Former Disney Executive Will Speak to South Audience
Posted on March 12, 2025 by Kerry Cohen
The University of South Alabama, Flagship of the Gulf Coast, welcomes Lee Cockerell, former executive vice president of operations for Walt Disney World Resort, as a virtual guest speaker for HTM 396 – Career Planning on Thursday, March 20 at 9:30 a.m. in University Commons (UCOM) Room 3212.
As senior operating executive at Walt Disney World Resort for 10 years, Cockerell led a team of 40,000 cast members and oversaw 20 resort hotels, four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping and entertainment village and the ESPN sports complex. He played a pivotal role in developing Disney Great Leader Strategies, a program used to train 7,000 Disney leaders.
Before joining Disney, he held executive positions at Hilton Hotels for eight years and Marriott Corporation for 17 years. He was also instrumental in the opening of Disneyland Paris in 1990, expanding Disney’s global presence.
Now an author, speaker and consultant, Cockerell has written “Creating Magic” and “The Customer Rules” and founded the Lee Cockerell Academy, an online leadership training platform.
Students from the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, as well as those from other departments across the College of Education and Professional Studies and the University, are welcome to attend in person or via Zoom. Cockerell will participate virtually from Orlando, Florida.
Event Details:
Date: March 20, 2025 | Time: 9:30 AM
Location: University Commons (UCOM) #3212
Virtual Attendance: https://southalabama.zoom.us/j/91785950354
This event is open to all students and faculty. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a leader who helped shape the world’s top vacation destination!
***USA students receive a 50% discount on subscriptions.