Cinemark CEO comes to Utah

Former Weber State University student and current CEO of Cinemark USA Inc Alan Stock visited the Utah area for a grand opening for a new Cinemark theater in Orem. The new theater features a sleek design and is equipped with the latest digital technology. The theater includes 14 auditoriums, with five of them being 3D capable. The theater has a newer design addition incorporating a 16-inch height difference between each row allowing movie-goers more space along with roomier chairs. "Its seems that when I was younger, Tinseltown was always the hangout, and even now, I still find myself there regularly," said James Powell, a WSU Computer Science freshman. The theater also features self-service cafeteria-style concession stands. Tickets are always available to purchase online so customers can avoid waiting in long lines to see movies. "The Cinemark at the University Mall is our 13th theater here in Utah," Stock said. Cinemark is the third-largest movie theater company in the world having 4,700 movie screens in a dozen countries. They plan on adding 80 new screens in the United States this year. "The key for us is that it needs to be entertaining for the viewer," Stock said. "We operate high quality theaters, and we operate them well. We hold this philosophy today." Stock first joined Cinemark in 1986. At the time, the company only had eight theaters. He did various jobs from taking tickets, to cleaning and running the projectors. He was originally studying to go into medicine, but as his love for the movie theater industry changed, he became consumed with it. "It was in Utah, very early in my career," Stock said, "that I realized while we don't make the movies, we can make sure the customers are comfortable and can see and hear well. So we do absolutely everything possible to create a great entertainment experience for customers and they come back again and again." Stock attended WSU for three years and graduated from Roy High School. In 2007 he received a Distinguished Alumnus award from WSU. The new theater had its grand opening at the University Mall in Orem on Friday. Last week several pre-opening activities were held including a special University Night on Wednesday, Nov. 5 where students from Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University attended free movies. "I'm so excited to have this brand new movie theater here,"said Ashley Sinner, a Utah Valley University nursing junior. "I can do all my shopping and enjoy a movie after, all in the same area." On Thursday, they held a charity night for the Utah National Parks Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Guests enjoyed a free movie, and concession stand items could be purchased for $1. All proceeds benefitted the Utah National Parks Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Stock currently resides in Plano, Texas, but also has a second home here in Utah. He and his wife have five children and two grandchildren. For more information on the new theater in Orem, booking tickets or more information on Cinemark the company, visit www.cinemark.com