Premier people are just that, the best in the business. Combined, the company has nearly 75 years of experience in the theme park and amusement rides business alone.

Jim Seay

At the helm of this innovative corporation is President Jim Seay. With Premier Rides since 1995, Seay first explored the outer limits of flight technology as a project engineer for Hughes Aircraft working primarily on stealth missile technology.   Seay shifted from the aerospace industry to the amusement ride arena in 1988 when he joined Six Flags Theme Parks as an engineering and maintenance executive. He brought seven years of park experience to Premier Rides when he signed on as executive vice president of Engineering. In 1996, Seay became president of Premier Rides, with a philosophy centering on innovation, quality and superior customer service.   Since heading up this highly qualified team of professionals, Seay's team has helped create and introduce Linear Induction Motor powered roller coasters, the Liquid Coaster, the Water Coaster and the world's only looping wooden coaster.   He serves as Chairman of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) F24 Committee as well as volunteers as an industry representative to the Recreation Access Board which focuses on providing ride access to people with disabilities. Jim was also appointed to the Executive Committee of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) and also serves on the Board of Directors of the Amusement Industry Manufacturers and Suppliers (AIMS) organization.   Seay earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and received his MS in Engineering at California State University, Long Beach.

Randall C. Schmidt

Randy Schmidt came to Premier Rides from public accounting. Prior to joining Premier Rides in 1996, Schmidt was a partner for seventeen years in a regional accounting firm serving clients in a variety of industries on a wide variety of projects. It was while serving in this capacity in 1982, that he first worked with the founder of Premier Rides. Over the years through this relationship, an understanding of the amusement ride industry was learned. Subsequent to graduation from the University of Maryland with a BS in Accounting and passing the CPA examination, he served with the IRS National Office in Washington as well as the international accounting firms of Arthur Young & Company and Price Waterhouse & Company.

Ben Lovelace

Ben Lovelace is an Engineer and Project Director for Premier Rides. He has over 20 years experience working on projects as varied as small deep diving submarines and electro-hydraulic manipulator arms, to design oversight and integration management of all structural, mechanical, and electrical subsystems for high profile state-of-the-art roller coasters. Ben has gained extensive experience from the numerous years he spent with Universal Studios in Orlando directing engineering managers and technical coordinators in the procurement, design, fabrication, installation, and testing of rides and shows for Super Hero Island inclusive of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. He was also the President of E-Tec Inc., in West Palm Beach, who's corporate engineering capabilities included mechanical, hydraulic, structural, and electrical system design, as well as precision machine work, sheet metal forming, welding, fiberglass lay-up, and electrical and mechanical assembly. Ben holds a BS in Engineering, an MS in Business Administration, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering.

Jim Siemer

Jim Siemer is responsible for the supervision of all ride construction and also works as a liaison between Premier Rides, the theme parks and local inspectors. Jim has been in charge of field services for numerous Premier Rides' projects including Yamaha Racing Coaster, Indonesia; The Revenge of the Mummy, Orlando and Singapore; Sky Rocket, Pennsylvania; Speed The Ride, Las Vegas; Vonkaputous Water Coaster, Finland; The Flight of Fear, Ohio and Virginia, and the Italian Job Stunt Track in Ohio. Jim was also on site assisting in the installation and testing of five re-designed New York, New York Manhattan Express trains in Las Vegas. Previously, he spent nearly six years with TOGO International Inc. in Cincinnati and has been in general construction for 30 years.

Home | Rides | Service | Team | Installations | Technical Specs | New News | Hot Links | Contact Us