Cole Previously Served as Strategic Advisor for the Indoor Slide and Action Park
Slick City Action Park, an indoor slide and action park franchise, has named Josh Cole chief marketing officer. Cole began consulting with CEO Bron Launsby during the brand’s early stages and has since played a key role in laying the groundwork for the company’s franchise growth.
“I was immediately interested in the concept because I could imagine Slick City resonating with a wide range of guests, including parents who want to participate and not just watch,” Cole said. “Guest data has proven this to be true: Over 25% are adults, primarily parents alongside their kids. I enjoy working in the location-based entertainment industry because scaling an experience that friends and family enjoy together brings me joy. The opportunity to turn a young company that’s now just entering new markets into a well-known national brand excites me.”
Cole said building upon the existing franchisee support infrastructure is key to the brand’s growth. “One of the most important things a franchisor can do to strengthen its marketing initiatives is establish genuine feedback loops with franchisees. This creates opportunities to gather meaningful insights about recent programs and identify ways to improve them moving forward. Effective franchisor teams actively seek out this feedback and listen carefully to what franchisees have to say. While not every suggestion will be actionable, many will provide valuable perspectives and practical ideas. Time and again, franchisors that remain open to learning from their franchisees — and willing to act on those insights — see significant benefits.”
Launsby said bringing Cole onto the leadership team full-time is a natural next step. “His track record of building category-defining brands and supporting franchisees at scale makes him uniquely qualified to help lead Slick City’s next chapter,” Launsby said.
Franchising Experience
Cole has spent the last two decades building high-growth consumer and franchise brands, such as Sky Zone, TITLE Boxing Club, Sandbox VR and The NOW Massage. During his tenure as CMO of Sky Zone, Cole helped expand the brand from 80 to more than 200 locations across 10 countries. His previous experience also includes serving as vice president of digital marketing and e-commerce for Universal Studios Hollywood, where his accomplishments included growing the park’s direct-to-consumer revenue and social media presence.
Cole credited his family for instilling a love of marketing. His grandfather owned a small advertising agency, his mother was a graphic designer and his father worked in corporate marketing.
“I still love the creative aspects of marketing, but the work is most rewarding when it drives results,” Cole said. “When you see increased revenue and business expansion or franchisees creating more jobs in their markets and generating earnings for their families, that’s what makes it all worth it.”
He holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, bachelor’s degree from Boston University and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, including Brandweek and Adweek events. When he’s off the clock, Cole enjoys hiking, bike riding, swimming and playing pickleball with his family.
About Slick City Action Park
Founded in 2021 by Bron Launsby and Gary Schmit, Slick City aims to offer a one-of-a-kind experience designed for people of all ages. The brand maintains all innovation processes in-house through its partnership with Slick Slide Co. Slick City Action City has 40 open locations and 110 more in development.
