Press Release

For immediate release

The American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) and the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) have selected Foundations Entertainment University headed by top industry consultants Frank Seninsky, President/CEO of Amusement Entertainment Management (AEM) & Alpha-Omega Amusements & Sales and Randy White, CEO of White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group, to coordinate the week-long educational program  aimed at family and leisure entertainment centers during Amusement Expo 2012, being held March 14-16, 2012 in Las Vegas, NV.

"The FEC component is a major part of the industry and we're delighted that Foundations and the Amusement Expo will be teaming up next March to deliver timely, targeted information to those who are engaged in that part of the business," said Expo Chairman Gary Brewer of Brewer Amusement Co., McMinnville, TN.  "We look forward to welcoming attendees of the FEC program to the show in Vegas early next year." 

Added Expo Director David Cohen of Firestone Financial: “We are pleased to have Frank and his partners as part of our educational program at the Amusement Expo in March. We believe that providing a strong educational program is imperative to the success and growth of our show.”

By partnering with Foundations Entertainment University, Amusement Expo will become the premier trade show for family and leisure entertainment center owners/operators. Not only will registrants have the opportunity to attend the industry’s this #1 rated (two full days & 1 evening) comprehensive educational workshop covering all aspects of market & financial feasibility, planning, designing, developing, and opening and/or managing location-based entertainment businesses, their discounted registration fee of only $399 will also gain them access to the Amusement Expo. Here they will be able to browse the aisles and see the newest products and services relevant to their businesses in a focused environment that is right-sized to have all their needs met in one convenient place. This will also be their only opportunity to attend a Foundations educational event at such a discounted price. ($250 savings plus access to trade show.)

Frank Seninsky commented, “Not only is this partnership a great value for the industry, Amusement Expo will provide a new home for those family and leisure based entertainment center owners and operators who attended the (now defunct) Fun Expo because it met their distinct needs. In addition, we will be starting new traditions, like an Awards Program for excellence in entertainment center facilities, a free advanced Foundations Alumni session for the more than 700 Foundations alumni and their staff, as well as other relevant educational seminars that will be free to all trade show attendees.”

Joining Seninsky and White in presenting the Foundations Entertainment University seminar program will be Alan Fluke, President of AEA Consulting Group; Jerry Merola, CFO of Alpha-Omega Amusements and Managing Partner of Amusement Entertainment Management (AEM); and Peter F. Olesen, P.E., President of Entertainment Concepts, Inc. Other speakers and programs will be announced shortly.

So mark your calendars for March 12-16, 2012 to attend the Amusement Expo and Foundations Entertainment University seminar program – Your Keys to Real Value!

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Foundations Entertainment University at Amusement Expo will be a 2.0 day class that provides a complete blueprint for anyone developing and opening a new center or significantly expanding or renovating an existing location-based entertainment facility. Attendees tap into over 150 years of combined experience and expertise from the industry's top consultants and operators.

The AAMA-AMOA Amusement Expo is the premier trade event for the coin-op and out-of-home entertainment industries.    Co-owned and co-sponsored by the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA), which represents the manufacturing and distribution segments of the industry, and the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA), which represents primarily the operator side of the marketplace, the event is annually conducted in the spring.  The Amusement Expo is managed by W.T. Glasgow, Inc., Orland Park, IL.

 

“A Unique Experience and Opportunity” Sums Up the 20th Foundations Entertainment University Held July 13-15, 2010 in Chicago, IL

Attendees at the 20th Foundations Entertainment University (FEU) had a lot to say about their experience in Chicago, IL, July 13-15, 2010. Susan Hoffland is in the process of opening a new Childrens Entertainment Center in Phoenix, AZ and commented, “Foundations is a unique experience and opportunity to be taught by the brain trust of the entertainment industry. For anyone thinking about starting a facility, they should absolutely attend Foundations!”

Susan represents the majority of the attendees who are planning to either open a new facility or expand an existing facility and are heavily invested in the development process. “Foundations 20 ranks as one of the most significant session’s in the program’s 7-year history,” according to Jerry Merola, FEU presenter and Managing Partner of Amusement Entertainment Management. “What is generally coined as the next Great Recession is now seen as the key incubator in fostering project development within the leisure entertainment sector. De-valued real estate, eroding construction and materials costs, and pro-business attitudes with regulatory and government agencies has created the perfect storm for entertainment development.”

From boutique bowling and movie theaters to children and family indoor/outdoor fun centers, the diversification within the entertainment industry was easily seen within the Foundations classroom. Yet all of the attendee’s comments about their experience at FEU echoed Susan’s. Chris Brandt of Emagine Entertainment in Novi, MI stated, “For anyone opening their first family entertainment center, Foundations is a must. I highly recommend this seminar!” Kevin Lewis from Waukegan, IL, felt he “learned more in three days than in a month of college business courses.”

Foundations Entertainment University’s three-day comprehensive educational program for the family and leisure entertainment center industry focuses on all aspects of planning, designing, developing and operating a location-based entertainment business for long-term success. Top industry consultants, Randy White, CEO of White-Hutchinson Leisure & Learning; Frank Seninsky, President/CEO of Alpha-Omega Amusements and Partner of Amusement Entertainment Management (AEM); Alan Fluke, President of AEA Consulting Group; Jerry Merola, CFO of Alpha-Omega Amusements and Managing Partner of Amusement Entertainment Management (AEM); and Peter Olesen, President of Peter F. Olesen & Associates, cover over 22 hours of instruction for entrepreneurs looking to get into the location-based entertainment industry, individuals and companies in the planning, designing and building stage, and new operators and businesses looking to grow and expand their current operations.

Unique from many other seminar programs, Foundations takes its program outside the traditional classroom as well. While in Chicago, the class took field trips to visit The Enchanted Castle and Lucky Strike Lanes in Lombard, IL, as well as Sugar Grove Family Fun Center in Sugar Grove, IL. Co-Regent Frank Seninsky points out that “Attendees are able to go on ‘behind the scenes tours’ with the owners/managers of existing facilities and see first-hand what it takes to operate a successful facility, while also spending valuable one-on-one time with their classmates, the presenters and several industry suppliers who support the Foundations program.” Micheaux Hollingsworth of Jupiter Bowl, Raeford, NC, was, “glad that my partner and I attended the three-day seminar…the presenters were very helpful and friendly and we met some great sponsors such as Embed, US Bowling, Prime Play, Betson, Creative Works, Birthday University, and more. I would recommend everyone to attend if they are trying to enter the FEC business.”

Joining the Foundations class this year was long time industry expert on the business of birthday parties, Frank Price. Frank is the president of F.L. Price and Associates, a training, operations and concept development firm, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, that specializes in family fun, recreation and children’s entertainment. Frank is also the founder of Birthday University (BU), which is now in its tenth year. Frank will be teaming up with Foundations University in September to provide an all NEW BU program, 2010 … EVOLVING THE ATTRACTIONS BASED PARTY / GROUP PROGRAMS, as a follow up to the Foundations program. Frank’s program will begin immediately following the end of FEU #21 [Dallas, TX) on Thursday afternoon and run through Friday afternoon. Attendees of both FEU and Birthday U – 2010… will receive a discount on a combined registration for both workshops. More information will be available on the FEU website at www.foundationsuniversity.com. The next Foundations Entertainment University/Birthday University 2010 is scheduled for September 21-24 in Dallas, TX.

Robert Phillips of Liberty Hill Family Fun Center in Liberty Hills, TX sums the Foundations program up by stating, “FEU is a wonderful concept. Just attending this session has put my mind as ease, knowing that there is such a wonderful support group in the industry. All of the instructors are great and appear to be looking out for the potential new owners.”

About Foundations Entertainment University

FOUNDATIONS ENTERTAINMENT UNIVERSITY is a 3-day comprehensive educational workshop and seminar covering all aspects of market & financial feasibility, planning, designing, developing, opening and managing a location-based entertainment business and FEC for long term success.

Foundations Platinum Elite Sponsors:  Betson, EMBED, Prime Play, US Bowling.

Foundations Gold Elite Sponsors:  American Changer, Birthday University, BPAA, Creative Works Theme Factory, Comfyland Edutainment Centers, Deltronic Labs, Dynamite FX, ILTA, Lazer Runner, MUBIG, Muncie Novelty, Sterling & Sterling Insurance, Sureshot Redemption, Tokens Direct, Tourist Attractions & Parks, and US Indoor Soccer. Please contact Frank Seninsky (fseninsky@aol.com) at 732-254-3773 or Randy White (whiteheg@aol.com) at 816-931-1040 to learn more about Foundations. “Scholarships (Full and Half) are available from each of the Sponsors and Presenters so make sure they know you are interested,” reports Frank Seninsky.

Photos & Captions

1. Group Shot.
2. Peter Olesen, FEU Presentor goes over Jason Briese’s go-kart/FEC Project in Cleghorn, IA.
3. Molly Brand and Tom Churches of Bridgton Raceway, Bridgton, ME get one-on-one time with Alan Fluke of AEA Group.