Cedar Fair CEO's six-year tenure generated many accomplishments

SANDUSKY — Cedar Fair's chief executive officer, Matt Ouimet, is retiring after six years with the company. Here are some of his achievements since joining the company in 2012:• The market value of Cedar Fair has increased by more than $2.6 billion. This was the achievement Ouimet mentioned in the news release announcing that Richard Zimmerman will take over as CEO at the beginning of 2018.• The company has repeatedly announced record revenues. Second-quarter results for Cedar Fair, announced in August, recorded net revenues of $393 million, $5 million higher than the previous record set in the second quarter of 2016. July attendance for the 11 amusement parks also was up 2 percent, 106,000 visits.Ouimet said revenues have grown because of better marketing, investment in new rides, renovating Hotel Breakers, the continued expansion of special events such as Halloweekends and the implementation of Fast Lane.• The closing price for Cedar Fair units on Jan. 3, 2012, the day Ouimet took over, was $21.81. The closing price on Oct. 19 this year was $63.88.• With the cooperation of local governments, Cedar Point's new Sports Force playing fields were built on Cleveland Road just east of Sandusky, featuring baseball fields, soccer fields, softball fields and lacrosse fields.• Plans are now in place for a new indoor sports facility.• Cedar Point built a number of new rides and attractions, including GateKeeper in 2013, a record breaking wing roller coaster. Mantis was turned into a floorless roller coaster, Rougarou. Valravn was introduced in 2016 as the tallest and fastest dive coaster in the world.On August 16 this year, Cedar Point announced Steel Vengeance, a hybrid wooden and steel roller coaster. Billed as "the wildest ride Cedar Point has ever built," it will include a variety of sudden, unexpected moments. It will open as the signature new ride next spring.• Ouimet completed a major renovation of Hotel Breakers, costing about $25 million, and opened up better access to Cedar Point beach, turning Cedar Point into a complete resort attraction. Major renovations were carried out at the outdoor waterpark.• A new night show at Cedar Point, "Luminosity," was installed.• With Ouimet's cooperation, Sandusky passed an increase in the admissions tax, mostly paid for by Cedar Point visitors, that boosted Sandusky's budget and allowed new investments in the city.• Plans are well underway for a new Bowling Green State University bachelor's degree program in resort and attraction management that is being put together with Cedar Fair's cooperation. Classes for the program will begin in 2020 in a new BGSU location in downtown Sandusky, giving the downtown area a boost.• Many other new rides and attractions have been added at Cedar Fair's 10 other amusement parks. The operating season was extended into winter with "Winterfest" dates in many theme parks.CEO and President of Cedar Fair, Matt Ouimet, has a laugh after getting a sticker from an unknowing Cedar Point employee outside the park's main entrance during a tour in 2015.