Webinar: Designing with Plastics for Artificial Foliage
IAPD Webinar: Designing with Plastics for Artificial Foliage & Amusement Park Decor
Please join us for a webinar on understanding design and engineering requirements for plastics used in amusement parks. Steve Probus, retired Walt Disney Imagineer, and Averie Palovcak, engineering manager at Arkema, will explain material selection for critical UV/weathering applications. Find out why plastics are chosen over real plants and why Kynar® PVDF is one of the top choices for long-lasting artificial foliage.
Presenter Bios
Steve Probus has been in the entertainment business for over 45 years working in film, television, theater and theme parks. His work can be seen at the Indianapolis Zoo, Opryland USA, Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld Orlando and in Disney Parks all over the world. He began his career as a professor of theater, teaching scenic design, lighting design and television production at universities and colleges in California, Florida and Kentucky. He has worked as a free-lance art director and set decorator in the film industry decorating television shows, commercials, music videos and infomercials.
For over 27 years Steve created magic for Walt Disney Imagineering, in the areas of art and set decoration with a concentration on artificial foliage. He has been working with Disney Parks worldwide for the past 15 years (Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Sea) assisting in the development and design of sustainable artificial foliage. He has partnered with Arkema and Plantscape Commercial Silk, developing 25-year lifecycle artificial trees for exterior use for the theme park industry.
Steve has worked with the Disney Cruise Line on all four cruise ships, theming the restaurants, entertainment venues, executive suites and general guest suites. He was also responsible for the prop design efforts and installation of the Disney Castaway Cay Island in the Bahamas.
While at The Walt Disney Company Steve was awarded the prestigious Legacy award, for keeping the magic alive through exemplary performance and commitment to the traditions and ideas established by Walt Disney, along with the Walt Disney Imagineering Traditions award, The Frank Wells Award for Excellence in Partnership for the Disney’s Aulani Resort and several TEA Awards for outstanding Achievement in Themed Entertainment. He currently is President of SA Probus Creative Studio working as a free-lance art director and creative consultant.
Averie Palovcak works as the Market and Applications Engineering Manager for Arkema. She received a BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University and an MBA from Villanova University. Averie is an active member of various industry standards committees including ASTM, ASME, ASPE and NACE. She has authored numerous articles related to plastic materials. Most recently, Averie was a contributing author to the Introduction to Fluoropolymers textbook for her work on the Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) chapter. Averie has been working with engineers and end users for over five years, where she provides her engineering and plastics expertise for designing upgraded systems using fluoropolymers.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom with the link to join the webinar.