Aaron Joyner
Davenport,FL
Summary
Motivated individual dedicated to driving positive change through innovative and engaging education strategies. Skilled in fostering strong partnerships and facilitating employee training and development. Recognized as an accomplished leader with exceptional interpersonal skills and a commitment to follow-through. Demonstrated success in collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, including HR, recruiting, operations, event services, sales, marketing, and educational teams. Adaptable in transitioning between leadership styles to achieve desired outcomes and objectives effectively.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Operations Manager, Disney Imagination Campus
Walt Disney Company
02.2017 - Current
- Oversee rebranding from Youth Education Series into Disney Imagination Campus including creation of new academic content and staffing
- Develop and deliver education content that meets U.S
- National standards and provides scalability in difficulty and duration based on student needs and operational abilities
- Supervise cast during pre/post program ensuring set-up/breakdown of materials, and provide administrative support to cast for time recording, communication, etc
- Design training routine with focus on content knowledge, flexibility, and strong facilitation, resulting in positive Guest and educator feedback
- Deliver coaching feedback to team members in timely manner for program content consistency and cast facilitation improvement to drive performance
- Cultivate relationship with park operational areas to improve existing program content operation and develop innovative programs for future department use
- Navigator and Coach for Journey: The Way of Working courses offered to leadership
Assistant Supervisor, Education
SeaWorld
04.2021 - 08.2021
- Scheduled educators for daily tasks and work grid rotations
- Supervised, trained, and coached educators while ensuring adherence to SEA guidelines
- Educated guests with planning tours, animal interactions, and VIP experiences in park
- Liaised between park operations, culinary, and zoological teams
Seasonal Trainer/Keeper, Winged Encounters
Natural Encounters, Inc.
10.2020 - 03.2021
- Participate in training of appx
- 90 free flighted macaws as well as enclosure husbandry including weighing and diet management, animal welfare/health and approved enrichment
- Performance in daily free flighted bird shows, documenting bird behavior and training responses as well as interacting with and answering guest questions
Education Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary
03.2016 - 01.2017
- Conceptualized, wrote, and implemented tour program that was performed weekly by volunteer staff of over 60 individuals
- Develop interesting education content to meet academic, intellectual, and social needs of students
- Provided food, health care, and training for approximately 1700 reptiles including but not limited to local and exotic venomous snakes, 21 species of crocodilian, monitors, exotic lizards and iguanas, local and exotic non-venomous snakes, turtles, and small mammals
- Facilitated both on-site and off-site educational programming to preschool thru adults, birthday parties, corporate events, safe animal handling, and venomous snake removal
- Curated educational content to drive awareness, attendance, and donations
- Created and conducted facility tours and educational programs for students from preschool to retirement communities; increased on-site facility tours by 80%, increased off-site education programs by 86%, increased animal handling courses by 20%
- Conducted interviews, orientation, and training for all new volunteers while maintaining records of volunteer performance, providing one-on-one feedback and reviews
- Managed social media outlets, giving interviews for television and news spots
Guest Experiences Manager
Phoenix Zoo
09.2014 - 03.2016
- Improved upon day-to-day operations of various in park attractions, as well as proposing & opening new retail opportunities including new attractions & events
- Managed budget, recruitment, training, motivation, and evaluation of staff
- Responded to on-site guest service inquiries and complaints as well as conduct front line decision-making and problem solving in a courteous and professional manner
- Collaborated with animal care departments to develop new and innovative attractions to support education and conservation of various species
- Partnered with HR to ensure company standards were met during hiring and onboarding, as well as disciplinary feedback and terminations when necessary
Animal Keeper, Lodge/Conservation Station/Oasis
Walt Disney Company
08.2013 - 09.2014
- Maintained and observed health, feeding, and care of hoof stock at Animal Kingdom Lodge, reptiles/amphibians at Conservation Station, and small mammals/birds at Oasis
- Keep animal care, maintenance, weight and inventory records for multitude of animals including, but not limited to, giraffe, zebra, antelope, snakes, lizards, alligators, frogs, salamanders, Komodo dragons, invertebrates, anteaters, small mammals, and parrots
- Prepare and distribute diets, including vitamin supplements and medication
- Support veterinary procedures and animal immobilizations for transportation
Coordinator/Trainer/Guide, Wild Africa Trek
Walt Disney Company
06.2011 - 09.2014
- Immersed Guests in a themed adventure through interactive storytelling, sharing information about the area, animals, and their behaviors for the duration of the tour
- Share multiple conservation messages with Guests regarding wild animals, local and abroad
- Educated Guests on the more than 45 different varieties of African wildlife visible in the Harambe Reserve and answer any questions regarding wildlife
Coordinator/Trainer/Facilitator, Youth Education Program
Walt Disney Company
01.2006 - 09.2014
- Promoted learning and entertainment through the facilitation of exceptional educational experiences across the Walt Disney World Resort
- Lead learning experiences to a diverse school-age audience in an ever-changing environment through attention to detail, the establishment of an emotionally safe environment, direct instruction, and direct experiences in various educational topics
- Utilized team teaching, cooperative learning groups, creative problem solving, real-life applications, and improvisational techniques to create a fun learning environment
- Cross-deployed to aid in material procurement, program set-up, development, and training on location at Disney’s California Adventure park and Hong Kong Disneyland park
Magic Kingdom Tour Administrator
Walt Disney Company
09.2007 - 06.2011
- Executed day-to-day operations of all Magic Kingdom guided tours including schedules for approximately 50 guides, tour setup, greeting Guests, and in park tour support
- Interviewed, auditioned, and trained all incoming tour guides
- Founded ideas and created content for new tours (Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom) offered to park guests as theme park and guest’s demands change and evolve
Trainer/Tour Guide/Host, Guest Relations
Walt Disney Company
10.2006 - 06.2011
- Hosted awarded families of Disney’s Dream Giveaway in the Cinderella Castle Suite and provide tours of the suite to visiting executives
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Disney Company history and theme parks through interactive Q&A with guests on Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom tour
- Toured celebrity talent during various Disney special events by providing transportation for events, assisting with crowd control, and creating a seamless and efficient event
- Assisted Guests and Cast with information about the Walt Disney World Resort and function as the communication hub for the parks while communicating extensively with other Walt Disney World Parks and Resort properties
- Extend assistance to Guests in order to resolve challenges, and provide refunds as needed
Lead Teacher
Kids R Kids Academy
09.2000 - 08.2001
- Planned, developed, and implemented lesson plans for preschool class of 25
- Instructed, directed, and assessed students in assorted subject areas; Language Arts, Social Interaction, Mathematics, etc
Education
Bachelor of Science - Recreation and Leisure Studies, Early Childhood Education, Theater
Skills
- Operations management
- Process improvement
- Budget management
- Strategic planning
- Team leadership
- Cast training
- Onboarding and orientation
Certification
- Scuba Certified PADI 2005, Sept
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeLocation Preference
On-SiteRemoteHybridImportant To Me
Work-life balancePaid time off401k matchPersonal development programsPaid sick leaveHealthcare benefitsCompany CultureTimeline
Assistant Supervisor, Education - SeaWorld
04.2021 - 08.2021
Seasonal Trainer/Keeper, Winged Encounters - Natural Encounters, Inc.
10.2020 - 03.2021
Operations Manager, Disney Imagination Campus - Walt Disney Company
02.2017 - Current
Education Manager & Volunteer Coordinator - Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary
03.2016 - 01.2017
Guest Experiences Manager - Phoenix Zoo
09.2014 - 03.2016
Animal Keeper, Lodge/Conservation Station/Oasis - Walt Disney Company
08.2013 - 09.2014
Coordinator/Trainer/Guide, Wild Africa Trek - Walt Disney Company
06.2011 - 09.2014
Magic Kingdom Tour Administrator - Walt Disney Company
09.2007 - 06.2011
Trainer/Tour Guide/Host, Guest Relations - Walt Disney Company
10.2006 - 06.2011
Coordinator/Trainer/Facilitator, Youth Education Program - Walt Disney Company
01.2006 - 09.2014
Lead Teacher - Kids R Kids Academy
09.2000 - 08.2001
University of Georgia - Bachelor of Science, Recreation and Leisure Studies, Early Childhood Education, Theater