About IRT

Cindee Huddy is a managing member of International Ride Training, LLC and When Pigs Fly: Creative Operational Concepts, LLC. She has over 35 years of experience in the areas of amusement rides and water park operations, safety, training, leadership, guest service and employee development.

She began her career at Six Flags Over Texas and advanced through operational management at Opryland USA in Nashville, Tennessee, Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas and MGM Grand Adventures in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has been a consultant for the past 21 years and has served over 90 clients worldwide.

Cindee graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration. She is a current member and the previous Task Chair for F24 –F770 of ASTM International, previous board member and task chair for the Amusement Industry Manufacturers and Suppliers (AIMS), member of and instructor for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), Member of the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD).

Cindee was recognized with the Antonio Zamperla Award for her commitment to operations safety in the industry, as well as the Best Presenter Award from AIMS twice. She also has been featured in Funworld magazine and has published works in several industry publications.

From years of observing numerous operations, Cindee recognized the need to combine basic life skills into amusement ride training. Professionalism, genuine engagement and common courtesy can help newly hired ride operators be more aware and instill an increased level of self-confidence to perform safety related duties. To carry forth with this philosophy, Cindee obtained certification from the American School of Protocol in Atlanta, Georgia and developed a curriculum that incorporates core personal values into professional training and development.

On a personal note, Cindee is a Texan and a true-blue fan of the Dallas Cowboys!

You can contact Cindee at cindee@ridetraining.com

Patty Beazley, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, is a managing partner of International Ride Training, LLC and When Pigs Fly: Creative Operational Concepts, LLC. She has over 40 years of experience in amusement rides and water park safety, educational facilitation, and leadership training.

Patty started her career at Opryland USA Theme Park in Nashville, Tennessee, as a front-line employee. When Opryland closed in 1997, Patty was the Director of Operations. She then took on the role of General Manager at Nashville Shores Water Park. In 2002, Patty and her business partner, Cindee Huddy, founded When Pigs Fly, LLC, serving as consultants to the amusement industry. During this time, she has worked with over 100 clients worldwide.

Patty earned her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tennessee. A former full-time secondary and post-secondary instructor and guidance counselor, Patty served as the Education Chairperson and Seminar Director of Amusement Industry Manufacturer and Suppliers (AIMS) from 2007 to 2014.

She is a member of AIMS, ASTM International, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the Northeast Entertainment Association (NEAAPA), and the World Waterpark Association (WWA). Patty was awarded the Harold Chance Award for Best Presentation at the AIMS Safety Seminar in 2004, the Antonio Zamperla Safety Award in 2005, and the Best Presentation at the WWA Seminar in 2005. She has published works in various industry publications and was featured in Amusement Today’s ‘Women of Influence’ in September 2018. In 2024, Patty received the AIMS International Safety Award.

You can contact Patty at patty@ridetraining.com

Erik Beard is a managing member and general counsel to International Ride Training. He has worked in the amusement industry for over twenty-five years. Erik began his career working in ride operations for Cedar Fair Entertainment Company at Cedar Point and Worlds of Fun, where he spent six years as Manager of Ride Operations and Park Services. Erik also worked on the pre-opening operations team at Universal’s Islands of Adventure where he had direct responsibility for development of operating procedures for the Lost Continent and Jurassic Park islands and guided numerous attractions through construction, commissioning, and pre-opening training and testing.

After spending ten years in ride operations at the park level, Erik has spent the last fifteen years serving the industry in a legal capacity. As a practicing attorney with two of the most sophisticated and well-regarded firms in the Northeast United States, Erik’s practice focused on product liability, amusement / leisure counseling and litigation, and general business litigation. He represented and advised amusement parks, aquatic facilities, trade associations, and industry suppliers with respect to the Americans With Disabilities Act, amusement ride and aquatic safety matters, drowning investigation, operational best practices, and in legislative and regulatory matters before the Connecticut Department of Public Safety and Kansas Department of Labor.

Erik is a frequent speaker at amusement industry events and trade shows, such as the IAAPA Expo, World Waterpark Association trade show, and the IROC Safety School, and serves on the Board of Directors of NEAAPA – The Northeast’s Entertainment Association and on the North American Government Relations Sub-Committee of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Erik independently authors The Legal Roller Coaster, a blog specifically devoted to legal issues affecting the amusement and tourism industries  (www.legalrollercoaster.com). He is a graduate of Catholic University of America and George Mason University School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude.

On a personal note, Erik is a HUGE fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals!

You can contact Erik at erik@ridetraining.com

Anna is the Director of Strategic Engagement for International Ride Training, providing training, consulting, and auditing for ride operations safety. IRT services include operations training, auditing, interactive safety education and coaching, leadership development, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) development, and general ride safety consulting to over 75 theme parks, water parks, family entertainment centers, and attractions worldwide.

Anna also holds the position of Managing Director of Hospitality Intelligence LLC, a safety, operations, staffing, logistics, and guest service consultancy company. She has been living in Vietnam for the past ten years, operating attractions, delivering training, and supporting international companies doing business in attractions & entertainment in Vietnam. Anna has worked with partners across Asia-Pacific to boost safety standards, hire strategically and successfully, improve training methods, and execute world-class operations. Projects in Vietnam include ICE! at Saigon Centre, ICE! at AEON Mall Tan Phu, Sanrio Hello Kitty Ice Town, Just Kidding Family Entertainment Center (includes outdoor rides, indoor playground, a restaurant, events, and group classes), The Family Fun Fair @ SC VivoCity Shopping Mall (includes outdoor rides, games, and F&B), ONCE Nighttime Spectacular at VinWonders Phu Quoc, Sun World’s An Thoi Signature Show, among others.

Prior to her career in Attractions, Anna carries eight years of global affairs & international business experience across a variety of entities, including the U.S. Department of State and the intelligence community. Missions of previous employers span across international government development, diplomacy, intelligence, and security & defense. She served as the Japan Strategy Manager for Northrop Grumman’s Global Business Development Organization and as a Consultant/Global Context Analyst to other international offices. In these roles, she provided market, customer, and competitive intelligence analysis to support business development efforts. Moreover, Anna trained the new international offices on the application of cultural awareness, historical context, and current global environmental issues to strategy design. She now applies her intelligence and international business background to the international attractions industry.

Anna is certified in Levels I & II SCIP (Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Professional) certifications and a graduate of the Thunderbird Global Business Executive Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs/Sociocultural Anthropology from George Washington University and a master’s degree in Foreign Service/Security Studies from Georgetown University. She is the past Chair of the IAAPA Education Subcommittee, past Member of the IAAPA Asia Pacific Advisory Board, and currently serving on the IAAPA APAC Safety Committee and IAAPA Global Professional Development and Certification Committee.

You can contact Anna at anna@ridetraining.com

With more than 20 years of experience in the amusement industry, Lisa has built her career around improving operations, training, and team performance. She has developed and led programs that strengthen safety, enhance guest satisfaction, and elevate the overall employee experience.

Lisa spent much of her career with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts at Hersheypark, where she oversaw Attractions Training and Performance, Guest Experience, and Corporate Learning and Development.  Her work focused on aligning operational excellence with meaningful guest interactions, creating a culture where both safety and service thrive.

A graduate of Towson University with a bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications, Lisa uses her creative background to design engaging materials and training programs that connect with employees and drive results.

She is an active member of IAAPA, NAARSO, and AIMS, and holds certifications in both Operations and Maintenance.  Known for her passion for accessibility and inclusion, Lisa is dedicated to ensuring guests can safely enjoy the excitement and fun the industry offers.
As an Associate Consultant with International Ride Training, she continues to help facilities strengthen their safety culture, operational readiness, and team development.

You can contact Lisa at lisa@ridetraining.com

Megan is an associate of International Ride Training, LLC. She began her career as a ride operator in 2005 at Kings Island. During her time in ride operations, Megan developed a passion for coaching and training her fellow associates. After graduating college In 2012 Megan became an 8th grade Social Studies teacher. In this role she cultivated her skills as a classroom instructor. It increased her experience with different learning styles and she always challenged herself to find ways to make lessons more engaging. She continued working seasonally for Cedar Fair until she was offered a full-time position at Kings Island in 2015, which she gladly accepted. She spent six years there as part of the Operations Management team while overseeing the Rides, Aquatics, and Park Services departments. In 2021 she moved to Worlds of Fun as the Director of Operations for three years prior to joining IRT in 2025.

Megan attended The Ohio State University and received a Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies in 2011 and a Master’s degree in Education in 2012.

You can contact Megan at megan@ridetraining.com

Frank James Jr., widely known as Frankie J, is a seasoned amusement and attractions industry professional with over 20 years of hands-on experience spanning ride operations, safety, training, leadership development, and auditing across diverse entertainment environments.

Frank brings a rare blend of frontline operational expertise and executive-level insight, having served in key leadership, training, and auditing roles with major amusement parks, family entertainment centers, and hospitality-driven attractions. His career foundation was built in ride operations, where he developed a deep respect for safety culture, procedural integrity, and guest experience principles that continue to define his work today. As a NAARSO Operations Certified professional, Frank applies industry-recognized best practices to evaluate ride operations, SOP compliance, staff readiness, and risk mitigation strategies.

Beyond auditing, Frank is a published author, leadership coach, and sought-after trainer who specializes in translating complex standards into practical, people-centered solutions. Known for his engaging and electric delivery and real-world insights, he is deeply committed to developing leaders, protecting guests, and advancing the global attractions industry through education, accountability, and impact-driven leadership.

Frank believes that great operations start with empowered people, and his work continues to influence safer, stronger, and more resilient attractions worldwide.

You can contact Frank at frank@ridetraining.com