Theme and Guests announced for Legends 2022 at IAAPA Orlando:

Epcot; 40 Years in a State of Becoming

Each year for 25 years, the Legends Panel at IAAPA Expo, moderated and curated by Bob Rogers, Founder & Chairman of BRC Imagination Arts, has shared the otherwise-lost wisdom and methods of the industry’s great achievers, in a way that helps tomorrow’s creative leaders shape the future.

On November 16, this year’s Legends Panel will explore the tools and lessons arising from the creation and continuing evolution of EPCOT. How has its core identity evolved, tried new things and refreshed itself, from EPCOT (all caps) to Epcot (with just a capital E), from idea-based to IP-based and beyond. For over four decades it has remained the 5th, 6th or 7th best-attended theme park in the world! How and why? And what visions inspire its future. Five amazing Legends share insights, strategies, and lessons of a lifetime – lessons that you can soon be applying to your own work.

The 2022 Legends panel includes:

Bob Rogers is the Founder & Chairman of BRC Imagination Arts; Moderator and Curator of The Legends Panel. For Epcot, Rogers wrote and produced the original Impressions du France, still playing at Epcot’s French Pavilion, plus two generations of post shows for the GM Pavilion including Bird & the Robot. Rogers has been inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame and is a Thea Lifetime Achievement recipient and has two Oscar nominations. Rogers’ first industry job was as a magician in the Magic Shop at Disneyland.

Bob Weis, is the Global Ambassador for Walt Disney Imagineering, a position pioneered by the late Imagineering creative leader and Disney Legend Marty Sklar. Weis focuses on Imagineering culture and mentorship along with the curation of the Marty Sklar Archives, an education, and publishing initiative based on the papers and memorabilia collected by Marty over his 54-year career at Disney. Much of this collection focuses on Marty’s leadership legacy, especially during the creation of EPCOT and first 35 years of the park’s vibrant evolution. From 2016 to 2021 Weis served as President of Walt Disney Imagineering, with responsibility for Disney’s global parks and resorts, the next generations of Disney Cruise Line ships, and the expansion and reimagining of EPCOT. He has worked on new EPCOT attractions including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure; Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind; Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana; and the critically acclaimed World Showcase Lagoon spectacular Harmonious. Weis is a Thea Lifetime Achievement recipient.

Jodi McLaughlin is Executive Portfolio Producer, Walt Disney Imagineering. Jodi joined WDI in 1987 as a Set Designer for Disneyland Resort, Paris, and continued to lead Set Decorating efforts for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In 2005 Jodi transitioned to Producer and later Executive Portfolio Producer for Disneyland Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland, and since 2017 guided multiple teams driving the transformation of EPCOT. Jodi’s EPCOT work includes Moana’s Journey of Water, World Celebration (including Communicore Hall, Communicore Plaza and Gardens, Dreamers Point and Walt the Dreamer statue, Connections Café, and Eatery, Creations Shop), Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Spaceship Earth Exterior Lighting, Space 220, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and The Soul of Jazz in An American Adventure.

Kartika Rodriguez is the Vice President of EPCOT, overseeing all elements from the day-to-day operation of the park to the current transformation of EPCOT, the largest growth project in the park’s history. Kartika joined Disney 22 years ago with the Industrial Engineering department. Gradually advancing to WDW Integrated Facilities Manager; Magic Kingdom Park’s Operations Manager; General Manager of EPCOT Park Arrival Experience which included Food & Beverage, Merchandise, Guest Relations, Outdoor Vending, and Merchandise’s Heart of the House lines of business; in addition to several opening team experiences with the Disney Operations Command Center, Efficiency Team and New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.

Rick Rothschild, Founder & Chief Creative Officer of FAR Out! Creative Direction, spent over 31 years as a Disney Imagineer executive. Rick directed over 25 unique theme park attractions. Highlights include co-writing/show producing The American Adventure (EPCOT – 1982, updated 1992), Backstage Magic (EPCOT – 1983); working with top industry talent to help create Captain EO (EPCOT & Disneyland – 1986), Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (EPCOT – 1994), It’s Tough to be a Bug! (Animal Kingdom – 1998) and Mickey’s PhilharMagic (WDW – 2003): Pleasure Island (WDW – 1989), co-director for Exraterrestrial Alien Encounter (WDW – 1995); and creating/directing Soarin’ over California (DCA – 2001). Post Disney Rick is leading the development of FlyOver, a string of stand-alone fully immersive “flying ride” attractions including, The Real Wild West in Las Vegas (2021), Iceland in Reykjavik (2019), America in Minneapolis MN (2016), and Canada in Vancouver BC (2013). Recognized by the Themed Entertainment Association as a T.E.A. MASTER, Rick is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Producers Guild of America, and the Visual Effects Society.

About BRC Imagination Arts

Bob Rogers is the Founder and CEO of BRC Imagination Arts, a global strategy, design, and production company that translates brand and cultural stories into transformative, human experiences. For 40 years, BRC has stood on the front lines, helping brand homes, cultural attractions, and museums build more meaningful, enduring relationships with audiences around the globe. BRC’s unique body of work has earned over 450 awards for some of the most respected and acclaimed brand destinations in the world including Johnnie Walker Princes Street, the Grand Ole Opry, Amorepacific’s Storygarden, Jameson Distillery Bow St., the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Guinness Storehouse, World of Coca-Cola, NASA Kennedy Space Center and more.

For questions, please contact:
Maya Guice
Marketing Director, BRC Imagination Arts
Mguice@brcweb.com

About IAAPA

IAAPA is a diverse and dynamic community of global attractions professionals. As the largest international trade association for permanently located attractions, IAAPA unifies the attractions community, connects people to learn and grow together, and strives to promote the highest professional standards for excellence and safety around the world.

Founded in 1918, IAAPA represents leading industry attractions and supplier companies, consultants, and individual members from more than 100 countries. Members include professionals from amusement parks, theme parks, attractions, water parks, resorts, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, museums, cruise lines, manufacturers, and suppliers.

The association’s global headquarters and North America office are in Orlando, Florida, U.S. IAAPA also maintains offices in Brussels, Belgium; Hong Kong, China; Shanghai, China; Mexico City, Mexico. Additional information is available at IAAPA.org and through IAAPA’s social media channels: @IAAPAHQ #IAAPAExpos