Additional speaker bios will be added as they are received!
Jeffrey Holmes, Iron, Wood & Glitter
Unleash Creativity: Create Music, Sound Effects, Characters, and Stories with AI
Glitter & Glow: Creating Strong Vibes with Color
Jeffrey A. Holmes has designed & produced over 100 Christmas & Halloween shows across the USA and abroad, including the 340,000 pixel tree at “An Old Time Christmas” (Silver Dollar City), the majestic “Fire & Ice” flame & light show (Thanksgiving Point), and the choose-your-own-adventure interactive haunted house, “Terror Roulette” (Chicago). In the last 20 years, Jeff has become the go-to “choreographer of light” for theme parks, gardens, and zoos across the country, blending his theatrical performance & technical background with a passion for world class guest experiences. His favorite production continues to be his own flash-mob gospel proposal to his spouse, Morgan.
Additional Notable Credits Include:
- Nature’s Wonders (Atlanta Botanical Garden)
- Glacier Ridge Light Shows (Dollywood)
- Macy’s Singing Tree (Thanksgiving Day Parade)
- Dallas Cowboys Christmas Spectacular
- Snowball & Flurry Projection Show
- New Year’s Eve PyroMusical Spectacular (Thanksgiving Point, UT)
- World’s Tallest (150ft) Musical Christmas Tree (Arbol De Gallo, Guatemala)
Scott Swenson, Scott Swenson Creative Development
Make it Memorable: Creating Unique Santa Experiences on a Budget
For over 30 years, Scott Swenson has been bringing stories to life as a Writer, Director, Producer, Educator and Performer. His work in Theme Park, Consumer Events, Live Theater and Television has given him a unique perspective on the entertainment industry. In 2014, after 21 years with SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Scott formed his own company, Scott Swenson Creative Development. Since then he has been providing impactful experiences for clients around the world. Scott is just as comfortable installing shows on cruise ships (Viking Cruise Lines) or writing and directing award winning educational presentations (SeaWorld, Space Center Houston, The Florida Aquarium, Indianapolis Zoo) as he is providing creative direction (or as he calls it, “Guest Experience Advocacy”) for park wide Christmas events (Franklin Institute, Indianapolis Zoo). In the first half of 2023, Scott was working as the Senior Producer for the Installation of Live Entertainment at SeaWorld, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. In early 2024, he took on the role of Training Specialist for the opening of the WWE Experience in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Scott is probably best known for his work on Halloween events and haunted attractions (Howl-O-Scream, Terror Roulette, The Vault of Souls, DARK at Fort Edmonton Park, UNDead in the Water, Creatures of the Night, ZooBoo, Franklin Fright, etc.). Scott hosts “A Scott in the Dark: Periodic Podcasts for Haunters” and co-hosts the “Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30” podcast. He has written two popular books on the haunted attraction industry and four books of dark poetry and prose. Scott is a member of IAAPA, Leadership Tampa Alumni, The Horror Writers Association, The Themed Entertainment Association, Puppeteers of America and The Haunted Attraction Association. He is an IAAPA Certified Attractions Executive (ICAE), Subject Matter Expert (for training classes and certification) and a member of the IAAPA Entertainment and Awards Task Forces. He has also contributed to articles for several national and international publications and is a sought after panelist and presenter for entertainment and event based trade shows. Whatever project Scott is working on, he is always focused on finding new ways to tell stories that engage and entertain audiences. For more information visit www.ScottSwenson.com.