After a career of leadership in the Southern California theme park industry, Jim Lake, an adjunct professor of management at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics, is the new leader of the Center for Entertainment and Hospitality Management.

Lake’s career has included 30 years at Disneyland, beginning as a ride operator and culminating as general manager of Disneyland Park and coordinating the theme park’s post-COVID reopening. During the course of his career, Lake also oversaw nine Boomer’s amusement park locations across Southern California, and most recently served as president of Sea World in San Diego for nearly three years, helping to coordinate the current focus toward rescue and rehabilitation of injured marine life as well as a stronger theme park experience.

Building Connections in the Theme Park Business and Beyond

Considering Cal State Fullerton’s location in proximity to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios, Lake plans to follow in the footsteps of previous directors by emphasizing the theme park industry as a key career path for entertainment and hospitality-focused Business Titans.

“I’m hoping to create opportunities for students to go to these sites, see what happens behind the scenes, and meet leaders, so they can establish relationships for future careers,” says Lake. “But in addition to the theme parks, I’m also looking into sports teams such as the Ducks and Angels, the casino industry, and restaurants for student opportunities. The beautiful thing about theme parks is it includes other businesses under one roof, such as restaurants, retail and hotels.”

A heart for service and willingness to work in an ever-changing environment are essential for success in the entertainment and hospitality field, observes Lake. Building on its ideal location and extensive alumni and professional network, Lake envisions a future in which Cal State Fullerton’s entertainment and hospitality center ranks among the nation’s strongest and most impactful programs

Priorities as a New Center Director

Central to Lake’s vision is enlisting the insights of a wide range of stakeholders, from faculty and staff to students. After meeting with previous directors and developing a provisional mission statement, Lake will be meeting with student representatives this spring, followed by building a board of directors composed of industry leaders who can facilitate site visits, internships, entry-level jobs, and guest speakers.

“We are going to equip these students to be strong leaders, and this is a great opportunity for the industry to partner with us to get a great talent pool while supporting student success,” says Lake.

Industry leaders are encouraged to support student growth by donating and by engaging in extracurricular experiences and student professional development. Says Lake: “This is a huge opportunity for our students. I truly believe we can do something special.”

For more on the Center for Entertainment and Hospitality and how to get involved as a student, alumnus, or industry leader, read more of our articles on entertainment-focused education at CSUF.