Laura Marakowits, project leader and Principal Maverick at Themed Entertainment & Attraction Mavericks, has a long history in the themed entertainment and attractions industry and has worked with big players like Walt Disney World, the National Football Leagues, Genting SkyWorlds, and Europa-Park’s Rulantica. She has also served two terms on the TEA EME Division Board.
Marakowits is one of the creators of the NextGen Project 2018-19. Speaking at the launch of the 2022 NextGen Showcase, she said: “Alex Korting and I initiated the first NextGen Project at the TEA EME SATE 2018 hoping to supplement the theoretical knowledge NextGens were gaining in education with some real-world experience. The project ran for a full year culminating in a presentation by the project team at the TEA’s EME SATE 2019, which could only be described as ground-breaking. Not only did participants get hands-on project experience, but they also created a network of colleagues and friends that will last a lifetime.
“Most impressively, their commitment to the project and experience received has also resulted in paid work for all of the participants.”
Designed to educate and inspire, the NextGen Showcase is a free educational program that offers the support of experienced mentors and educational speakers, and provides students and newcomers the chance to hone and showcase their skills. This year-long experience also provides real-world feedback from some of Europe’s top attraction leaders.
The ‘Client’ Panel for 2022 includes: Linnanmaki MD and CEO Pia Adlivankin, Liseberg CEO and president Andreas Andersen, Efteling project support team lead Jaap den Bleker, PortAventura World director of central services and sustainability Choni Fernandez Veciana, Europa-Park global art director Daniel Kerscher, and Blackpool Pleasure Beach managing director Amanda Thompson OBE.
Since the beginning of the 2022 NextGen Showcase, more than 60 participants from 11 European countries have been working in five multidisciplinary teams developing attraction concepts in response to a fictitious brief with real-world constraints. Having received client input on their blue sky offerings, each team is now progressing to complete their concept designs.