Joel Manby
Encyclopedia
Joel Manby is the current Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Herschend Family Entertainment, a privately owned themed-entertainment company that owns and operates 24 properties across nine states, including Stone Mountain
Park, Dollywood
, and Silver Dollar City
. He and his company were featured in the seventh episode of the first season of CBS
's Undercover Boss
.
. At Albion, Manby graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Economics as the valedictorian of his class and was a Rhodes Scholarship
Finalist. He was elected to the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.
and received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School
. He was a part of the start-up team for Saturn Corporation and was instrumental in launching Saturn's innovative marketing and distribution strategy. After a few years with Saturn, Manby was promoted to CEO of Saab Automobile
USA. During his four-year tenure, Saab's sales increased by 67 percent and their J.D. Power Quality Rating jumped from 30th to 5th in the industry.
While at Saab, Manby was asked to be on the board for Herschend Family Entertainment. He later became chairman and has served as the CEO since 2003. Manby is a strong proponent of servant leadership
. His role with Herschend Family Entertainment was featured in the CBS
show Undercover Boss
.
Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain is a quartz monzonite dome monadnock in Stone Mountain, Georgia, United States. At its summit, the elevation is 1,686 feet amsl and 825 feet above the surrounding area. Stone Mountain granite extends underground at its longest point into Gwinnett County...
Park, Dollywood
Dollywood
Dollywood is a theme park owned by entertainer Dolly Parton and the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. It is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Dollywood has 3,000 people on its payroll, making it the largest employer in that community....
, and Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City is a theme park in the state of Missouri. Opened on May 1, 1960, the park is located between Branson and Branson West, Missouri, on Highway 76...
. He and his company were featured in the seventh episode of the first season of CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's Undercover Boss
Undercover Boss
Undercover Boss is a television franchise series that has been released in multiple countries, originating in 2009 on the British Channel 4...
.
Early life
Manby was born and raised in Michigan. He attended Lakeview High School and went to college at Albion CollegeAlbion College
Albion College is a private liberal arts college located in Albion, Michigan. Related to the United Methodist Church, it was founded in 1835 and was the first private college in Michigan to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It has a student population of about 1500.The school's sports teams are...
. At Albion, Manby graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Economics as the valedictorian of his class and was a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
Finalist. He was elected to the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.
Career
Upon graduating from Albion, Manby worked at General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
and received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
. He was a part of the start-up team for Saturn Corporation and was instrumental in launching Saturn's innovative marketing and distribution strategy. After a few years with Saturn, Manby was promoted to CEO of Saab Automobile
Saab Automobile
Saab Automobile AB, better known as Saab , is a Swedish car manufacturer owned by Dutch automobile manufacturer Swedish Automobile NV, formerly Spyker Cars NV. It is the exclusive automobile Royal Warrant holder as appointed by the King of Sweden...
USA. During his four-year tenure, Saab's sales increased by 67 percent and their J.D. Power Quality Rating jumped from 30th to 5th in the industry.
While at Saab, Manby was asked to be on the board for Herschend Family Entertainment. He later became chairman and has served as the CEO since 2003. Manby is a strong proponent of servant leadership
Servant leadership
Servant leadership is a philosophy and practice of leadership, coined and defined by Robert K. Greenleaf and supported by many leadership and management writers such as James Autry, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Peter Block, Peter Senge, Max DePree, Scott Greenberg, Larry Spears, Margaret...
. His role with Herschend Family Entertainment was featured in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
show Undercover Boss
Undercover Boss
Undercover Boss is a television franchise series that has been released in multiple countries, originating in 2009 on the British Channel 4...
.