Disney Offers Free Veterans Institute Workshop to Encourage and Support Hiring of Military Veterans

Disney will share expertise of its ‘Heroes Work Here’ initiative with small- and mid-sized companies to help them build their own veteran-hiring programs

Complimentary one-day seminar at Walt Disney World will feature veterans’ stories of transitioning to the civilian workforce

September 10, 2013 — BURBANK, Calif. and Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – Building on its successful Heroes Work Here initiative to hire, train and support military veterans, Disney will host a free Veterans Institute workshop at Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, to inspire other companies to employ servicemen and women transitioning to the private sector.

The day-long Veterans Institute, co-sponsored by Heroes Work Here and Disney Institute, is designed to help small- and mid-sized companies build effective veteran-hiring programs of their own. The event will feature experts from Disney’s Heroes Work Here, government officials, veterans, and non-profit veterans service organizations, who will share their experiences, best practices, and tips for making a successful transition from the military to the civilian workforce.

“We’re incredibly proud of the veterans who work at Disney, and we fully recognize the value, experience and skills they bring to our company,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company.  “Our Heroes Work Here program not only helps us find and hire highly qualified veterans, it also supports veterans and their families as they transition out of the military.  We’re happy to share what we’ve learned with other organizations so that more of these modern-day heroes have the tools and opportunities to build meaningful careers in the private sector.”

Veterans Institute is the latest effort in Disney’s long history of respect and appreciation for the U.S. Armed Services, and it will leverage the success of Heroes Work Here, which Disney launched in March, 2012 with a commitment to hire more than 1,000 veterans by 2015—a goal the company has already surpassed. This past March, Disney increased its hiring goal to create opportunities for another 1,000 former service members in the next two years.

Highlights of the Veterans Institute workshop will include: an inside look at Heroes Work Here; renowned keynote speakers, panelists, Disney on-air talent and personalities; customized Disney Institute courses; advice and insights from experts and elite veterans support organizations; and stories from veterans about their own transition to the civilian workforce.

Featured speakers and presenters who are currently scheduled to appear include:

• Robert A. Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company
• Rosye Cloud, Senior Advisor on Veteran Employment, Department of Veterans Affairs
• Dr. Susan S. Kelley, Director, Transition to Veteran Program Office, Department of Defense
• Rich Morales, Colonel, U.S. Army and Executive Director, Joining Forces
• Teresa Gerton, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of Labor

To learn more and reserve space at the complimentary Veterans Institute, please click here.

About Disney’s Heroes Work Here

Supporting the U.S. Armed Forces has long been a Disney tradition, and Disney’s Heroes Work Here continues that proud legacy with a company-wide initiative to hire, train and support military veterans. Disney introduced the program in March, 2012 with a commitment to hire at least 1,000 veterans by 2015. Having exceeded that goal in the first year alone, with 1,300 veterans hired, the company announced in March, 2013 that it would create opportunities for another 1,000 former service members over the next two years.

Disney’s Heroes Work Here initiative also features a public awareness campaign to encourage employers across the U.S. to hire former military service members. The campaign includes the free Veterans Institute workshop at Walt Disney World on November 14, 2013, as well as public service announcements highlighting the skills and experience of veterans who work at Disney. The PSAs direct viewers to the White House’s Joining Forces initiative (www.joiningforces.gov) and have aired across Disney’s media properties including ESPN, ABC and ABC Family, making more than 500 million impressions.

The third component of Disney’s Heroes Work Here initiative is philanthropy. Disney’s philanthropic support of veteran and military organizations has exceeded $1 million since the launch of Heroes Work Here, and through the Disney VoluntEARS program, employees have engaged in several service projects with veterans organizations in communities around the country.

About Disney Institute

Disney Institute is the professional development arm of The Walt Disney Company [NYSE: DIS]. Since its founding in 1986, Disney Institute has shared the company’s time-tested best practices in leadership, management, creativity/innovation, brand loyalty and customer service with millions of professionals around the world. Disney Institute remains the only professional development company to let participants step into a “living laboratory,” taking them behind-the-scenes at Disney’s theme parks and resorts to see first-hand how business theory drives operational excellence. To learn more, visit www.disneyinstitute.com or call 321-939-4600.

To participate in the conversation regarding the Disney Veterans Institute, please use the hashtag #DisneyVeteransInstitute.