[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 157 (Monday, October 26, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING DAN JENSEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 26, 2015

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of myself and 
Congressman McClintock to acknowledge and honor Dan Jensen who 
announced his retirement as President of Delaware North at Yosemite. In 
that position, he is responsible for overseeing lodging, food service, 
retail, transportation and guest recreation in Yosemite National Park 
provided under contract to the National Park Service.
  Born and raised in Visalia, a central California community, located 
in a rich agricultural region, Dan attended college at UC Riverside and 
graduated in 1971 with a Bachelors of Arts in Economics. In addition he 
holds an MBA from University of California, Los Angeles. Immediately 
after graduating, he joined the Los Angeles office of Price Waterhouse, 
the world's largest professional services firm, where he worked in the 
audit services division.
  In 1993, Dan began his career in the theme park industry as the 
executive vice president and general manager of Universal Studios in 
Florida. He was instrumental in the expansion of the major resort 
destination which included a second theme park, three themed hotels and 
a nighttime entertainment complex known as City Walk. In 2001, Dan's 
theme park career went overseas, where he became the executive vice 
president and chief operating officer of the newly opened park 
Universal Studios in Japan. During Dan's time with Universal Studios 
Japan, it had the most successful first year of operations in the 
history of theme parks.
  Participating in a cultural exchange program in Russia in 1998, gave 
Dan the opportunity to visit various national parks throughout Russia. 
The purpose was to gain valuable insight into business and social 
issues that would contribute to improved funding for Russia's national 
park system. This made him an ideal candidate for his extensive role as 
President of Delaware North located near one of California's most 
established National Parks.
  Having worked for the previous concessioner from 1979 to 1992 in 
various financial and operational roles, Dan returned to Yosemite in 
2006 as President of Delaware North at Yosemite. The global leading 
company's operations in Yosemite includes 1,350 hotel rooms, 21 food 
service operations and 16 retail locations as well as a variety of 
recreational activities.
  Despite Dan's extensive work load, he finds the time to be an active 
participant in the community of Yosemite. He was on the board of 
trustees and the council of the Yosemite Conservancy, chairman of the 
Yosemite/Mariposa Tourism Bureau and a member of the University of 
California at Merced Board of trustees. Dan is an active supporter of 
NatureBridge, an educational nonprofit organization that provides 
outdoor environmental education in Yosemite as well as other national 
parks.
  Dan and his wife Susan, parents of two now adult children, reside in 
the Yosemite Valley.
  Mr. Speaker, please join Congressman McClintock and I in honoring and 
commending the outstanding contributions made to Yosemite by the 
President of Delaware North, Dan Jensen. We wish him continued success 
in his retirement.

                          ____________________