From Engineering Exposition
Joe Adams President, Discovery Science Center 2003 - Present
The Keynote presentation will be at 11:00a.m. and will last about one hour.
Contents |
Personal
Adams was born in San Diego, Calif. but considers San Antonio, Texas his hometown. He now lives in Orange County, Calif.
Education
Adams earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in energy from the University Of Notre Dame (1990) and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine, (2002).
Background
Adams began his career in 1990 as project engineer for a Texas oil drilling company, Diamond M Offshore. During this time, he traveled the world to plan and manage the construction of oil rigs. In 1992, he joined CPS Gas and Electric in San Antonio, where he oversaw the construction of a 550‐ megawatt power plant and served as Operations Engineer for several other gas and coal plants. In 1998, Adams moved to Calif. to join the Walt Disney Company as Program Manager in their Theme Park Development Division. He was involved with the design and construction of several attractions, restaurants, and shops throughout the Disneyland Resort. Some of his projects include Disney’s California Adventure, Paradise Pier, Flik’s Fun Fair, and the Tower of Terror. In 2003, Adams became president of DSC in Santa Ana, Calif. He has dedicated the past six years to the operation and growth of DSC and looks forward to the next phase of expansion, which will focus on space.
DSC Achievements
Adams successfully led DSC through its first major expansion in 2006, with the addition of Dino Quest. He pioneered this 10,000 sq‐ft, hands‐on exhibit that uses infrared technology to guide visitors through an interactive dinosaur hunt. In 2007, Adams spearheaded the acquisition of Future Scientist and Engineers of America to expand DSC’s educational programming into eight states. He has also developed a “Making the Grade” program, which focuses on grade‐specific science curriculum for Southern California students. Adams is known for his excellent strategies and creative focus. Using these tools, he has helped make DSC the 7th largest science education outreach center in the nation. He has also utilized his operations and management experience to increase annual attendance by more than 200%. Since 2003, DSC’s operating budget has grown from $3 million to an impressive $9 million.
