ProParks Attractions Group
We offer diverse services to help your organization create fun and safe family experiences.
ProParks Attractions Group is a diversified hospitality company seeking to create fun and safe experiences for families.
The attractions industry is not conducive to generalists or on-the-job training and in specialized industries such as the attractions business, we believe it is important to have experience operating across many business cycles to successfully improve the customer experience while navigating the shifting operational and financial challenges.
OWN & OPERATE
Opportunistically use our operational expertise to acquire and improve projects.
3RD PARTY MANAGEMENT
Offer financial partners our operational expertise to improve their projects.
ADVISORY SERVICES
Offer strategic consulting services leveraging our extensive industry network.
Focused on Experiences
Leadership
The ProParks team has significant experience across all aspects of the hospitality industry including water parks, theme parks, family entertainment centers, restaurants, resort & hotel operations and is led by its key partners.
John Hyltin
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John Hyltin
Chief Executive Officer
John Hyltin serves as Chief Executive Officer and brings over 30 years involvement in financial and general management. This diverse and broad experience includes companies large and small in various industries including airline, oil and gas, manufacturing, hospitality, service industries, and education, among others. John brings significant involvement in strategic planning, turnaround management, mergers & acquisitions, restructuring and capital sourcing and reallocation.
Andy Hyltin
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Andy Hyltin
Founder
Andy Hyltin is one of the founders of ProParks and is a seasoned executive with a broad range of both private and public company leadership experience through several financial cycles over 40 years. Andy primarily makes new investments through his family office, IVEST Hospitality, which he formed over 30 years ago to create, acquire or operate companies in the real estate, financial services and hospitality sectors. Andy has also served in various executive leadership roles with affiliates of CNL Financial Group in both the public and private sectors since 2001. Currently, he serves as Vice Chairman of CNL Holdings and previously served as CEO of four public companies including two Real Estate Investment Trusts, a Business Development Company and a Mutual Fund with partners including KKR, Macquarie, Blackrock, and CBRE.
Curt Caffey
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Curt Caffey
President
Curt Caffey serves as President and is a Certified Attractions Executive (IAAPA) who has served numerous attraction, hospitality, and real estate companies throughout the last three decades. Throughout his career, Curt has adopted a highly relational approach to build win-win opportunities for companies like Schlitterbahn, Ogden Entertainment, Wet ’n Wild Waterparks, Raging Waters Waterparks, EPR Properties, CNL Lifestyle Properties and numerous other iconic global attractions and recreation-based companies. Curt also currently serves on the Board of Directors of IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry.
Bo Hyltin
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Bo Hyltin
Director, FEC Operations
Bo Hyltin has grown up in the hospitality industry. During high school, he worked in various positions within the restaurant industry. Later, Bo was given an opportunity to take a position with Universal Orlando Resort, to be a part of the opening team of the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade, then quickly flourished within Attractions Operations. From there, Bo moved on to the opening team of Diagon Alley, setting up and leading the operations team for the Wand Interactive, Ollivanders, and Knockturn Alley attractions.
Prior to accepting his position with Pro Parks, Mr. Hyltin was most recently serving in a management position at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure, as Supervisor with park-wide responsibilities at times.Leading up to his management role, Mr. Hyltin was selected and participated in Universal’s Developing Leadership Talent in 2016, a highly competitive program within Universal’s Talent Development department. In all, Mr. Hyltin spent eight years with Universal in attraction operations management, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience with him to Pro Parks.
Mr. Hyltin is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance. Outside of business, he is certified as an advanced open-water scuba diver.Bo is an avid golf enthusiast maintaining a low handicap, whom continues to enjoy competing in state and national amateur tournaments during his time off.
Lorena Navarrete
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Lorena Navarrete
Director of Finance and Accounting
Lorena Navarrete is the Director of Finance and Accounting for ProParks Attractions Group, where she leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing the best finance service and solutions to clients and shareholders. Lorena joined ProParks in 2019, after spending 2 years with Acosta Tax & Advisory, PA. as Tax Consultant for small business. She also worked with Marriott Vacation Club International as Senior Assistant Controller, with oversight for the Latin American and Orlando regions. Lorena brings with her a wealth of accounting, financial and auditing experience, including resort and condo-hotel operations with Sonesta Hotels and Ritz-Carlton Hotels and Residences.
Lorena received her B.S. in Accounting from Central Florida University and will complete her M.B.A program from Florida Atlantic University in 2021.
Ryan Forson
Ryan Forson
Managing Director, Hawaiian Falls Waterparks
Mr. Forson serves as the Managing Director of all of the Hawaiian Falls Waterparks. Mr. Forson began his career in the water park industry at Hawaiian Falls Water Parks in The Colony, TX in 2010. Forson quickly rose to various leadership positions throughout the company and has served in leadership capacities at each waterpark location. Most recently, Forson served as the Park Director at Hawaiian Falls Water Park in Roanoke, TX. Over the years, Forson has trained and developed thousands of team members across the company in the areas of water safety, risk management, customer engagement and leadership.
Mr. Forson has a passion for people and seeing leaders grow and develop. His attention to organizational development and strong culture is a result of time spent with the Dallas Police Department, Chick Fil A and Hawaiian Falls Waterparks. Forson also received his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Liberty University in Virginia.
Mr. Forson is married, and he and his wife serve on staff at their church in Corinth, TX. They enjoy spending time with friends and family, and keeping up with their Irish Doodle, Samson.
Jason Martin
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Jason Martin
Area Director, Hawaiian Falls Waterparks
Jason Martin joined the Hawaiian Falls family in the summer of 2012 and he has served in many leadership positions throughout his career at Hawaiian Falls including intern, operations manager, Park Director and currently, Area Director. Serving as Area Director, Mr. Martin oversees the day to day operations of all locations including procurement and special projects.
Prior to Mr. Martin joining Hawaiian Falls, he served in the US Army as a medic. Mr. Martin served two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom attached to an infantry platoon where he earned his Combat Medic Badge. Once Mr. Martin’s commitment to the Army was fulfilled, he attended the University of North Texas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and a minor in Business Administration. He has obtained certifications in Pool Operations, Ellis & Associates Lifeguard Instruction, and Texas Food Management. In addition, he has received the honorable opportunity to speak at the World Water Park Association as an expert in park revenue.
Jason lives in Mansfield, Texas with his wife Raquel and two children Jude and Hope. In his free time, you will find him playing softball on his church team, trying new craft beers, watching local sports or cooking.
Justin LaFond
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Justin LaFond
Senior Park Director
Justin has been a key leader in the water park industry for over 12 years and has served as the Park Director at Hawaiian Falls Mansfield for over 7 years.
He is a certified lifeguard instructor with SGE and has extensive knowledge and expertise in aquatic safety protocols. Justin provides leadership and oversight on all global company initiatives, special projects and food and beverage programming for our portfolio of parks.
A highly regarded industry professional, he is very active in a number of waterpark and theme park organizations including IAAPA & WWA.
Ron McKenzie
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Ron McKenzie
Chief Marketing Officer
Ron McKenzie is a 26 year veteran of Six Flags having most recently served as park president for Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor water park in Arlington, Texas. Prior to that, he served as marketing director at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Six Flags St. Louis and Six Flags Astroworld. During his time with Six Flags, he helped lead, develop and market innovative attractions that enhanced the guest experience. An industry veteran, Ron brings a diverse set of marketing and operational skills designed to help lead growth across multiple entertainment venues.