David Wells and International Amusement & Leisure Defense Association 2026 Safety Awards
David Bromilow Honored with Prestigious Lifetime Contribution Award
[DALLAS, TX] September 13, 2026 – AIMS International, the unmatched leader in amusement safety education, honored the International Amusement & Leisure Defense Association (IALDA) and professional engineer David Wells with the 2026 AIMS International Safety Award. Amusement industry veteran and former AIMS International President David Bromilow received the prestigious AIMS International Lifetime Contribution Award.
The recipients were recognized during Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards ceremony, held September 12 at Circuit of The Americas and hosted by COTA in Austin, Texas.
The AIMS International Safety Award is presented annually to an individual or organization that demonstrates leadership, innovation and foresight in improving safety within the amusement industry. Contributions to safety take many forms, including the design and implementation of new products and technology, the development of education and training programs, and exemplary leadership that inspires others to advance safety throughout the industry.
David Wells, a mechanical engineer who also studied computer science, began his career as a hydraulic technician. His early work with electrical and electronic controls, programmable logic controllers, and hydraulic automation led to projects ranging from industrial vehicle automation to mechanical land mine clearing, and telerobotic nuclear-waste handling.
Wells’ combined experience in structural and mechanical design, control systems, fluid power, and electrical systems eventually led him to specialize in troubleshooting and maintaining amusement devices. For the past 20 years, he has worked closely with regulatory authorities to support the safe maintenance, upgrading, and continued operation of orphaned and poorly supported amusement devices. He also evaluates incoming devices for regulatory compliance.
“David brings together a rare combination of engineering expertise, practical problem-solving and a deep understanding of regulatory requirements,” said Randy Wilke, President of the AIMS International Board of Directors. “His work has helped operators safely maintain and upgrade devices that might otherwise lack adequate technical support. His willingness to share that knowledge through AIMS makes him especially deserving of this recognition.”
Through Auton Engineering Ltd., Wells continues to apply his multidisciplinary engineering expertise to complex amusement-device challenges. A longtime participant and instructor at the annual AIMS International Safety Seminar and instructor at the SafeConnect/AIMS Safety Seminar in Canada, he shares his experience and technical knowledge with other safety professionals.
IALDA is a nonprofit organization of attorneys and other professionals actively engaged in representing the interests of the amusement and leisure industries.
For 40 years, IALDA members have provided legal support, risk-management seminars, and safety education for AIMS International and the broader amusement community. Its members serve on industry safety and standards-setting committees and provide counsel to public and private-sector attraction associations at the state, regional, national, and international levels.
Through education, collaboration and the sharing of legal and risk-management expertise, IALDA has helped attraction operators better understand emerging safety concerns, strengthen operational practices, and address the complex legal and regulatory issues affecting the industry.
“IALDA’s contributions extend far beyond legal counsel,” said Wilke. “For four decades, its members have generously shared their expertise, supported safety education and helped shape standards and best practices throughout the amusement industry. We are proud to recognize IALDA’s longstanding commitment to AIMS and the advancement of safety worldwide.”
David Bromilow, recipient of the Lifetime Contribution Award, has completed 50 continuous years of service to the amusement and leisure industry. During that time, he has become one of the industry’s most influential advocates for safety, serving as an educator, consultant, mentor, and volunteer leader across five continents.
Presented for only the sixth time in AIMS International’s history, the Lifetime Contribution Award was given to David Bromilow in recognition of his extraordinary dedication and service to AIMS International and the global amusement industry.
Since the 1980s, Bromilow has volunteered as a speaker and instructor for AIMS International, formerly known as AREA. During more than 40 years of involvement, he has served as an AIMS board member, instructor, and president. He has helped shape the organization’s safety education and training materials while mentoring generations of maintenance technicians, operators, engineers, inspectors, and executives.
Bromilow has also served the broader attractions industry through more than two decades of involvement with IAAPA safety committees, including service as Chair of the IAAPA Global Safety Committee. His contributions to ASTM International and European Norms standards-writing groups have helped strengthen international standards governing the design, maintenance and operation of amusement rides and attractions across the globe.
Bromilow has provided health and safety reviews, attraction-installation project management, operational procedure development, and engineering-program support to theme parks, water parks, manufacturers, and entertainment organizations worldwide. His clients have included Universal destinations, Six Flags, Cedar Fair, SeaWorld, Warner Bros., and other major attractions and manufacturers.
In recent years, Bromilow, Global Director of Parks and Attractions for Mobaro, has worked directly with maintenance, operations, and safety teams to create and formally document standard operating procedures for safety-critical work. These procedures help organizations standardize how tasks are performed, strengthen employee training, improve operational consistency, and reduce risk.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bromilow supported parks and attractions around the world as they prepared to resume operations. He also served on the amusement industry’s global COVID-19 task force and contributed to IAAPA’s ride-reopening guidance.
“David’s influence on amusement industry safety cannot be measured by a single title or accomplishment,” said Tony Claassen, AIMS International Past President. “For five decades, he has generously shared his expertise, strengthened international standards, and helped safety professionals at every level perform their responsibilities more effectively. The global amusement industry is safer because of his dedication, intellect, and servant leadership.”
Past winners of the prestigious AIMS International Safety Award include:
- 2025 – Ellis & Associates
- 2024 – Patty Beazley
- 2023 – Jeff Abendshien and ASTM F24 Committee
- 2022 – CW Craven
- 2021 – Hugo Loyola
- 2020 – John Riggleman
- 2019 – Ronald E. Burback
- 2018 – Patrick Hoffman
- 2017 – Har Kupers
- 2016 – Harold Hudson
Past winners of the prestigious AIMS International Lifetime Contribution Award include:
- 2025 – Jerry Alrdich
- 2024 – Jim Seay
- 2019 – Gary Slade
- 2018 – Mark Moore
- 2006 – Pat Hoffman
Early Bird registration for the 2027 AIMS International Safety Seminar opens September 15. The seminar will take place Saturday, January 9, through Thursday, January 14, 2027, at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
Attendees should note that the 2027 seminar will follow a special Saturday-through-Thursday schedule rather than its traditional Sunday-through-Friday format.
To learn more about AIMS International, its awards and upcoming educational programs, visit www.aimsintl.org.