D’Angelo is also a production and scenic designer, with skills in concept illustration, attraction design, immersive theater, and Halloween haunt design. Outside of work he loves movies, musicals, improv comedy, writing, and talking about walkable train and public transit-oriented communities. EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Minor in Theater California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo NOTABLE PROJECTS Toothsome Chocolate Emporium Hollywood Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort Back to team

David Lepor

2022-07-22T18:22:41+00:00

William Alton Designer With experience in the world of theatre and a background in art, David feels right at home in the themed entertainment industry.  Whether concept design, color work, or illustration, David strives for quality, beauty, and consistency. As an illustrator on Motiongate Dubai, David developed the visual design for a wide mix of dark rides, flat rides, play areas, retail spaces, and restaurants. He has additional experience in interiors, art direction, production design, and model making. While not working on theme parks, David spends time designing sets and props for regional theatre productions. EDUCATION Bachelor of Science, Graphic Design & Illustration, Communications Minor - Grace College, Winona Lake, IN Master of Fine Arts, Scenic Design - University of California, Irvine NOTABLE PROJECTS Motiongate Dubai Bollywood Parks Dubai Back to team

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