TEA Announces 2026 TEA Masters Inductees

TEA Announces 2026 TEA Masters Inductees

Globally Recognized Themed Entertainment Professionals Are the Latest Honorees for Industry's Highest Honor

Burbank, Calif. (02 September 2026) – The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) today announced the 2026 TEA Masters inductees, honoring themed entertainment professionals whose careers have made significant and lasting contributions to the global industry.

Since 2018, the TEA Masters® program has honored creators, managers, designers, writers, producers, engineers, and craftspeople whose work has advanced themed entertainment through innovation, design, craftsmanship, technical excellence, leadership, and artistry.

“Each year, we look forward to announcing the newest TEA Masters,” said Melissa Ruminot, CEO of TEA. “Their creativity, commitment, and forward-looking ideas have helped shape the themed entertainment industry and continue to inspire exceptional places and experiences. On behalf of TEA and our global membership, congratulations to this year’s incredible honorees.”

The incoming TEA Masters represent a wide range of disciplines across the themed entertainment field, including design development, production, live events, experiential storytelling, technical direction, landscape architecture, and art production.

The 2026 TEA Masters are:

Tom Acomb – Design Development ǀ Planning and Production
AOA
Orlando, Florida

Tom Acomb is co-founder, Chief Creative Executive, and Design Principal at AOA. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he has earned global recognition as a visionary leader known for his collaborative style, high creative standards, and enthusiasm for the work.

Since co-founding AOA in 2009, Acomb has helped shape the firm into one of the industry’s premier experiential design companies. Under his leadership, AOA has become internationally recognized for designing immersive, story-driven environments that combine imagination with technical ingenuity. His portfolio includes projects in commercial space tourism, themed entertainment, hospitality, cruise entertainment, healthcare, and destination experiences.

Beyond his creative accomplishments, Acomb’s impact is reflected in the culture he has built and the people he has mentored. Through education, industry service, and leadership, he continues to invest in the next generation of designers, innovators, and creative leaders.

Eric Baker – Set Dresser ǀ Prop Procurement
Universal Creative
Orlando, Florida

Eric Baker has spent more than three decades making the impossible look real. His career spans the full arc of themed entertainment, from sculpting parade floats to directing the props universe of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge®. His work is woven into some of the industry’s most celebrated immersive environments.

Baker began his career sculpting oversized props and puppet characters before joining Universal Creative, where he led the props program for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - Hogsmeade™. In that role, he worked closely with film crews and IP holders to ensure every detail was authentic and masterfully executed.

He later built Universal’s first in-house prop fabrication shop and supervised the installation of more than 106,000 props and set dressings for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - Diagon Alley™.
Known as an artist who leads by example, Baker has raised the bar for set dressing and prop design across the industry. He is also a dedicated mentor and teacher who helps nurture the next generation of themed entertainment talent.

Christophe Berthonneau – Creative Director, Live Events
Groupe F
Arles, France

Christophe Berthonneau is a director, scenographer, and producer renowned for his imaginative use of light in all forms, including fire, flames, fireworks, video, drones, music, and live performance.

His large-scale outdoor works and “in-the-sky” theatrical productions have reached audiences around the world. Berthonneau’s shows combine spectacle, storytelling, and technical precision to create memorable live experiences for major events, inaugurations, grand openings, landmarks, and public celebrations.

A contemporary artist with a distinct visual language, Berthonneau uses light to tell stories and transform public space into immersive performance.

Susan Bonds – Experiential Storyteller
Animal Repair Shop
Pasadena, California

Susan Bonds is recognized for building the critical intersection between storytelling and technology. Over nearly four decades, she has helped redefine immersive entertainment through digital media, interactive experiences, alternate reality games, and experiential narratives.

Bonds’ career spans aerospace engineering, Walt Disney Imagineering, the birth of alternate reality gaming, and the emerging frontier of mixed reality experiences. While at Walt Disney Imagineering, she contributed to immersive experiences including Mission: SPACE and Alien Encounter. Later, with Cyan Games, she helped develop new storytelling forms that blended media, technology, and physical space.

Today, Bonds continues to explore the future of themed entertainment through XR, AI-native entertainment, games, platforms, and physical-world experiences. She is recognized as a visionary leader who champions both ideas and the people who bring them to life.

Paul Kent – Technical Design and Direction
RWS Global
New York, New York

Paul Kent’s career spans three decades and three continents. He has contributed to some of the world’s most ambitious attractions and has built a reputation as one of the industry’s most trusted technical voices.

Kent’s work sits at the intersection of creative ambition and technical execution. His technical expertise deepened during his time with Electrosonic, where he served as Regional Director in the UAE. He later joined Jack Rouse Associates and served as Technical Project Manager for Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, one of the most ambitious and technically complex theme park developments of its time.

Throughout his career, Kent has helped translate bold creative visions into achievable, world-class experiences. He is also a frequent speaker, contributor, and mentor known for generously sharing knowledge and connecting people and ideas across borders.

Patrice Ragusa – Landscape Architect
Universal Creative
Orlando, Florida

Patrice Ragusa brings together two professional disciplines: fine art and landscape architecture. Through plants, hardscape, and exterior environments, she weaves narrative and emotion into the guest experience.

For more than 35 years, Ragusa has shaped some of themed entertainment’s most beloved outdoor spaces. She began her themed entertainment career at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure’s Seuss Landing, where she served as Area Development Design and Construction Project Manager and helped bring its whimsical landscape to life.

She later served as Area Development Design and Construction Project Manager for Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, overseeing exterior area development for one of Asia’s largest theme park openings. As Manager of Planning and Area Development Design, she has contributed to major Universal projects, including Universal Studios Beijing and multiple land areas within Universal Epic Universe.

Ragusa’s work demonstrates that landscape does not merely surround the story; it can be the story.

Kirsten Ruhs – Art Production and Design
KirPaint, Inc. 
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Kirsten Ruhs' work can be seen and felt across six Disney and five Universal theme parks on three continents, known for her meticulous attention to detail in painting, carving, texture, and scenic finish. She began her themed entertainment career as a Principal Color and Paint Specialist with Walt Disney Imagineering, where she oversaw artists and vendors as park-wide Show Art Installation Lead for Tokyo DisneySea — work spanning creative direction, storyboarding, scenic and ultraviolet painting, rockwork sculpture, and team leadership.

She later held a similar leadership role for Hong Kong Disneyland and played a key role in developing paint systems, specifications, and processes that continue to influence Walt Disney Imagineering today. As part of Universal Destinations & Experiences, she went on to lead multidisciplinary teams delivering numerous high-profile projects across parks and attractions.

Ruhs later founded KirPaint, contributing to entertainment projects spanning theme parks, cruise ships, film, and television. Her award-winning portfolio, mentorship, and commitment to professional development continue to inspire artists and creatives across themed entertainment.

The 2026 TEA Masters will be honored during TEA SATE North America, taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 12 to 14 October. The induction ceremony will take place on 13 October at the Le Petit Theatre.

TEA Masters are diverse and global, representing every facet of the themed entertainment industry. Their contributions support the creation and execution of experiences, attractions, events, spectaculars, rides, and shows around the world. To qualify as a Master, an inductee must have built a body of work over at least 20 years that includes frequent contributions to signature projects.

Through educational and outreach programs, TEA Masters share their knowledge and experience with TEA members, TEA NextGen members, university students, and the industry at large. New Masters are named by a Selection Committee of fellow TEA Masters, which evaluates nominations from across themed entertainment each year.

To learn more about the 2026 TEA Masters, TEA SATE North America, and other events and programs, visit TEAconnect.org.

About TEA

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) brings together the creators and makers of experiences worldwide — from creative storytellers and technical builders to operators, investors, and business leaders. TEA provides tools, education, advocacy, community, and connection to help members grow their businesses and careers.

The international non-profit association’s members focus on creating for and serving the leisure and travel sectors. Their work can be seen in entertaining and educational projects found in theme parks, water parks, museums, zoos, corporate visitor centers, casinos, restaurants, branded experiences, multimedia spectaculars, retail spaces, resorts and hospitality, destination attractions, and more.

TEA encompasses a dynamic community of more than 1,600 member companies in over 40 countries. TEAConnect.org