Sohret Pakis, Director of Marketing and Communications at Polin Waterparks, was recently honored with a 2022 Executive Board Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the water park industry, from the World Waterpark Association (WWA).
The Executive Board Award was officially presented on October 5, 2022, during the WWA Show at the Caesars Forum Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the participation of senior executives of leading industry experts. Andrew Chafatelli, Chair of the World Waterpark Association Board of Directors, and Chris Landgrave, Vice Chair of the World Waterpark Association Board of Directors, presented the award, which was accepted by Pakis. Executive Board Awards are presented annually to individuals or organizations for special accomplishment in the water leisure industry that have contributed to industry knowledge and expertise. Pakis is the first female director from Turkey to be awarded this prestigious award.
Pakis started her professional career as a Human Resources Generalist for the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company’s HR Department. After six months with Pfizer, she was promoted to Assistant Human Resources Manager. Later Pakis left Pfizer to join Polin Waterparks. Eventually, the business evolved to require the need for both reorganization and prospective-export targets. In supporting this transition, Pakis was part of the team that took the first initiatives toward structuring the human resources, sales and marketing departments, both in-house and abroad.
For 20 years, she has worked in the attractions industry and has developed a passion for it.
Pakis turned her focus exclusively to marketing and communications for the last 15 years of her career. During her time as a Director of Marketing and Communications of Polin Waterparks, the company has expanded across 110 countries.
Pakis has served as a committee member of IAAPA EMEA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions — Europe, Middle East and Africa) M&S Committee and has been longstanding member of WWA, National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), and European Waterpark Association (EWA). Pakis is serving as a board member at Turkish Association of Amusement Parks, Recreation and Attractions (TEPEA). She is the head of waterpark and recreation committees. She is also serving as the head of the education and brand committee at Adventure and Play Parks Association (IPAR).
Pakis has been serving as a jury member at Shining Star Awards, which is the only attractions award organization in Turkey since 2013. She has been a jury member at the MWINS Sports and Recreation Awards and she is also serving as a jury president at Outdoor Awards, Turkey.
