Last November, more than 500 individuals representing 350 companies attended the inaugural Veterans Institute at Walt Disney World Resort to learn more about building veteran-hiring programs using Disney’s Heroes Work Here initiative as inspiration. Today the Company is proud to announce that Veterans Institute will head to San Antonio, Texas, on August 19. This is the first of several anticipated regional workshops that Disney hopes to bring to select cities around the nation in the future.
Presented by USAA, a leading financial services provider for the military community, the daylong seminar will bring together experts from Disney’s Heroes Work Here—which hires, trains and supports former service members—along with government officials, veterans and nonprofit veterans service organizations who will share their experiences, best practices and tips for making successful transitions from the military to the civilian workforce. Disney Institute, the professional development arm of The Walt Disney Company, will also give a special presentation focused on veteran hiring and support. USAA CEO retired Army Maj. Gen. Joe Robles Jr., ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and James Schmeling, co-founder of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, have been announced as speakers and presenters.
“Disney is extremely proud of the dedicated veterans who work here, and we’re pleased to expand the reach of our Veterans Institute with USAA to help create career opportunities for even more of America’s servicemen and women,” Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger said. “We’re always eager to share what we’ve learned from our successful Heroes Work Hereprogram with other companies looking to hire highly qualified veterans.”
Mr. Robles added, “We have hired more than 8,700 veterans and military spouses from 2006 through June 2014. They have brought valuable skills and experience, mission focus and a deep dedication to serve.” He continued, “The Department of Veterans Affairs lists Texas as one of three states that are the most densely populated with veterans. With the potential to help so many companies hire veterans, we’re proud to join the Veterans Institute in sharing our experience in recruiting, hiring and developing veterans with companies across Texas.”
Veterans Institute is the latest effort in Disney’s long history of respect and appreciation for the U.S. armed services, and it leverages the success of Heroes Work Here, which Disney launched in 2012 with a commitment to hire more than 1,000 veterans by 2015—a goal the Company has already surpassed by hiring more than 3,800 former service members.
For more information about Veterans Institute, visit DisneyVeteransInstitute.com.