“Whether it’s a four-year-old building their first fort out of LEGO® DUPLO® bricks or an engineering-minded nine-year-old testing the strength of his or her just-built LEGO skyscraper on our Earthquake Tables, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester will provide children and families with a unique and enriching experience that cultivates creativity in an exciting and safe environment,” said Mines.
Further details on the executive team follow:
- Chris Mines, General Manager – In the six years prior to joining LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester, Mines served as Head of Operations at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas and as Commercial Manager for Madame Tussauds New York. Before crossing the pond, earlier in his career Chris was the Business Manager for all retail at the then known, British Airways London Eye in London. He graduated from Bradford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in History and Politics, and earned his Master’s in Heritage Management from Birmingham University.
- Monique Perretti, Marketing Manager – A Westchester native, Perretti comes to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester following positions as Marketing and Entertainment Manager at the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway and Marketing Coordinator for Wusthof-Trident of America Inc. She has also worked for several media companies, including VH1 and Track Entertainment. Perretti graduated from Manhattanville College with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts Management and Communications, and is currently pursuing her MBA in Communications & Media Management and Marketing from Fordham University.
- Charles Graytok, Finance Manager – Charles Graytok started his career with Merlin Entertainments in January 2011 at Madame Tussauds New York before coming on board at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester. Before Merlin Entertainments, Charles worked for various companies in the entertainment industry, including Blue Man Group and Manhattan Theatre Club. He graduated from Wheeling Jesuit University with a Bachelor’s in Business Management and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Accounting.
“LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester will offer guests a unique experience, providing a fertile environment for creativity and discovery, where family fun and learning go hand in hand,” said Perretti. “I feel privileged to be part of providing a new interactive and educational destination as an option for children and families in the tri-state area.”
“It is a pleasure to be working with a brand that is dedicated to encouraging and providing a platform for children to explore and discover their creativity,” said Graytok. “We are working hard to ensure we provide an experience that families and children will cherish long after their initial visit.”
Recently, the attraction held a two-day competition called “Brick Factor,” pitting metro-area LEGO enthusiasts against one another in exciting and fast-paced building challenges against the backdrop of cheering spectators. The hands-on interview/competition resulted in Putnam County’s Michael Tocidlowski being named and hired as the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester’s Master Model Builder, a full-time salaried position. In the position, Tocidlowski will be responsible for developing new features and exhibitions, building new models, as well as working with thousands of children and families expected to visit the attraction.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is a $12 million, 32,300 square-foot indoor attraction featuring more than 3 million LEGO bricks, geared towards children ages 3-10 and their families. Its range of interactive attractions will include hands-on play areas, a 4D cinema, master classes led by Master Model Builders, two LEGO rides, special party rooms and MINILAND — the venue’s signature re-creation of landmark locations and buildings throughout Westchester County and New York City, made entirely out of LEGO bricks. Follow us at www.facebook.com/LDCWestchester and www.twitter.com/LDCWestchester. LEGOLAND Discovery Center is part of the Merlin Entertainments Group.