OUR TEAM

Brian Stovall, CVE - Managing Partner Icon Leisure

Brian Stovall, President and Managing Partner of ICON Leisure, is a Certified Venue Executive with over 25 years of experience in public, private and not-for-profit sectors with expertise in operational concept design, new construction, renovations/expansions, general management, and real estate. Brian’s experience includes serving in numerous operations and executive roles for water parks, amphitheaters, performing arts centers, arenas and resort hospitality properties in Austin, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville and San Diego.

As a former Board Member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Stovall provided leadership and growth for the organization including contributing editorial content for “The IAVM Blueprint: Event Management” textbook as well as serving on numerous committees within IAVM including the Governance Committee and Industry Affairs Committee.

Brian has been in and around the resort and entertainment business since 1989 when he first became a lifeguard at Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort. Since then, he has held management and executive roles for recognizable industry leaders including Schlitterbahn, House of Blues Entertainment, Live Nation Entertainment, The University of Texas at Austin, Marriott, and Gaylord Hospitality Properties.

Derek Lovato, ICAE – Vice President

Derek Lovato has been active in the theme park, retail and entertainment industries for more than 19 years. Beginning his career in 1998, he worked for various top theme park companies including Six Flags, PARC Management and Herschend Family Entertainment at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park in Denver, Colorado. With experience in multiple areas throughout his tenure, Lovato’s predominant focus covers revenue, operations, group sales and in-park services. 

Managing games, retail and photo operations, as well as arcades and paid attractions while overseeing a staff of 500, Lovato’s work contributed to $34 million in annual sales at Elitch Gardens. Mr. Lovato also served on the Six Flags companywide merchandise development team, managing $15 million in inventory for the West Coast parks and attractions. During his career he also served as the head of corporate buying strategies for PARC Management, LLC.

Immediately prior to joining ICON Attractions, Derek held the position of Corporate Director of Sales for Rhode Island Novelty. Lovato was responsible for sales strategies and product development for the NANCO merchandise line, managing and developing business relationships with license partners Nickelodeon, MTV Viacom and Epic Records as well as managing an international sales team.

Mr. Lovato is an International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Certified Attractions Executive and member of the association’s Merchandise Committee. Lovato is also a member of the President’s Council for the New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (NEAAPA) and sits on the Executive Board of the Stuffed Toy Manufacturers Association (STMA). 

Chris Berner – Vice President of Finance

With a BS in accounting, finance and management information systems from Bowling Green University and an MBA from Ashland University, Chris Berner enjoyed successful roles in banking, manufacturing and distribution. He was given the opportunity to hop on the thrill ride that is the amusement industry and now feels like a kid every day.

Berner has held finance, technology and management roles at some of the countries’ most iconic play lands including Wyandot Lake, The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, The State Fair of Texas and California’s Great America.

The systematic approach Berner learned through involvement in the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the International Institute for Business Analysis (IIBA) has earned him a reputation of introducing successful structured business solutions to the business of fun.

Berner feels fortunate to include among his mentors, Larry Cochran (IAAPA Hall of Fame, class of 2008), Errol McKoy (IAFE Hall of Fame, class of 2012), and 5-time Emmy Award winner “Jungle” Jack Hanna. Chris enjoys his faith, cooking his mother’s traditional German recipes, playing golf, listening to live music, and of course, his family.

Randy Josselyn – Vice President of Experiences

Randy Josselyn, serves as ICON Attractions’ Vice President, Experiences. Providing technology and e-commerce consulting solutions to improve the overall guest experience. Randy has long played a role in the guest journey, after nearly twenty years working in numerous capacities for Wild Rivers Waterpark and Walt Disney Parks, Randy founded Team Trajectory, a consulting firm that specialized in ticketing, technology, e-commerce and best practices for the attractions industry. Prior to joining ICON Experiences, Randy led Gateway Ticketing’s wildlife and conservation division and expanded services to include ticketing strategy for themed attractions, zoos, museums and aquariums. In 2020, Randy was named a Power 10 in Blooloop’s 50 Theme Park Influencer List for creating and hosting a series of webinars during the pandemic which rapidly became a valued resource for many in the attractions industry.

Karyn Wilder – Vice President & General Manager

Karyn Wilder serves as Vice President and General Manager of the KC Wheel, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience in the attractions and entertainment industry. She oversees all aspects of operations, guest experience, finance, marketing, human resources, and strategic growth.

Prior to joining the KC Wheel, Wilder served as the founding General Manager of The St. Louis Wheel, where she led the attraction's successful opening and established it as a premier entertainment destination. After four years in St. Louis, she relocated to Kansas City to oversee the launch and ongoing operation of the KC Wheel.

Earlier in her career, Wilder served as Corporate Director of Human Resources and Administration for Hawaiian Falls, a multi-property water park organization in Texas. In that role, she partnered across operations, finance, marketing, technology, and human resources, developing a comprehensive understanding of how cross-functional leadership drives exceptional guest experiences and strong financial performance.

Wilder's professional background also includes leadership roles in education, where she served as both a teacher and school principal. This experience helped shape her collaborative leadership style and passion for team development, and organizational excellence.

Known for her hands-on approach and operational expertise, Wilder is committed to building high-performing teams, fostering a culture of service excellence, and delivering sustainable growth in the attractions industry.