Michelle West is a key member of the LARC research team. Feasibility studies, market analyses, business plans, operational reviews, and forecasts have been completed under her direction. As the Director of Research, Michelle coordinates the research and fact-finding efforts, writes or assists in writing all studies or reports originating in LARC’s research department and carefully reviews and edits all of the research department’s final documents.


Alongside the Tourism Development department, Michelle assists in researching and writing the Tourism Development studies. In the course of her tenure, Michelle has gathered and inventoried detailed data on each of the various segments of the entertainment industry as well as operational statistics on existing entertainment attractions. Through this and other research, LARC has become an invaluable source to the leisure industry.

EDUCATION & Experience:

Southern Methodist University, Bachelor of International Business 

and Bachelor of Arts in French 

Minor in Theatre
Fluent in French

SMU International Office Assistant
Studied in Paris, France
International Business experience
Accounting experience


Favorite Projects:

Most Unique: Yale University Tercentennial
Most Rewarding: Jazzland, New Orleans 
Most Enriching: North Georgia Tourism

Most Complex: Heritage City, Nigeria

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Projects:

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  • Aeroworld, Frankfurt, Germany
  • BuggyTowne, Brigham City, UT
  • Butterfly Jungle, Las Vegas, NV
  • Dream Ranch, Mansfield, TX
  • Family Entertainment Attractions, Ghana, West  Africa
  • Folkways Center of the Georgia Mountains
  • Frontier Texas! and Texas Forts Trail, Abilene, TX
  • Holdfast Shores, Adelaide, South Australia
  • Jazzland Theme Park, New Orleans, LA
  • Neptune’s Kingdom, Cabo Frio, Brazil
  • Northeast Georgia Regional Tourism Development  Study
  • Parc du Vivant Health Pavilion Project in Lille, France
  • The Passion Play Redevelopment, Eureka Springs,  AR
  • Tourism Development Study, Gainesville, TX
  • Tourism Development Study, Eureka Springs, AR
  • Tourism Development Study, Northeast Georgia
  • Village of Rosemont, IL
  • The Wave, Virginia Beach, VA
  • Wet `n Wild, Las Vegas, NV
  • Yale University Tercentennial, New Haven, CT

​​Michelle West

Director of Research

“QUIT? QUIT?
​WE KEEP SCORE IN LIFE BECAUSE IT MATTERS. IT COUNTS.

TOO MANY PEOPLE OPT-OUT AND NEVER DISCOVER THEIR OWN ABILITIES, BECAUSE THEY FEAR FAILURE.
THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND COMMITMENT.
WHEN YOU LEARN TO KEEP FIGHTING IN THE FACE OF POTENTIAL FAILURE, IT GIVES YOU A LARGER SKILL SET TO DO
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.” 
-PAT SUMMITT