OE Experiences – Entertain. Enlighten. Engage.

Our Worldview

OE Experiences monetizes the Experience Economy by creating a powerful bridge between the creative and finance worlds. We serve as consultants, owner’s representatives, and co-developers on immersive dining, themed hospitality, and location-based entertainment projects across the United States.

our services

Real Estate Development

Location/Site Analysis

Operations Consulting – LBE, FEC, F&B, Hospitality

Project Management

Construction Management

Pre-Development Consulting

Owner Representation

Government Relations

our expertise

Our consulting team brings over a century of combined experience at the highest organizational levels within retail, hospitality, operations, financial services and themed entertainment. Our team has managed over 25,000 employees worldwide and appreciate the importance of teamwork, organization and vision.

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Our Team

Matthew Cross, ICAE

CEO

Matthew Cross is Founding Partner & CEO of OE Experiences.

Cross has a proven executive track record working with major corporations nationwide. As CEO of OE Experiences, he has successfully operated at the intersection of Finance, Themed Entertainment, Hospitality, Food and Beverage, and Retail in the experience economy. Cross’ participation in each sector through projects, trade associations, and partnerships has supported OE Experiences becoming the definitive Experiential Development Company. Since its inception in 2020, OE Experiences has supported $875 million of development across the United States and overseas, and Cross has been recognized as a Top 50 Global Theme Park Influencer by Blooloop.

Prior to starting OE Experiences, he was the CEO of Boyd Hollow Resorts Inc., where he oversaw the concept development of the unique themed resort Ancient Lore Village.

Previously, Cross spent nearly a decade as Vice President at USI Consulting Group, a Registered Investment Advisory firm with over $20 billion in assets under advisement. Cross won the distinguished “USI Peak Award” recognizing the most successful producers three consecutive years (every year that he was eligible). He has also worked at Finard Properties, a Boston, MA based real estate development company, and Caesar’s at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in the finance department.

He is recognized by his peers as a strong leader with an unyielding focus on vision and success. Cross earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the Calloway School of Business at Wake Forest University.

Cross serves on the Themed Entertainment Association Board of Directors – Eastern North America as the President and maintains his IAAPA Certified Attractions Executive (ICAE) designation.

Lewis Frazer, ICAE

CFO

Lewis Frazer is Founding Partner & CFO of OE Experiences.

Frazer is an experienced, multi-disciplinary executive with a background in accounting, motion picture theaters, IT, construction and real estate development.

Frazer began his career as an auditor for Pricewaterhouse Coopers. At age 27 he became the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Regal Cinemas, where he led the company through an Initial Public Offering and was responsible for all financial aspects of the publicly traded company for six years, until it was sold in a leveraged buy-out.

Frazer was Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Wintellect, a software consulting and education firm with over $10 million in annual sales.

Frazer’s experience also includes residential subdivision and waterfront property development, a construction demolition business, and rental properties on the Gulf Coast and in the Smoky Mountains.

Frazer has served as a member of the IAAPA Finance and IT Education Subcommittee.

Sam Russo

Vice President

Sam Russo is the Vice President of Themed Entertainment & Project Management for the OE Experiences Team.

Russo is an experienced themed entertainment professional with over 30 years of industry experience. Russo began his career with Universal Studios Hollywood where he served as Director of Entertainment, overseeing the operation of all live shows, events and attractions, including supervision of a team of 1,000+ employees and an annual budget of 23m+.

Russo went on to serve as Operations Consultant, Producer and Project Director for industry leaders including Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, BRC Imagination Arts and Thinkwell Group, guiding projects from concept through the design and production of world class themed attractions and experiences.

Most recently, Russo served as Vice President of Attraction Development for Herschend Family Entertainment.

Brandi Major, ASC

Controller

Brandi Major is the Controller for the OE Experiences Team.

Major is a driven and innovative accounting professional with over 15 years of accounting experience. She brings a positive, team-oriented attitude and willingness to take on challenges. She has her ARGUS Software Certification (ASC) and is responsible for maintaining the Development Models on behalf of our clients.

Major brings an extensive range of skills and perspectives from serving in a financial role in multiple sectors including entrepreneurial start ups, small businesses, large corporations, real estate firms, and non-profit organizations. She has experience in corporate taxation, small business accounting services, internal and external audit and payroll functions.

Major is a long-time Knoxville resident and graduate of the University of Tennessee.

John Brock

Legal Consultant

John Brock is a Legal Consultant for the OE Experiences Team.

Brock attended the University of Tennessee (B.A., 1993; J.D., 1996) where he was a recipient of the Torchbearer Award, the school’s highest student honor.

Brock represents lending institutions, businesses and business owners in transactions of all types, including commercial and venture financings, mergers, acquisitions, real estate development transactions, securities offerings, and reorganizations. Brock has extensive experience representing issuers raising capital through the private sale of equity and debt instruments, resellers of restricted equity, and buyers and sellers in the purchase and sale of preferred equities and down rounds. Brock routinely represents parties in private company mergers and acquisitions across all industries, and counsels boards and executive management teams in their negotiations with investment banks and strategic and private equity investors.

Larry Wittenberg

Operations Consultant

Lawrence Wittenberg is an Operations Consultant for the OE Experiences Team.

Wittenberg was the Chief Operating Officer for Delaware North Companies Sportservice leading the operations of an established $750 million hospitality and retail subsidiary for 29 major league sports franchises covering Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Basketball League, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, concert, and entertainment events, and over 20 other operations including Minor League Baseball, Spring Training, Minor League Hockey, Amphitheater, Expo Centers and Flea Markets.

Previously, he was the Corporate Director of Food Service at Six Flags Theme Parks and was responsible for international and domestic food service operations at 35 properties with over $250 million in annual revenue where he achieved record profit growth annually during his 2001 to 2008 tenure. Wittenberg also served as the Director of Food Service Development for Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure theme park where he led the concept, planning, design, operations, and integration of the new property into the overall Universal Orlando complex.

Wittenberg was Chief Executive Officer for BB King’s Blues Club where he led the development of their new club at the Universal Studios CityWalk Hollywood retail-dining-entertainment center. He also served as the Senior Vice President of Food, Merchandise and Club Service during the planning, design, and operation of the remodeled Madison Square Garden complex in New York City where he led the project from initial concept through operational implementation and subsequent ongoing execution.

Wittenberg has given numerous presentations of the key importance of operations planning integration into the design and development of large-scale tourism projects, guest lectured on the delivery of quality guest service in the Chinese entertainment market, and has been the Chairman of IAAPA’s Food and Beverage committee. He was also creator and guest speaker at an IAAPA EDUSession “It’s All About the Menu.”

Caleb Winchester

Financial Consultant

Caleb Winchester is a Financial Consultant for the OE Experiences Team.

Winchester has in-depth experience working with C-level executives, founders, and family offices. In addition, he has unique insight in location-based entertainment, finance, real estate, and corporate HR.

Most recently, Winchester worked at Herschend Family Entertainment in several capacities improving processes, with strategic planning, and acquisition opportunities. In his role as a Business Development Associate at Herschend, he led efforts on M&A buy-side deal opportunities for the enterprise which included review and generation of financial models and operational plans.

Winchester earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Economics from Wheaton College, IL and an MBA from the University of Oxford.