Joel Manby

Joel Manby is the former CEO of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and former President and CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE) the largest family-owned theme park corporation in the United States. HFE creates, develops and operates entertainment, tourism and hospitality properties spanning 26 locations in ten states, including Stone Mountain Park, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City and others including Denver’s Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park. He and HFE were featured in the seventh episode of the first season of CBS’s Undercover Boss. Manby, a strong proponent of servant leadership, also wrote Love Works about HFE’s unique business culture, with all proceeds going toward the Share It Forward Foundation, the company’s charitable organization which aids employees in need.

Manby was born and raised in Michigan and went to college at Albion College. Manby graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics as the valedictorian of his class and was a Rhodes Scholarship Finalist. He was elected to the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.

Upon graduating from Albion, Manby worked at General Motors and received his MBA from Harvard Business School. He was a part of the start-up team for Saturn Corporation and was instrumental in launching Saturn’s innovative marketing and distribution strategy. After a few years with Saturn, Manby was promoted to CEO of Saab Automobile USA. During his four-year tenure, Saab’s sales increased by 67 percent and their J.D. Power Quality Rating jumped from 30th to 5th in the industry.

On February 27, 2018, Joel resigned as CEO of SeaWorld Entertainment and is currently speaking, writing another book and seeking next steps direction from God.