Chris Herschend

Vice-Chairman | Herschend Enterprises

Chris Herschend is a third-generation shareholder and Vice Chairman of Missouri-based Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation, the largest family-owned themed attractions company in the US. HFE properties span 26 locations and 10 states, employing over 10,000 men & women who collectively host over 13 million guests annually at properties including Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, Darien Lake in Buffalo, NY, and the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters. Chris is also the majority owner and President of Ride The Ducks International, the world's largest operator and licensor of amphibious sightseeing tours with 8 locations across the United States & Guam.

Chris has been elected by the shareholders to serve on the HFE board of directors since 1997 and has served on the audit & compensation committees of the board. Prior to joining Herschend, Chris worked for Coca-Cola, Cox Communications, and an Atlanta venture capital firm. He earned both his BA (1995) and MBA (2003) from Emory University in Atlanta.

Chris and his wife Ashley have four young children and live in Atlanta, GA. Chris' current & past community/industry service roles include the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA), the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Young Presidents Organization (YPO), Durban Youth Missions, Atlanta Youth Academy, The Church of the Apostles (Atlanta), the Georgia Center for Opportunity, and Blue Skies Ministries.