TEA Announces New International Board President-Elect

	Stephen Thomas Cavit

The Themed Entertainment Association's membership has elected Stephen Thomas Cavit as president-elect of its international board of directors. Cavit will assume the presidency beginning January 1, 2027, and will lead the global association's board and strategic focus of supporting the themed entertainment industry through education, community, and connection. Cavit became president-elect of the executive committee starting January 1, 2026. He is continuing to serve as division president of TEA's Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

Cavit is co-founder and CEO of TruSound International, which has developed a premier LBE-focused immersive audio technology platform, creating an interactive 3D audio hardware system for destination experiences. He continues to have a successful career in music, earning three Emmy Awards, a Thea Award, and an IAAPA Brass Ring Award for his pioneering work and creative approach to applying sound in themed environments and experiences.

Matt Barton, current TEA international board president, says, "Stephen is an excellent choice to take on the role of president-elect. I have had the pleasure of working closely with him over the past year in his role as president of the APAC Division, and it is clear that he brings international awareness, diplomacy, and strategic vision. As I enter my second and final year as president, I look forward to continuing to work with Stephen throughout 2026."

Cavit has been president of the TEA's APAC board since 2024, having also served for four years as an Asia Pacific board director. During his time, the region's TEA membership has grown by 46%. In addition, the region re-established its SATE Asia Program; instituted multiple Next Gen (SEP) regional clubs; held marquee events at Ghibli Park, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Weta Workshop; and added bimonthly in-person member events as well as bimonthly webinars to help members stay connected to drive business, share opportunities, and address challenges facing the industry.

"Working with Matt and TEA's leadership over the past many years has been a great privilege," Cavit says. "The team is impressively earnest, talented, and dedicated to the association's membership. I am eager to share my energy and enthusiasm with TEA's global community as we expand into adjacent industries and new, underrepresented regions. I'm humbled by the opportunity to positively impact our membership through TEA's high-quality programming, educational initiatives, and focus on providing individual career advancement."

In November, TEA announced the full roster of newly elected members to its International Board and all regional division boards. Newly elected members who join Cavit on the TEA APAC division board are Sean Jang, TBCL; Eric Lee, Unbound Group Limited; Jason Lovelace, Walt Disney Imagineering; Mason Schmitz, P+A Projects; Agnieszka Veriga, Warner Bros. Discovery; Frank Yu Chen Wu, CQ Amusement International Ltd.: and Ryuta Yamada, Nomura.