UCCS brings Disney Institute to Colorado Springs

UCCS will bring Disney Institute’s traveling professional development program, Disney’s Approach to Business Excellence, to campus on March 23.

The day-long event will be on the UCCS campus in the newly-constructed UCCS Event Center.

“This is a rare and affordable opportunity to learn best business practices from Disney insiders, and discover ways to adapt and apply those best practices to pick up the pace in these slow economic times,” said Susan Szpyrka, associate vice chancellor, Administration and Finance.

“Professional development programs that we offer at the Walt Disney World® Resort and Disneyland Resort have proven extremely popular,” said George Aguel, senior vice president for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “Community leaders around the country started asking us to bring similar programs to their cities, and the Disney’s Approach program does just that. Participants will discover Disney success stories and learn about management philosophies and behind-the-scenes operations that have made the Disney Parks and Resorts a benchmark for businesses around the world.”

According to Aguel, Disney Institute programs are unique in the world of business. “What makes the Disney learning experience so different and meaningful,” says Aguel “is that we don’t simply teach theory. We showcase philosophies and strategies that have made Disney Parks and Resorts a success – ideas that are easily adaptable to other organizations.”

With the establishment of Disney Institute in 1986, thousands of business leaders from more than 35 countries and 40 industries have attended business programs at Disney Institute in Florida. The Disney’s Approach programs are the only Disney Institute professional development programs that go “on the road” to select communities around the US.

The Colorado Springs Disney’s Approach program will showcase four 90-minute sessions:

• Leadership, Disney Style – Discover how effective leadership has been the catalyst at Disney to drive employee/customer satisfaction and bottom-line results.
• Management, Disney Style – Examine the importance of integrating an organization’s corporate culture into selection, training, and care of employees.
• Service, Disney Style – Explore world-renowned Disney principles for service excellence.
• Loyalty, Disney Style – Learn the key practices in building and sustaining loyalty that have made Disney a trusted and revered brand around the world for more than 75 years.

Registration and fees for the program are $395 per person and include course materials and a full day of catered meals and beverages. Group discounts are available. UCCS faculty and staff receive a $50 discount. For more information and to register for the Disney’s Approach to Business Excellence program, call (877) 544-2384 or visit www.KeysColoradoSprings.com

-- Tom Hutton