Hi, I’m Josh.
I am a Theme Park and Attractions Management graduate from the Rosen College of Hospitality with a passion and overall interest in the themed entertainment industry. I am proficient in leading and overseeing premier customer service experiences.
Born and raised in Orlando, FL, theme parks have always been a part of my life. My dream career would be to work within a creative leadership role for a leading destination theme park enterprise.
I currently work as a Guest Services Coordinator at the Universal Orlando Resort, where I help to craft memorable guest experiences throughout Universal CityWalk, Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure.
Statement of Interest – UCF M.S. Themed Experiences
I am excited to apply for the Themed Experiences master’s program at the University of Central Florida, marking the next step in my academic and career journey.
Ever since I visited a theme park for the first time as a child, I have been completely captivated by the power of themed entertainment and experiences. I was in awe of how these places could transport guests into immersive worlds and have the power to evoke emotions through the magic of narrative and environmental storytelling. Spaces that create a lifetime of memories and connections for people all around the world, and for a moment, act as an escape from the challenges and struggles of our everyday lives. This passion has driven me to pursue a further education as well as a lifelong career in the themed entertainment industry.
My academic journey began at the esteemed Rosen College of Hospitality Management, where I was recently one of the first two students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from the new Theme Park and Attractions Management program. This provided me with an academic foundation in theme park operations, logistics, as well as managing the guest and employee experience. I now aspire to leverage my knowledge from this program, my operational and undermanagement experience from the workforce, and the skills gained from my affiliated projects to further develop my creative foundation when it comes to themed entertainment and experiences.
The Themed Experiences program at the University of Central Florida presents an intriguing educational journey through hands-on learning initiatives as well as real world experience. I am highly interested in the internship opportunities available through this program, as I feel they will allow me to further gain valuable connections within the industry as well as obtain a more in-depth understanding of the design and production aspects of bringing an immersive experience to life.
I sincerely thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to this program and collaborating with faculty and peers who share my passion and dedication towards this ever-growing industry.
Sincerely,
Projects and Experience
Project: New Tomorrow
Founded in 2021, Project: New Tomorrow is a digital nonprofit platform that hosts a diverse variety of independent creators and projects that are centered around themed entertainment.
Responsible for overseeing and creatively advising all aspects of the platform. Developed the branding for Project: New Tomorrow and ensure that all promotional materials, graphics and messaging align with the brand’s identity. Partners with all teams within Project: New Tomorrow to develop and execute digital projects and platform objectives.
My Role:
– Founder & Creative Advisor
– Project Management
– Branding & Identity
– Graphic Design
PNT Cubed
A subsidiary project of Project: New Tomorrow, PNT Cubed is a free-to-play digital experience that allows Guests to explore faithfully recreated past attractions and original themed minigames, as well as the ability to unleash their imaginations in a space with zero boundaries. It is hosted on the popular sandbox game Minecraft: Java Edition.
Responsible for overseeing and creatively advising all aspects of the project. Developed the branding for PNT Cubed. Creates graphics and visual elements using Adobe Photoshop to enhance player experience. Partners with Development team to ensure proper operations of the server, and 3D Modeling team to creatively advise and execute visual assets on projects. Responsible for ride and show tech through the usage of show programming files and various external server plugins.
My Role:
– Founder & Creative Advisor
– Project Management
– Branding & Identity
– Graphic Design
EPCOT Center 1989
Over half a decade in the making and with the combined efforts of over 25 talented creators, this unofficial research passion project on PNT Cubed utilizes the notable sandbox game platform Minecraft: Java Edition as a tool to present one of the most faithful digital recreations of Disney’s EPCOT Center as it was in 1989 to date.
Players are fully immersed in this one-of-a-kind tribute through the usage of custom 3D models as well as immersive audio and visuals. My team utilized thousands of photo and video references, blueprints, Google Earth overviews, and a multitude of research in order to accurately recreate the park on a 1:1 scale.
Project Portfolio
MCAmusement (2018 – 2021)
An official community project of Pixar Animation Studios’ internal professional development program (Pixar University), MCAmusement was an online digital platform and community that recreated the Disneyland Resort within the popular sandbox game Minecraft: Java Edition. Players were fully immersed through the usage of custom visuals and immersive audio. The MCAmusement team utilized thousands of photo and video references, blueprints, Google Earth overviews, and a multitude of research in order to accurately recreate the park on a 1:1 scale.
Collaborated with all departments to create strategic initiatives for community events, promotional materials, and for the debut of new experiences. Partnered with the 3D Modeling team to creatively advise, develop and execute visual enhancements including player cosmetics, signage, ride vehicles and props. Worked on the post-processing and final texturing aspects of the 3D Modeling process for the project’s voxel models utilizing Cubik Studio. Responsible for ride and show tech through the usage of show programming files and various external server plugins.
My Role:
– Lead
– Project Management
– 3D Model Post-Production
– Ride & Show Programming
*The MCAmusement logo and all other media associated with MCAmusement are being presented with the written permission of the MCAmusement leadership team for educational and showcase purposes only.
Cubik Studio Portfolio
RideRover
A subsidiary project of Project: New Tomorrow, RideRover is a premier online news source for theme parks and attractions across the United States. It operates as a nonprofit volunteer-based passion project.
My role on this project involves creative advisement/direction and developing the RideRover website through WordPress. I also designed the current branding and identity utilized by the platform.
Developed the branding for RideRover. Provides creative advisement in regard to platform objectives and brand identity. Utilizes AI-powered tools to develop and execute Park Tools, a free-to-use tool for displaying live theme park logistics and information from publicly available databases.
My Role:
– Branding & Identity
– Graphic Design
– Website Development
Josh Presents
This creative endeavor on Instagram blends digital graphics and photography with a passion for collecting themed entertainment memorabilia.
As a digital creator, I offer a nostalgic journey through engaging visuals and historical contexts.
My Role:
– Branding & Identity
– Graphic Design
– Photography
Photography Portfolio
Skills and Technological Knowledge
I am proficient with and consistently utilize the following programs:
- Adobe Photoshop (Graphic Design, Image Editing)
- CyberLink PowerDirector (Video Editing)
- OBS (Live Streaming, Video Recording)
- Audacity (Audio Editing)
- WordPress (Website Building)
- Office 365 (Word, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Slides)
- Slack (Team Communication)
- Trello (Project Management)