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Building a Business Through Storytelling

Presented by Disney Institute

Thursday, August 1, 9—10:30 am

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The power of “story” has been an ever-present force in the nearly 100-year history of The Walt Disney Company®. Today, storytelling is considered a critical and relevant leadership tool for gaining emotional buy-in from stakeholders and employees. The impact of effective storytelling is felt by large and small organizations around the world. Learn how Disney uses the elements of storytelling to pass on the culture that keeps its business world-class. Through this Disney Institute presentation, you will discover how you can translate your own organization’s culture in a meaningful way through the power of storytelling. Why? Because people will be listening.

About Disney Institute

For more than eight decades, The Walt Disney Company and its affiliated companies have remained faithful to their commitment to produce unparalleled experiences based on the rich legacy of innovative content and exceptional storytelling. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio to today’s global enterprise, The Walt Disney Company is a diversified leader in media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment and consumer products.

Of course, none of this would have been possible had Walt Disney not also re-written the rules of business. With the support of his brother Roy, Walt created an effective organizational culture founded in values-based leadership, where employees are recognized for their achievements, encouraged to work as a team and think creatively, and, in their consistent pursuit of excellence, continually break the confines of the status quo to surpass the expectations of the world.

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The Answers Are in the Box

Presented by Dan Clark

Friday, August 2, 9—10:30 am

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We’re told to think outside the lines, to think outside the box. What if the answers are still in the box? Most people complicate their lives and never fulfill their destinies because they think it is the responsibility of their communities and their jobs to make life exciting and meaningful. They think success and happiness are found outside themselves, instead of within. Consequently, most come to meetings in search of new answers when what we need are the right answers. It’s tough to get right answers from wrong questions. Therefore, to take it to the next level personally and professionally, we should ask, “What is possible? Can we exceed potential or do we just misjudge it?” The answers to the right questions are already inside your organization. They are inside of you!

The author of The Art of Significance (available March 2013, Penguin), Dan Clark will share the stories, principles, and personal experiences behind the 12 Highest Universal Laws of Life Changing Leadership, with a focus on four of these laws: Stretch, Team Building, Covenant Service, and Perseverance. At the conclusion of this presentation, you will be empowered with internal intensity, reenergized to dig deeper with revitalized strength to do whatever it takes to succeed. Not because it is expected by others, but because you demand it from yourself!

About Dan Clark

Dan Clark is an internationally recognized speaker, songwriter/recording artist, New York Times best-selling author, and CEO of Clark Success Systems, a management, consulting, publishing, and entertainment corporation.

Dan is a primary contributing author to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and the author of 20 of his own books, including the highly acclaimed business leadership book Forgotten Fundamentals and the inspirational Puppies for Sale which was made into a film at Paramount Studios starring Jack Lemmon. In 2005, Dan was inducted into the National Speakers Hall of Fame, and as a master storyteller, has been published in more than 30 million books in 30 languages worldwide.

Dan’s speaking career began when he fought his way back from a paralyzing injury that cut short his football career. His story has been featured on more than 500 television and radio shows and has been the cover story in Millionaire Magazine, written up in Entrepreneur, and featured in Mayo Clinic magazines.

Dan has flown in fighter jets twice the speed of sound, raced automobiles in Germany, carried the Olympic Torch in the 2002 Winter Games, and spoken to 4,000+ audiences, to more than 3.5 million people, in all 50 states and 35 countries and to our combat troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He serves on the International Board of Governors of Operation Smile and on the National Advisory Board for OK Kids Charities.

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Owners Dream Big Too!

Friday, August 2, 2:30—4 pm

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Do you want to know what owners dream about? And how your firm can play a role in transforming those dreams into reality? During the conference’s closing keynote session, corporate giants will share the creative, decision-making, and procurement processes behind their most innovative building projects.

You will leave this session with a real-life perspective on the “new-norm” realities your clients are facing, the future of procurement and pursuits, and how your firm can capitalize on disruptive thinking to win more satisfying and profitable work.

A brief SMPS Business Meeting will precede this presentation.

Presenters

Martha Clarkson, Global Workplace Strategist, Real Estate and Facilities, Microsoft Corporation

Martha has been with Microsoft for sixteen years, leading workplace transformation. Before that, she was a commercial interior designer for architecture firms in Seattle, designing corporate headquarters for companies such as Nordstrom, GTE, and Premera Blue Cross. Martha lived in Oregon the first 23 years of her life, attending University of Oregon where she majored in Interior Architecture and Creative Writing. She resides in Kirkland, Washington.



Mike Lewis, Director of Mission Critical Engineering, eBay Inc.

Mike joined eBay in March 2004 as the manager of Denver Data Center Operations supporting eBay’s server environments in Colorado. After 4 years in this role he was promoted to Director Mission Critical Engineering and has primary responsibility for eBay’s data center architecture and raised floor environments. His most recent accomplishments are the delivery of eBay’s newest data center Mercury in Phoenix, AZ and the currently under construction Quick Silver data center in South Jordan, UT which will utilize Bloom fuel cells as primary power.

Mike had come to eBay from the automotive industry after serving 4 years in the Army. He has an electrical engineering degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. He lives in Castle Rock, CO and has a wife of 22 years, one son (age 20), and two daughters (ages 17, 15).

Jason Lovelace, P.E., Manager, Engineering Services, Magic Kingdom

Jason Lovelace is the Attractions Manager for the Engineering Services division at the Magic Kingdom Park. His team is responsible for the sustainment of several popular Disney attractions including Splash Mountain®, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad®, Haunted Mansion®, and the Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade.

From the age of 11, Jason knew that he wanted to be a Disney Engineer. At age 18, he left his hometown in the Washington D.C. area for The University of Central Florida in Orlando. While at UCF, Jason assembled a student-led engineering project for Disney's Blizzard Beach. The project was successful and led to the internship opportunity of a lifetime – a position with the Transportation Sustaining Engineering team at Walt Disney World® Resort.

Jason began his full-time career with the Design and Engineering group at the Walt Disney World® Resort in 1998. Since joining The Walt Disney Company, Jason has contributed engineering expertise to several Disney attractions including the Walt Disney World® Monorails, Disney's Rock n' Roller Coaster, Disney's Tower of Terror, and the Hong Kong Disneyland Steam Trains. He has held engineering positions in various areas of The Walt Disney Company, including Walt Disney World® Transportation, the Magic Kingdom® Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Walt Disney Imagineering at Hong Kong Disneyland.

In 2001, Jason received Disney’s lifetime achievement award, Partners in Excellence. In 2003, Jason won the Ride and Show Mentor of the Year Award for his work with collegiate engineering teams. In February of this year, Jason was awarded a second lifetime achievement award, the Disney Legacy Award, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Cast, Crew, and Imagineers.

Jason is a dedicated mentor. He is active in several engineering based mentor programs, including FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), the UCF EXCEL program, the Ride and Show Senior Design Program, and Educators in the Industry.

Jason is a Professional Engineer, with a B.S.E.E. from the University of Central Florida and an MBA from the Warrington College of Business, University of Florida.

Alec Ras, Program Manager, Facility Asset Management, Walt Disney World

Alec Ras is currently program manager, Facility Asset Management (FAM) at the Walt Disney World Resort®. FAM is the project management organization responsible for the implementation of a variety of engineering and construction projects that help keep the Walt Disney World Resort looking its very best for the Guests visiting from across the globe. His current portfolio includes Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Disney’s Mini Golf, Safety and the Attractions Added Capacity Program for the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Segment.

Alec’s career at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts started in 2002 with the Disney College Program, working at Typhoon Lagoon in the Food & Beverage Line of Business where he gained first hand operational experience. Following his internship in operations, Alec joined the Design & Engineering - Ride & Show division as a professional intern in the Ride Controls group working on infrared technology. After completion of the internship, he returned to his home state of Michigan to a position in the automotive industry as an industrial engineer in Warren, MI. Two short years later he returned to Walt Disney World to continue his Disney journey, beginning his full-time career in the Facility Asset Management group where he has enjoyed roles with increasing responsibility during the past eight years.

Alec is also dedicated to serving his community. In 2009 he represented the Walt Disney World Resort as a member of Leadership Orlando Class 76, and is currently representing the Company as a member of the Young Professional Advisory Council (YPAC). This group reviews current and future needs of the community and consults with the Central Florida Partnership on how to “Turn the page” in the Central Florida region. At the local level, Alec currently chairs the Architectural Review Committee for the Town of Celebration, a master-planned community in Osceola County originally developed by The Walt Disney Company.

His passion for coaching and development drive his active involvement with the recruitment and development of Walt Disney World Professional Interns, Special Olympics and Junior Achievement.

Alec has a BSEE and BSIOE from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College. He has passed all necessary examinations to become a Licensed General Contractor in the State of Florida and is a certified Project Management Professional. In 2012 he was awarded The Walt Disney Legacy Award, a lifetime achievement award for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Cast, Crew and Imagineers acknowledging top-performers from across the Company.

Moderator

Kevin Hebblethwaite, FSMPS, CPSM, President/CEO, Hebblethwaite LLC, and Society President, SMPS

Attendees on SMPS Keynotes


    ”Invigorating, inspirational, motivating speakers that deliver what we know in a new way.”


    ”Was completely blown away by both keynotes. They had amazing messages that were totally relatable to the A/E/C industry and made me want to hurry back to the office and ‘Take Action.’ ”


    ”Inspiration and insight that re-energize me, help me to shift my perspective back to center (or positive) side of the spectrum, and learn something profound about myself/relationships.”

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