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Peter van Roden to Oversee Location-Based Operations for National Geographic as Senior VP Global Experiences & Events

[quote]Local and regional entertainment ranging from interactive exhibits to integrated, high-tech experiences are an exciting and contemporary way for National Geographic to bring the world a little closer in vivid and exciting ways to audiences of all ages around the world.” — Terry Garcia, National Geographic Society Chief Science and Exploration Officer[/quote]

Washington, DC, USA (June 4, 2014)—Emmy Award-winning producer and media executive Peter van Roden will join the National Geographic Society as senior vice president, global experiences & events, on Monday, June 9. He will oversee National Geographic’s emerging location-based operations, including themed entertainment and touring shows, as well as National Geographic’s public programs, speakers’ bureau, National Geographic Museum and traveling exhibits.

Van Roden comes to National Geographic from Sesame Workshop, where he was vice president, themed entertainment, overseeing global business development and brand management in theme parks, tours, exhibits and other nontraditional media ventures. In addition to managing Sesame Workshop’s worldwide live touring business, including Sesame Street Live, van Roden also oversaw new business ventures, including a global partnership with the USO; the interactive museum exhibit “Sesame Street Presents: The Body”; a planetarium film; a partnership with Beaches Resorts; and the global expansion of theme park relationships, including Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore, and a domestic partnership with SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Parks.

Van Roden was previously chief Web officer of BigChalk.com. Other positions he has held are president and CEO of HomeworkCentral.com; vice president of production and themed entertainment at The Jim Henson Company; director of network specials and reality programs at The Walt Disney Company; and manager of promotions and associate producer at ABC Sports.

“Peter is the perfect leader to help us realize our vision, and we are delighted to welcome him to the organization,” said National Geographic Society Chief Science and Exploration Officer Terry Garcia, to whom van Roden will report.

Van Roden has a B.A. in politics from Ithaca College, and he won his Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Programming, Olympics Marketing Campaign.

www.nationalgeographic.com

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttp://wwww.themedreality.com
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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