Wild Adventures Theme Park recently named Greg Charbeneau its new vice president and general manager.

With 24 years of experience, he values the mission and work that has made the park long-lasting and successful.

His plans for the park evolve around growing awareness and working closely with the leadership team to focus on guest experience and team member morale.

“In order to keep with the mission, we must create a great experience program where guests feel valued,” he said. “We have to be smart in our advertising and drive more people to the front gate; we have to keep that focus.”

Charbeneau said there will be a focus on season passholders because they are the park’s best critics and loyal supporters.

He said that he would love to see the park recruit and retain workers and instill good work ethics in the workforce.

Charbeneau would like to see increased collaborations with the Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Authority and local schools to better serve the community.

“With a sustainable workforce, we can showcase Wild Adventures for all necessary agents and programs within education,” he said.

For Charbeneau, the most exciting aspect of his career is being a former marine biologist and working his way up through the ranks to be where he is today.

“I have been fortunate to work with a wide variety of sea animals, research and manatee rescue missions,” he said.

Prior to being named the new vice president and general manager of Wild Adventures, Charbeneau worked at Adventure Aquarium, a Hershend Family Entertainment (HFE) property, as vice president and executive director

While there, his responsibilities included the hiring of new directors, managers and front-line team members.

He holds a variety of experiences within the industry, including positions at the New Jersey State Aquarium, the Mystic Aquarium Institution for Exploration in Connecticut, the Walt Disney World Company, Sea World Ohio and Sea World Florida.

Throughout his experience, Charbeneau has overseen massive construction and extensive renovation projects at various facilities, features in numerous industry publications, serving on various boards and development of a variety of research projects.

His passion for his career came as a surprise. Initially, he wanted to become a school teacher or professional swimmer.

While in school, a childhood thought triggered his inner passion for marine biology, which is what he changed his major to while in college.

Soon after he graduated, Charbeneau said he was fortunate to earn a career related to his degree in marine biology.

Since that day, he said that his career has grown and he has had great experiences as he moves up in his career. Locally, Charbeneau said he wants to first focus on providing great customer service and renovations for a more pleasurable guest experience.

One added change to the park is more shaded areas to fight off the summer heat. So far the park has planted over 600 trees.

He said that the staff and leaders of the park will revisit its five-year plan and evaluate it.

“We want to look at what we have right now and go from good to great,” said Charbeneau.

He said that he wants to be able to make an announcement each year with the new features of the park when that time comes.

Charbeneau credits the community for being welcoming and supportive since he has taken his position.

“Everyone I have met has been extremely supportive. It (Wild Adventures) appears to be a community treasure,” he added.

Living in Valdosta for only a short time, he said that he is liking the area quickly. “The most rewarding change is the traffic, absolutely heaven,” he said.

Charbeneau said that, although marine biology and research was his passion, over time his passion has grown into working with teams of people.

He loves working with individuals and teams and figuring out what they are about.

As far as his management style, Promotions Manager Dave Johnson said, “He is very cordial and collaborative.”

Charbeneau added that his management style is one which keeps communication a two-way street.

“I try to have a two-way communication with all managers and staff. My mission is communicate, collaborate and execute,” he said.