PGAV Destinations Announces Trio of Promotions to New Leadership Roles
PGAV Destinations, a global leader in the planning and design of unique destinations, is excited to announce three internal director-level promotions as part of a targeted plan to anticipate future growth within the themed entertainment, cultural, and hospitality industries.
Each of these promotions build on separate, key areas of PGAV’s strength: growth and diversification of PGAV’s practice in Asia; expansion of the firm’s creation of experiences for popular consumer brands; and enhancement of the company’s strength in highly creative visualization of cutting-edge experiences.
“These are three new positions that have grown out of our strategic planning and are focused on growth and expansion of our practice,” said Mike Konzen, PGAV CEO. “We are excited to encourage Hui, Amanda, and Jason to continue to develop as leaders who will contribute to our organization’s growth and competitiveness. I look forward to their continued impact and creative contributions.”
PGAV Destinations is proud to recognize the following director-level promotions.
Promoted to Director of Asian Projects: Hui Chen. Chen is a skilled licensed architect with 15+ years of overall planning and design experience and 8+ years of destination industry experience. Chen graduated with a bachelor’s degree of architecture from Xiamen University in China, and received her Master of Architectural from the University of Texas in Austin. As PGAV’s Director of Asian Projects, Chen will oversee PGAV projects in Asia during all phases from initial proposals to final construction. Chen will identify, develop, and manage business relationships; identify and create business growth opportunities; understand both customer needs and technical design requirements; and safeguard clients’ interests.
Hui said, “I am excited about expanding PGAV’s practice into the highly-dynamic Asian market and working in all the different project types.”
Promoted to Director of Brand Experience: Amanda Yates. Yates is a multidisciplinary designer and brand strategist with over 10 years of experience in the industry, specializing in museum and brand experiences. She holds a degree in Communication Design from The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. PGAV’s Director of Brand Experience will work with leadership across sectors to develop, grow, and execute sales strategies for an evolved range of brand services at PGAV. Yates will work on project teams to identify and deliver customized client-focused brand services, ranging from strategy and positioning, to immersive environments and digital experiences.
Remarked Yates, “With the expansion of this practice, I’m proud to bring PGAV’s bespoke approach and bold solutions to a wider range of emerging and legacy brands.”
Promoted to Director of Visual Development: Jason Mills. Jason is a multidisciplinary designer with over 10 years of experience in the attraction and animation industries. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation & Visual Effects from Academy of Art University, and a Master of Arts in Design Management from Savannah College of Art & Design. The role of the Director of Visual Development is to manage the visual development process across multiple client projects, while maintaining key client relationships, and collaborating with project leaders to nurture and improve design processes.
“I am thrilled to explore new opportunities for collaboration, design thinking, and innovation as an evolution of our creative process,” says Mills.
About PGAV Destinations
PGAV Destinations is a global leader in the planning and design of unique destinations. Now entering its sixth decade, the practice has evolved to become the ideal destination-consulting partner, skilled at developing growth-oriented master plans and translating those plans into successful projects. No other firm offers such an integrated approach to destination planning.
PGAV Destinations’ key clients include industry leaders such as Delaware North Companies, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, the Biltmore Companies, Bass Pro Shops, Ameristar Casinos, Universal Studios, The Gettysburg Foundation, the Saint Louis Zoo, and many others. Recent assignments include planning and design at many of the world’s “must see” destinations, including the Grand Canyon, Biltmore Estate, Space Shuttle Atlantis, The Alamo, National Air & Space Museum, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, the Georgia Aquarium, the Hoover Dam, and SeaWorld Adventure Parks. www.PGAVDestinations.com
