The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has announced that Ripley Entertainment president Bob Masterson has been officially elected IAAPA chair of the board for 2008.

Masterson has been with Ripley Entertainment since 1973. And during his tenure the company has become a leisure industry leader in trademark licensing, franchising, aquariums, and attraction operations. The company’s attractions entertain more than 13 million guests annually.

The board of directors also confirmed the election of following officers for the organization: Darrell Metzger, chief executive officer of Destination Developments for Ruwaad Holdings, LLC (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) - first vice chair; James “Chip” Cleary of Palace Entertainment (Riverhead, N.Y.) - second vice chair; Robert Rippy of Jungle Rapids (Wilmington, N.C.) - third vice chair; and Frank O’Connell, general manager of Hersheypark (Hershey, Pa.) - treasurer. Charlie Bray is president and CEO of IAAPA.

In addition, the following IAAPA members were elected to three-year terms on the board of directors at the association’s annual business meeting:

John McReynolds, Universal Orlando Resort (Orlando, Fla., United States), Will Morey, Morey’s Piers (Wildwood, N.J., United States), Linda Fernandez, E.K. Fernandez (Kapolei, Hawaii, United States), Ken Cormier, Funtown/Splashtown ( Saco, Maine, United States), Kurt Mack-Even, Mack Rides (Waldkirch, Germany) and Bill Sims, Sims Group (Orlando, Fla., United States).