Disney Institute will host a complimentary Veterans Institute Summit at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in September 2021. The multi-day event will offer business professionals ideas and insights from The Walt Disney Company’s Heroes Work Here initiative created to hire, train and support military veterans. Many sessions will also be available virtually.
The summit will help companies build effective veteran-hiring programs of their own. With health and well-being in mind, the event will offer limited in-person attendance as well as virtual options. Featured presentations will include speakers from Disney’s Heroes Work Here initiative, Disney Institute, government officials, veterans, and non-profit veterans-service organizations. Speakers will share their experiences, best practices, and tips for hiring, onboarding, and retention of veterans by helping them successfully transition to the civilian workforce.
“The Heroes Work Here program helps Disney find and hire highly qualified veterans and supports veterans, military spouses and their families as they transition out of the military,” said George A. Kalogridis, President, Segment Development and Enrichment for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “Through the Veterans Institute Summit, we share our learnings with other organizations so that more of these modern-day heroes have opportunities and successful experiences building careers in the private sector.”
Since its launch in 2013 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, more than a half dozen complimentary Veterans Institute events have been held across the U.S. The Veterans Institute Summit builds on the success of Heroes Work Here, an initiative Disney launched in March 2012 that has resulted in more than 10,000 veterans joining The Walt Disney Company.
The 2021 Veterans Institute Summit will be the longest Veterans Institute event to date, with multiple days of programming. Highlights will include an inside look at Heroes Work Here; renowned keynote presentations, panel discussions, Disney Institute content; advice and insights from experts and veterans-support organizations; and stories from veterans about their transitions to the civilian workforce. Attendees will also gain tools and resources they can use to establish their own military hiring and development programs for their organizations.
Summit sessions and presentations are complimentary and open to professionals from business, nonprofit, government, and other organizations. A limited number of seats will be available at the event venue. Select sessions will be available online. Advance registration will be required to attend in-person or online presentations. Registration will open in spring 2021. Additional information, including any applicable safety and health measures related to COVID-19, will be available closer to the event.
