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MANNY ESTEVES
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"I was an adrenaline junkie as a kid and growing up outside of NYC meant I got to see a lot of Broadway shows growing up. I became so interested in telling stories and thanks to high school band I got a chance to travel to a bunch of theme parks around the country. Add that to a Mom who’s enamored with all things Disney and it added up to a guy who loved theme parks. Even though I loved going, I never thought I’d have a possibility of making it a career. I always thought of how crazy it’d be if theme parks could be like those “choose your own adventure books” you read in school, but come on, that's kids stuff.
Then I took a tour of Penn State. My tour guide was Shane, one of the founders of the club. And I thought “wow. What a great way to go to more theme parks.” After my first meeting I became hooked. I got to experience so many things thanks to TPEG. But the two things that shaped me for the rest of my life were the friendships and the opportunities. I met some of my best friends in college thanks to this group. But I also got some amazing chances to make an impact on theme parks.
Thanks to TPEG I was able to meet Chris Gray from GCI who hired me for my first internship. I was living the dream, I helped build a freakin roller coaster! Something I worked on was going to be experienced by millions of people per year. That experience from GCI allowed me to go to IAAPA and meet Jason Keller from Oceaneering where I spent my next spring as an intern. I spent 5 months not only working for the company that created my favorite attraction of all time, but it gave me a chance to see how ride blended with show to create immersive experiences. That experience translated to an internship with Walt Disney Imagineering, but this time I would be working in show systems and special effects. Those were some of the best times of my life. I not only discovered I had a passion for field work, but was able to grow and develop as a designer under my supervisor Brad.
Finally, I had the chance to be a part of something exciting with a company taking a new step. Tait Towers was starting a new department that specialized in the work I’ve done over my experiences in the industry and wanted me to help build the group from the ground up. I’ve learned tons of lessons but the main 2 are:
1. Take chances: During my time, I spent months living in motel rooms, skipped semesters, turned down jobs with almost 6 figures in salary, all to have the chance to do what I do every day. The decisions aren’t going to be obvious at points, but that’s what’ll make them rewarding.
2. There’s 3 things to think about when looking jobs: do I like it? Am I good at it? Can it give me the lifestyle I want? If you find 2/3 it’s a great job. I can without a doubt say that I never wake up and say “I don’t wanna go to work today.” I’m in a role that allows me to use my strengths and develop my skills and I’m on my way to a lifestyle I’ve wanted growing up. Thank you to everyone I crossed paths with in TPEG. You’ve helped make college have some of the best memories of my life."
Then I took a tour of Penn State. My tour guide was Shane, one of the founders of the club. And I thought “wow. What a great way to go to more theme parks.” After my first meeting I became hooked. I got to experience so many things thanks to TPEG. But the two things that shaped me for the rest of my life were the friendships and the opportunities. I met some of my best friends in college thanks to this group. But I also got some amazing chances to make an impact on theme parks.
Thanks to TPEG I was able to meet Chris Gray from GCI who hired me for my first internship. I was living the dream, I helped build a freakin roller coaster! Something I worked on was going to be experienced by millions of people per year. That experience from GCI allowed me to go to IAAPA and meet Jason Keller from Oceaneering where I spent my next spring as an intern. I spent 5 months not only working for the company that created my favorite attraction of all time, but it gave me a chance to see how ride blended with show to create immersive experiences. That experience translated to an internship with Walt Disney Imagineering, but this time I would be working in show systems and special effects. Those were some of the best times of my life. I not only discovered I had a passion for field work, but was able to grow and develop as a designer under my supervisor Brad.
Finally, I had the chance to be a part of something exciting with a company taking a new step. Tait Towers was starting a new department that specialized in the work I’ve done over my experiences in the industry and wanted me to help build the group from the ground up. I’ve learned tons of lessons but the main 2 are:
1. Take chances: During my time, I spent months living in motel rooms, skipped semesters, turned down jobs with almost 6 figures in salary, all to have the chance to do what I do every day. The decisions aren’t going to be obvious at points, but that’s what’ll make them rewarding.
2. There’s 3 things to think about when looking jobs: do I like it? Am I good at it? Can it give me the lifestyle I want? If you find 2/3 it’s a great job. I can without a doubt say that I never wake up and say “I don’t wanna go to work today.” I’m in a role that allows me to use my strengths and develop my skills and I’m on my way to a lifestyle I’ve wanted growing up. Thank you to everyone I crossed paths with in TPEG. You’ve helped make college have some of the best memories of my life."
