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On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Renee Welsh, CEO of Embed, to unpack the human side behind system overhauls, AI, and digital tools. Renee offers actionable guidance to ease tech adoption friction and establish clear benchmarks for team success. "It's not just about implementing the technology itself. It's all of the stakeholders wrapped around that. It's the training. It's the onboarding. It's the workflow changes. It's the comforting and giving people the space to learn and to make mistakes." — Renee Welsh Renee says success happens when you break new rollouts into focused 'micro-experiments ' and allow team members grace to learn, adapt, and master a new system. "But it's not just about implementing the technology itself. It's all of the stakeholders wrapped around that. It's the training. It's the onboarding. It's the workflow changes. It's the comforting and giving people the space to learn and to make mistakes." — Renee Welsh While rollouts often test a team's resolve before delivering results, Renee says success happens when leadership prioritizes people, frames new rollouts as focused micro-experiments, and creates an environment where team members feel safe to learn, iterate, and adapt.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with John Keys, Sales Director at CenterEdge Software, to discuss how family entertainment centers can transform tense guest interactions into lifelong loyalty through intentional staff training, active listening, and simple system processes. Turning friction into loyalty requires giving your team the proper tools, repetitive role-playing opportunities, and room to practice scenario-based problem-solving before stepping into real-world situations. When guests face long lines, unexpected delays, or technical hiccups, frontline employees—often high school or college students in their first jobs—are the first line of defense. Without practice, these young team members often freeze up or feel overwhelmed. "All of the things that we're doing are life skills that we can provide for our younger employees that are having their first or second job." — John Keys John emphasizes that team members who feel supported and empowered can instantly defuse tense situations. Even more important than quick giveaways, training staff in active liste

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ is joined by Armando Lanuti, President and Owner of Creative Works. Together, they strip away the corporate speak to reveal what really brings guests through your doors, how rising real estate costs drive attraction design, and why frontline staff shape guest memories more than shiny hardware. When discussing the industry’s obsession with labeling every attraction as a battleground, Armando breaks down why operators need a mindset shift: "I want to change the mindset... It is I'm going there to play. I'm going there to enjoy myself, enjoy my friends, enjoy my family... Let's maintain the fun, right? Let's enjoy ourselves and not put ourselves in one more layer of an adversarial situation." — Armando Lanuti Long-term success comes down to how guests feel during their visit. By looking at venues through fresh eyes, operators can invest wisely in stay-relevant upgrades, train frontline staff to deliver seamless interactions, and earn a permanent spot on every local family's short list for entertainment.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ is joined by Kay Anderson, Founder of Prana Play in Carmel, Indiana. Inspired by raising her own family, Kay opened a family entertainment center uniquely engineered to welcome both neurodiverse and neurotypical children simultaneously. Kay breaks down the practical mechanics of sensory-balanced venue design, highlighting how critical choices—like silent fluorescent lighting, soft earth-toned palettes, sound-dampening wallpaper, and dual-action rocking-swivel chairs—cost the exact same as traditional fixtures when planned upfront. "Think of sensory spaces across multi-dimensions—it's sound, it's vision, it's temperature, and how you feel. If you design for all those senses on the front end, you're in a really good spot." — Kay Anderson Kay also shares actionable tips for existing operators to audit their own facilities, demonstrating how hosting dedicated sensory-inclusive hours with adjusted lighting and lower sound volumes can attract underserved families who usually avoid traditional venues due to overwhelming noise, bright lights, and intense stimulation.

ns, to reveal a powerful growth engine local venues constantly overlook: public relations. Kevin knows you do not need to spend millions of dollars on a massive facility overhaul to catch the attention of journalists or local creators. By capitalizing on timely pop culture moments, engaging local micro-influencers, and building simple relationships with local media contacts, your venue can earn high-trust exposure that drives long-term traffic and boosts local search rankings. "Start today with just establishing a media relationship, even if you have nothing going on... That is so easy to do with people who are considered gatekeepers within your community." — Kevin Loughery Kevin emphasizes that trusted news coverage or authentic local reviews carry real influence. Public relations gives your venue third-party validation that traditional advertising simply cannot buy. Building these connections takes consistency rather than a massive budget, letting you turn simple, creative ideas into major community buzz.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Creative Work's Concept Artist and Illustrator, Kimberly Holbrook. You will recognize her as one of the creative forces behind some of Creative Works' most dynamic 2D and 3D animations, prop designs, and interactive Laser Tag Launch Room experiences. "It's important seeing what people are gravitating towards so that as they open up these facilities, they're suited for success in terms of what people just genuinely like to enjoy.." — Kimberly Holbrook Kimberly opens up about designing durable, safety-conscious theme park assets, matching artistic styles across massive creative teams, and finding inspiration in unexpected places. From scaling up seven-foot ghost town skeletons to designing immersive launch room sequences that transport guests straight into a fantasy world, Kimberly shares what it takes to turn static concepts into tangible, memory-making environments.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ is joined by David Pascoe, Business Development and Sales Executive at LAI Games. Drawing on over 15 years of industry experience—including servicing arcade machines across Walt Disney World properties and directing amusements and attractions for Andretti Karting & Games—David breaks down the essential balance between business analytics and guests' emotional connection. "What's your vision for the end of your guest experience? You're not selling a toy, you're selling: 'Mom and dad took me out Saturday for my birthday, and I won this plush or this toy.' It's connected to a memory." — David Pascoe David reveals how venue owners reverse engineer the guest experience by focusing on the lingering feeling visitors have as they head for the door. He shares real-world guidance on understanding ticket values, managing the honeymoons of new location launches, and training frontline staff to become enthusiastic advocates for high-tech attractions like virtual reality.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Josh Liebman, ICAE—Guest Experience Strategist, Founder of Liebman Leisure Group, Co-Host of the AttractionPros Podcast, and Author of The Hospitality Mentality. Josh shares tactical strategies for de-escalating tense situations, empowering frontline staff, and building an intentional service recovery system. "We can only fix the problems that we know about. Therefore, by you telling me about this issue, we're going to be able to resolve it not only for you, but for future guests as well." — Josh Liebman, ICAE Josh hits hard on how to stop viewing service recovery as damage control. By giving guests space to vent, establishing clear operational guardrails for compensation, and shifting from basic customer service to authentic hospitality, your venue turns service failures into your strongest loyalty drivers.

Ep. 150 - How Smart AV Integration and Atmosphere Drive Revenue for FECs with Danielle Hardin by Creative Works

On this edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Chris King, Partner and CEO at Monster Mini Golf. With over two decades of experience in franchising and family entertainment, Chris shares how maintaining an unwavering vision, connecting authentically with staff, and treating entertainment as the core deliverable drive sustainable success in the FEC market. "Mini golf isn't our product. Entertainment is our product. Mini golf is simply the vehicle that we use to entertain." — Chris King Chris also shares that when challenges arise, operators must balance genuine transparency with steady, optimistic leadership to guide their teams through turbulent moments.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ is joined by Jack Slayton, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Game Show Studio. Together, they explore the shift toward live entertainment in Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) and location-based venues. Jack shares how transforming underutilized space into an immersive Hollywood-style game show experience drives customer engagement, creates repeat business, and delivers a unique draw for corporate outings and group events alike. "It brings in the groups and brings in people who are looking for fun, and you can almost share the customer inside those four walls… Hopefully they leave the show having so much fun that they want to stay and play with all their friends." — Jack Slayton Jack also dives into why great live entertainment isn't about hiring a showstopper; it's about finding an empowering host who can read the room, connect with guests, and bring out the absolute best and funniest in every group.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with long-time friend, author, and attractions industry veteran Matt Heller from Performance Optimist Consulting. Matt’s journey in family entertainment and attractions began at age 18 as a ride operator, ultimately leading to over a decade as Senior Trainer of Leadership Development at Universal Orlando Resort. Today, Matt helps leaders across the attractions space grow through tailored coaching, books, workshops, and actionable strategies. "If you take your values and you say, 'I'm going to apply that value to every single one of those processes'—hiring, training, recognition, and discipline—it creates a very clear path for people and a clear understanding of what those expectations are." — Matt Heller Matt dives deep into the real dynamics behind frontline hiring, effective team development, and why traditional mid-season burnout is actually a leadership myth.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ chats with Crosse Bearden, Marketing & Events Coordinator at Recoil Trampoline Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Crosse shares his tactical playbook for local community outreach, short-form video content, and practical AI tools. Rather than cluttering feeds with standard promotional flyers, Crosse focuses on content that showcases pure excitement. Short video reels, silly team challenges, and raw arcade winner moments keep Recoil top-of-mind for local families. "What really drives people in the door at the end of the day is fun. They're looking for a fun, safe place to beat the heat and get indoors." — Crosse Bearden Crosse also breaks down Recoil's deep local roots. The venue partners with local non-profits to reward standout students, hosts special mid-week play sessions for homeschool co-ops, and relies on smart AI tools to draft quick email copy without losing park personality.

On this edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with the founder of Action Lab Leadership, Danny Gruening, to discuss finding new sources of inspiration. When you run a family entertainment center, it is remarkably easy to get stuck in the day-to-day grind and lose sight of your "why." Danny dives deep into how isolation drains our inspiration and why true leadership relies on cultivating optimism rather than waiting around for a sudden burst of motivation. "Every time that we do that, we're robbing ourselves of the opportunity to just let our brains think and be and come up with cool ideas." — Danny Gruening Danny shares practical ways to reframe your daily stress, how to hack your environment for better mental hygiene, and why the secret to scaling your business lies in your daily systems, not just your lofty goals.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Dennis McIntire, VP of Strategic Development and Innovation at B&B Theatres. With over three decades of experience spanning marketing, construction, and corporate development, Dennis delves into the realities of blending movie theaters with arcades, bowling alleys, and food services, explaining why traditional theater logic often fails in the entertainment space. "A movie experience is not exactly the same thing that it was 20 years ago, 30 years ago… It always starts as a 'what if'. What if we put a playground in a movie theater?" — Dennis McIntire Dennis also reveals the ultimate business philosophy that drives their constant innovation. B&B Theatres has had its doors open for 102 years, so it's important to stay fresh, exciting, and highly profitable. He recommends asking a lot of "what-ifs" questions, stop treating different business models like they are the same, and remain willing to fail fast.