The team at Adrenalin Attractions is comprised of highly experienced designers, engineers, sculptors, scenic painters, programmers, carpenters, and installers. Our core team members are:
Scott d'avanzo
Founder, President & CEO
Scott D’Avanzo has 23 years experience in the entertainment industry, with 15 years as Chief Executive Officer at Adrenalin Gaming, a slot machine and table game manufacturer. Scott has been designing and building rides since 2012, when he personally built a dark ride in the garage of his family home, which became famously known as Mystic Motel. Featured on Good Morning America, front page of Ladera Times, front page of the LA Times, Orange County Register, Ryan Seacrest, among others, this award winning home-made dark ride led Scott to opening Adrenalin Attractions in 2016 when he was asked to design and build Kooky Trails, a private dark ride for an individual. With steady growth since its inception, the company continues to surpise its audience with amazing theming and attractions. The work quality of Adrenalin Attractions has been compared by many social media followers as “Disney Quality”.
Ashton D'Avanzo
Co-Founder, Vice President Design & Creative
Ashton D’Avanzo has 8 years of experience in developing ride and story themes. In 2012 it was Ashton that talked Scott, his father, into building a dark ride in their home. Since then, Ashton has worked side by side with Scott in theming, installation, storytelling, and lighting. Ashton also enjoys pyrotechnics and in 2017 he performed his first fully automated fireworks show that was sponsored by 4 Wall Entertainment.
Tim Weathersby
Director of Projects
Tim Weathersby has a 20+ year career in the entertainment industry. He has worked in LORT theaters, museums, on multiple Cirque du Soleil shows in supervisory roles, and as project manager on the sets of major motion pictures and streaming television projects. He is excited to take on the role of Director of Projects for Adrenalin Attractions and help develop cutting edge technology to introduce immersive live entertainment venues the likes of which the world has never seen.
Rick West
Director of Creative Development
For more than a decade, Rick West has worked in the themed entertainment industry as a creative director and show writer on projects for companies including Thinkwell Group, BRC Imagination Arts, The Hettema Group, Rethink Leisure and Entertainment, Universal Creative, The Producers Group, and IdeAttack. In addition to his tenure in themed entertainment, Rick has been a high-profile proponent of the Southern California haunt/haunter community for nearly 30 years. He is a Co-Founder and the Creative Director of Midsummer Scream, the world’s largest Halloween and horror convention, which attracts upward of 50,000 guests from around the world to the Long Beach Convention Center each year. As part of the Midsummer Scream Executive Team, Rick produces world-class panel presentations, and oversees the curation of the Hall of Shadows, a 100,000-square-foot dark space filled with over a dozen haunts and attractions.
Sean Donahue
Scenic Artist & Sculptor
Sean has been in the art industry designing props, sets, costumes, sculptural projects, and scenic painting for over 20 years.
Colleen Mansfield
Scenic Artist
Colleen has been a lead scenic painter in the theme park industry for 21 years, including 15 years at Disneyland, over 10 years of project based work with Universal Studios and Knott’s Berry Farm. Her experience proceeds beyond theme parks, Colleen also worked with Cirque Du Soleil, painted TV and movie sets, painted the Winter Olympic opening show sets, painted the Wynn Resorts Macau dragon, broadway show touring sets, costumes, and more.
Lawrence McCoy
Audio Visual Specialist
During Lawrence’s 25-year career in the theme park industry, he has brought his experience and knowledge to Disney, Knott’s Berry Farm, and LEGOland. Lawrence acted as principle sound designer and AV system designer for the Mine Ride renovation at Knott’s Berry Farm in 2015, bringing in the latest in AV technology to this classic dark ride. Lawrence oversaw LEGOland’s park-wide audio system upgrade, helping bring the latest in A/V and networking technology to the cherished SoCal theme park. For over 20 years as audio system designer, Lawrence brought Knott’s Berry Farm’s Halloween Haunt event to the height of technology, providing the “scariest experience”, something Knott’s is known for industry-wide.
Christopher Biggs
Projector Mapping SFX
Chris Biggs got his start in special effects (SFX) working for Roger Corman. While working at Dream Quest Chris was approached by Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) to work on the yet to be opened California Adventure. He spent 15 years with WDI working on attractions throughout the country including Mystic Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain and more. In addition to SFX, Chris is also a scenic painter and sculptor.
Jason Wood
Artist, 2D Character Design & Development
For over 20 years, Jason has been developing fun and exciting promotions, toys, and characters for Taco Bell, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Chik-Fil-A, Carl’s Jr., General Mills, CPW, Disney, and many more. He has been bursting with creativity since he was a child drawing cartoons for his elementary school. He continued to nurture his creative vision as he pursued a film and advertising/design degree and spent several years working for film studios and independent production companies. Jason is able to take a character description from text to a completed render in a short period of time while assuring the customer’s vision is spot on.