JOHN HANSCHEN
CO-OWNER & PRESIDENT
THE MIGHTY THOMAS CARNIVAL, AUSTIN, TEXAS
HOMETOWN: I grew up in Minneapolis, Minn., but I’ve lived in Austin, Texas, since 1978.
UNIVERSITY: A degree in economics from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.
FAVORITE PART OF JOB: The first day arriving at a new location. It's all new, fresh, exciting, and invigorating.
PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN: I can balance a 2x4 on my nose. I enjoy writing about our industry. I am the current treasurer of the Showmen's League of America.
FAVORITE CARNIVAL FOOD: Baked potato. I have a gluten free diet.
CARNIVAL GAME YOU’RE BEST AT: Skeeball. I trained to maintain the machines at Philadelphia Toboggan Company in Lansdale, Pa.
HOW CARNIVALS HAVE CHANGED: Customer expectations are higher every season—it is a supreme challenge to meet them. Tear down is mostly next day now, that's an improvement. Supplementary foreign labor has changed the landscape of our national industry. However, in many ways, carnival life is just the same: the sights, sounds, smells, the families with children and all the excitement.
(512) 282-4442
ED BECKLEY
PRESIDENT & CEO
CHECKERED FLAG PROD., BRIDGEPORT, TEXAS
HOMETOWN: Scott City, Kan.
FIRST INDUSTRY JOB: I had already been jumping cars, but it got big when I started doing SRO/Pace shows. The first time I jumped for them was in Oklahoma City in 1984 and it was pretty cool. I ended up jumping at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., in front of 60,000 people, the Superdome in New Orleans, and Madison Square Garden in New York City, and plenty of others. I saw how much money was being made and thought, “Why don’t I do this myself?”
FAVORITE EMPLOYEE: I call Mac Beckley my head of security, but he’s really my dog. He’s spoiled-ass rotten. In fact, he’s sitting in an overstuffed leather chair beside me.
MENTORS: Bob George, who started SRO Promotions, and Mickey Thompson who had his off road series with Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group.
FAMILY LESSONS: My grandfather never had a bad word said about him. When you live in a little town of less than 4,000 people, everyone knows what you do before you do it anyway, so you better be telling the truth and have lots of honor. Honor and integrity are two things you just can’t buy.
WHAT GOES UP: I had one of my worst crashes earlier this year, March 7, in Hobbs, N.M., at Lea County Expo Arena and actually died twice during the 40-minute helicopter ride from Hobbs to Lubbock, Texas. I was in the hospital for a month and jumped again in June.
JUST KEEP RIDING: It’s my lifestyle – I just go, go, go. If I stop, that’s when the dirt might start hitting me in the face.
(940) 683-4742
CRAIG RICKS
VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING
PACIOLAN, IRVINE, CALIF.
HOMETOWN: East Lansing, Mich.
UNIVERSITY: Michigan State University
FIRST JOB IN INDUSTRY: This is my first job in the live entertainment industry. Before this, I worked at a smaller software company and then I worked at Vivendi Universal as a music aggregator.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T IN YOUR JOB: If I won the lottery, I wouldn’t tell anyone I was rich. I would be totally incognito, and I would actually probably still work here, but on the side I would start some sort of philanthropy to do something good and leave a good legacy.
MENTORS: At Paciolan, we’ve got an unbelievable executive team. Dave Butler is our CEO, and he is phenomenal. When I first started working here I asked Jane Kleinberger, who’s our founder, if she would help mentor me, and she did. She’s amazing. And then my boss, Kim Damron is also amazing. I get mentor moments all the time from them.
IF YOU COULD ESCAPE FOR ONE DAY, WHERE WOULD YOU GO: I would go to East Lansing on a college football Saturday to watch Michigan State win a game.
SOMETHING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I am a certified AYSO soccer referee but not a good one. But I’ve got the socks to prove it.
BEST ADVICE: Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. My dad also taught me, work hard and good things will come. And that’s definitely true.
(949) 823-1636