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A S S O C I AT I O N N E W S A N D B E N E F I T S | C O N N E C T I O N S by Marah Rodriguez, ICAE
The Power of Connection
IAAPA NEWS
Marah Rodriguez,
ICAE has more
than 20 years of
experience in the
attractions industry,
with a focus on
safety and business
development.
She is currently
the regional vice
president of sales
at Mobaro, helping
attractions improve
safety, operations,
and maintenance
through a digital
platform. She serves
on the IAAPA Women
in Leadership Task
Force and is a
founding member of
the LinkedIn group
Female Leaders of
Amusement Parks
and Attractions.
Connect with her on
:.
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At IAAPA Expo 2025’s Women in the
Industry Lunch, I looked around
the room and what stood out
wasn’t titles or companies. It
was women from across the
industry sharing experiences, asking questions,
and supporting each other
in a way that felt genuine
and unfiltered.
That is something
powerful.
In an industry like ours,
it is easy to stay focused on
the day-to-day challenges. But
moments like these remind us that it
is also about connection, perspective, and
the people around us.
Women contribute across every part of the attractions industry. It is inspiring to see leaders like Gina
Classen stepping into roles like vice president of
operations at Herschend, watching Franceen Gonzales
be named COO of Enchanted Parks, having Denise
Beckson serve on IAAPA's Global Board of Directors,
and listening to Elizabeth Lugo COO of Xcaret speak
about leading with empathy. There are so many
examples, from operations and safety to marketing,
finance, and executive leadership, that show how
these women’s impact is visible and growing.
It is important to continue creating spaces where
experiences can be shared and voices can be heard
because when women come together, something
shifts. Conversations become more open. Those
interactions build confidence, and confidence creates
momentum.
Funworld | JULY/AUGUST 2026 | IAAPA.org/Funworld
I have seen firsthand how a simple
conversation at an event can turn
into mentorship, collaboration,
or even a new opportunity.
Sometimes it is just knowing
that someone else has faced
a similar situation and
found a way through it.
Creating space for these
moments does not require
something formal or complicated. Some of the most
meaningful connections have
come from informal gatherings during IAAPA events, where
the goal is simply to connect. Those
spaces allow relationships to form naturally,
without pressure, and that is often where the real
impact begins.
Supporting women in leadership is not about creating separation. It is about building a stronger industry. When different perspectives are included, better
decisions are made, stronger teams are built, and new
ideas emerge. Without that diversity, it becomes easy
to think the same way and miss opportunities to grow.
There is still more to be done, but the progress is real.
Every conversation, every introduction, and every
moment of support contributes to that progress.
I believe that leadership is not just about where
you are in your career, but how you show up for others along the way. And when we show up for each
other, the impact extends far beyond any single room
or event. It carries into teams, organizations, and the
future of our industry. That is my hope and why this
topic matters to me.
