Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier Announces New General Manager

SANTA MONICA, CA -- The owner of Santa Monica Amusements announced on Monday she will step down from the day-to-day operation of Pacific Park and has appointed a new general manager, effective immediately.

Jeff Klocke will assumes all aspects of the daily operation of the two-acre amusement park. Mary Ann Powell will remain the chief executive officer and owner of Santa Monica Amusements, which has managed operations for Pacific Park since 2012.

Powell has led her team to develop the vision and long-term strategies for the Park as well as oversee the daily operations. She has worked with the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau, Santa Monica Rotary Club, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Santa Monica Police Activities League, Special Olympics of Southern California and Make-A-Wish Foundation, among others to secure the park's important role within the community.

Klocke joined the Pacific Park team in 1999 and has helped increased attendance growth to more than 8 million visitors annually. In addition, he created and directs Pacific Park’s events department including the popular Event Pavilion.

“It is a remarkable honor to have this new opportunity,” Klocke said. “Together with the great team at Pacific Park, I look forward to growing this successful business and furthering our commitment to Santa Monica and the surrounding communities.”

Klocke is a board member and past President of the Santa Monica Police Activities League, serves on several Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce committees, serves on the public relations committee for the Special Olympics Southern California, and serves on the board of directors for The Bay Foundation.

In May, Klocke and his team were instrumental in leading Pacific Park’s 20th Birthday celebration with the unveiling of a nearly $1 million new lighting package on the world-famous Ferris wheel. The 174,000 LED lights now provide 16.7 million color value combinations, higher resolution, greater color depth and faster “frames per second” display speed.

-- Photo courtesy of Pacific Park