Mario Trujillo: Disney Experience Coming to New York City
Given the “Be Our Guest” mindset of The Walt Disney Company, I have often wondered when government agencies and municipalities might take a chance on a Disney Executive; using their experience to change an “off-property” customer service situation for the better. Enter New York City; make that, inject former Disney exec Mario Trujillo into NYC.
![Mario Trujillo, New York City](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190615-mario-trujillo.jpg)
![Mario Trujillo, New York City](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190615-mario-trujillo.jpg)
Trujillo. Facebook.
On Saturday, June 15, The New York Post reported:
- Schools chancellor Richard Carranza has hired a longtime Walt Disney World executive as the Dept. of Education’s first-ever “chief experience officer,” the Post has learned.
- Trujillo, 45, has held various jobs for Walt Disney World since 2008, most recently as communications manager for Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney.
- He previously was communications manager for Disney Parks & Resorts, and an entertainment manager for Disney theme parks.
Carranza and Trujillo have music in common: “[Trujillo] performed for 10 years as lead violinist and vocalist with [Disney’s] Mariachi Cobre band. Carranza also sings and plays guitar with mariachi groups.”
![Mario Trujillo](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/5b932a5b13446.image_.jpg)
![Mario Trujillo](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/5b932a5b13446.image_.jpg)
Trujillo is at left. Photo: Arizona Star
While it is not unusual for companies to hire customer service experts, the move by the NYC schools chancellor was not university lauded:
The Post added:
- “I am not averse to hires from the private sector, but [Trujillo’s Disney] job history does not equate to anything I’m familiar with in education,” said Eric Nadelstern, a retired Columbia University professor and DOE deputy chancellor under Mayor Bloomberg.
- “The DOE is not in the entertainment business,” said veteran teacher Peter Goodman. “The system should be producing kids who can read, write, and do math.”