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Lee Cockerell        

Former Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World Resort Operations and author of "Creating Magic" and "The Customer Rules"

Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World Resort. "As the Senior Operating Executive for ten years Lee led a team of 40,000 Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations which supported the number one vacation destination in the world."

One of Lee's major and lasting legacies was the creation of Disney Great Leader Strategies which was used to train and develop the 7000 leaders at Walt Disney World. Lee has held various executive positions in the hospitality and entertainment business with Hilton Hotels for 8 years and the Marriott Corporation for 17 years before joining Disney in 1990 to open the Disneyland Paris project.

Lee has served as Chairman of the Board of Heart of Florida United Way, the Board of Trustees for The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the board of the Production and Operations Management Society and the board of Reptilia a Canadian attractions and entertainment company. In 2005 Governor Bush appointed Lee to the Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and Public Service for the state of Florida where he served as Chairman of the Board.

He is now dedicating his time to public speaking, authoring a book on leadership, management and service excellence titled, "Creating Magic10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney," which is now available in 13 languages, and his latest book is "The Customer Rules: The 39 Essential Rules for Delivering Sensational Service." Lee also performs leadership and service excellence workshops and consulting for organizations around the world as well as for the Disney Institute. Lee has received the following awards:

Golden Chain Award for Outstanding leadership and business performance from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operations Association (MUFSO).

Silver Plate Award for Outstanding Operator in the foodservice industry from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA).

Excellence In Production Operations Management and Leadership (POMS) from the Productions and Operations.

Grandfather of the year from his three grandchildren, Jullian, Margot and Tristan.

Lee and his wife Priscilla live in Orlando, Florida.

Speech Topics

You Too Can Create Disney Magic

• Learn how "you can create magic too" in your organization by following The Customer Rules

• Learn exactly what you must do to be perceived as a great leader.

• Learn why you must understand the big difference between management and leadership.

• Learn how to practice great leadership that will ensure you leave a legacy.

• Learn four simple ways to set your organization apart in the eyes of your customers and your employees.

• Learn why the customer does not come first.

• Learn the difference between training and development.

• Learn the most important leadership behavior that will ensure success for you in all parts of your life. Time Life Management

• Learn how to put more control into all parts of your life through this simple system for planning and carrying out your responsibilities.

• Learn the most important question to ask yourself every morning before you start your day.

• Learn the four steps in planning each and every day (the fourth one being the key to a happy and successful life).

• Learn how to maintain strong relationships, prepare yourself for the future, maintain good health and reduce stress in your life.

• Learn a simple system for doing what has to be done, when it has to be done, in the way it should be done, whether you or those around you like it or not.

• Lee has taught this seminar to more than 75,000 people over the last 25 years with extraordinary success.

Forget About Diversity

• Lee has cracked the code on how to achieve the diversity all organizations desire.

• Learn the ten things leaders must do to create an inclusive workplace that leads to a diverse workforce.

• Learn why diversity is not the goal, but the outcome for organizations.

• Learn the difference between being diverse and being inclusive.

• Learn what all humans want the most. Give it to them and they will reward your organization with excellent results.

News

Join Lee Cockerell’s Keynote Address at AEA2016
This year’s keynote address will feature Lee Cockerell, retired Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World Operations.
Lee Cockerell Added as 2nd Keynote to the 2015 Certent Summit
PLEASANTON, Calif., Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Certent, Inc., a leading provider of equity compensation management and financial compliance software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions, announces the addition of Lee Cockerell as a second keynote speaker at Certent Summit 2015 on March 25th-27th in Lake Buna Vista, FL.
Lee Cockerell, a personal look at Walt Disney World
We had the pleasure to talk with Lee Cockerell yesterday and wanted to share his insight and many great tips and business career advice with you.
His career has spanned from creating magic to saving time
Lee Cockerell is the former executive vice president of operations at Walt Disney World. Cockerell, who retired from Disney in 2006, now writes books about business and conducts seminars on leadership, time management and professional development. Cockerell, 70, recently spoke with Sentinel staff writer Sandra Pedicini.
Lee Cockerell and doing things the Disney way
Central Michigan University this week will host a man who honed those skills at a place where seven thousand (7,000) workers need it to be perfect every day — Disney World.

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