As Veterans Day approaches this weekend, The Walt Disney Company is celebrating and saluting those who have served and military families. That includes many of those who came to call Disney home after serving their country.
On Friday, the company highlighted some of these veterans-turned-members with a special look at the respect, values, and ethics that veterans bring to Disney every day.
Dan Grundvig – manager of supplier diversity at Disney – was the first participant in the Disney Military Fellowship program when it started in 2017. Grundvig—who served in the US Army for 30 years—was hoping to find a second job that allowed him to “be”. I found an employer that I was proud to represent as when I put on the Army uniform, with values and ethics consistent with 30 years of military service.”
“I wanted a role that made me more present in my family in the years to come,” he added. “Disney provided all of that.”
Teresa Dooling—who works at Walt Disney World Resort after serving in the US Army for 24 years—also believes that Disney offers a lot to veterans looking for the next chapter.
“They encourage you to push yourself to keep reaching your goals, keep reaching your dreams, and find out what your dreams are,” she said.
Then there’s Ariel Elias—the Disneyland Resort’s Strategic Marketing Specialist—who served 21 years in the US Marine Corps. Elias noted that “getting out of the military is a challenge” and “one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
That’s why The Walt Disney Company participates in the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program, which places transitioning service members into partnerships across the company. The Disney Military Fellowship Program allows these military veterans to gain valuable cultural and operational skills outside of the military.
“The Walt Disney Company does a great job of letting veterans know they have a home here, bringing veterans into the family and helping them continue to give back to the community and build long-lasting relationships,” he said.
