LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (August 20, 2022) – Disney’s Veterans Institute Summit presented by Disney Institute and sponsored by Wounded Warrior Project kicked off yesterday at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort. The complimentary two-day event was created to inspire business professionals and organizations to create their own military veteran hiring programs using insights from The Walt Disney Company’s Heroes Work Here initiative. The Heroes Work Here was introduced in 2012, and to date it has resulted in more than 11,000 veterans joining the company, representing all lines of work.
“We’re proud of the veterans and military spouses who work here at Disney and the powerful impact they make across our company, our teams and our guest experience” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.
This year’s Veterans Institute Summit marked its return to property since the inaugural event in 2013. The Summit included remarks from U.S. government officials and Disney executives as well as advice and insights from Veterans Service Organizations, firsthand perspectives shared by veterans about their transition to the civilian workforce, and best practices from organizations that have created their own successful programs delivered through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and Disney Institute content.
“Those who have served in the military have a strong sense of mission, purpose and culture that makes them valuable employees as they transition to their civilian lives,” said U.S. Army General Paul Funk II, Commanding General, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. “I am happy to see organizations like Disney supporting so many of our men and women who have valiantly served their nation.”
The Veterans Institute Summit opening day panels and keynotes included discussions on creating a culture of support, understanding how military experience can be adapted to organizations and a panel on military spouse employment. Some of the speakers include, Dr. Beth Funk, a Hero’s Light and Warriors at Ease; David Bellavia, Medal of Honor Recipient; The Honorable Cheryl Mason, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; a special video message from Gary Sinise, award-winning actor, humanitarian, musician and Founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation; Brian Alvarado, Director, Military Spouse Programs, Hiring our Heroes; Lieutenant Colonel Ismael Ortizrivera, U.S. Army Solder for Life and many others. For a full list of speakers, please visit, www.DisneyInstitute.com
Disney Institute appreciates the support from event sponsors Wounded Warrior Project, Amazon Global Military Affairs, The Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, USAA, Optum Serve, Enterprise Holdings, Inc., and JPMorgan Chase & Co., who all share a passion for helping set veterans and military spouses up for success following their service to our country.
About Disney Institute
Disney Institute offers professional development for individuals and organizations to learn the Disney approach to customer experience. For more than 30 years, Disney Institute has shared its expertise in leadership excellence, employee engagement, quality service, and business excellence by showcasing the time-tested best practices used by Disney parks and resorts—many of which began with Walt Disney himself. For individuals, Disney Institute offers online live courses, on-demand courses, and onsite courses at Disney destinations. For organizations, Disney Institute offers collaborative advisory services and private learning events, as well as presentations for chambers of commerce, colleges/universities, professional associations, and conferences held at Disney destinations worldwide. Disney Institute is a part of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products—a segment of The Walt Disney Company. For more information, visit DisneyInstitute.com and follow @disneyinstitute on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn
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