Leslie Goodman Named Snr VP of Communications Strategy for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

Leslie Goodman Named Senior Vice President of Communications Strategy for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

Leslie Goodman has been named senior vice president of Strategic Communications for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, it was announced today by Paul Pressler, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Goodman, 41, will be responsible for directing the communications strategy for Disney's theme park business, with particular emphasis on press operations and media relations. She will report directly to Pressler.

Goodman was founder and president of Strategic Communications Services Inc., a Sacramento, Calif.-based consulting firm, which offered public relations and perception management services to corporations, public officials and issue advocates.

She recently served as communications director for the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia where she led the effort to disseminate the convention message across multiple media platforms and facilitated access for 1,600 accredited news organizations. She also served as the spokesman for the Bush for President operations at the convention.

Goodman's 20-year career includes positions as deputy chief of staff for communications for the former governor of California, Pete Wilson; vice president of media relations for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; media consultant for Burson-Marsteller public relations firm; deputy director of communications for the 1992 Bush-Quayle campaign; director of communications and public liaison at the United States Information Agency; press secretary for the Republican National Committee; and associate commissioner for governmental affairs at the Social Security Administration.

She began her career in local television news at WCBS-TV in New York and worked for several years as a freelance television producer.

"We are thrilled to have an executive of Leslie's caliber and background join our team," said Pressler. "She has incredibly strong experience in developing and implementing communications strategy in a variety of dynamic and complex environments. We look forward to her contribution and counsel on a wide range of business issues."

Goodman is a graduate of Stanford University with a bachelor of arts degree in Broadcast Communications. In 1996, she was chosen for a fellowship at Harvard University's Institute of Politics, where she spent a semester teaching a study group on political communications at the Kennedy School of Government.

Born and raised in New York City, Goodman will be working in Burbank.

-- Posted March 7, 2001

Source: Company Press Release