Ride Entertainment, a leader in selling, operating and installing amusement and thrill park attractions worldwide, is proud to announce that its prolific and pioneering work in the attractions industry earned the company the 2017 Bright Lights Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot.

The Comptroller’s Bright Lights Award recognizes and celebrates innovation in the private and nonprofit sectors. One company from each of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City were honored. Headquartered at the Chesapeake Bay Business Park in Stevensville, Ride Entertainment received the Bright Lights Award for Queen Anne’s County.

“We have a great commitment to developing world-class entertainment systems, and we’re honored to represent Queen Anne’s County and the state of Maryland as leaders in our industry,” said Ed Hiller, CEO of Ride Entertainment. “We’re an adventure and amusement powerhouse that came from humble beginnings, so we’re excited to receive this recognition and make our home state proud.”

The company is known for its many record-breaking roller coasters and award-winning family attractions including Skycoaster®, the world’s most popular thrill ride; the SeaGlass Carousel, located at the Battery in Manhattan, New York; hair-raising roller coasters at Dollywood and many others.

“Fueled by Ed Hiller's innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and with the help of his dedicated and hardworking employees, Ride Entertainment has become one of the world’s largest entertainment sales enterprises,” said Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot. “This award recognizes our state’s thriving community of innovators and entrepreneurs that strengthen Maryland’s economy, generate jobs and tax revenue, and develop new ideas that more effectively deliver services and products to the marketplace, and I couldn’t be happier to award the Bright Lights Award for Queen Anne’s County to Ride Entertainment for creating innovative amusement park attractions across the globe.”