Cosmic Commando
Well-Known Member
Steve's article says she was part of NextGen... maybe Epcot is in line for a big NextGen push?
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Rilous Carter leaving Epcot; Erin Young to replace him
- Thread starter KevinYee
- Start date
I just can't see how this is a "strategic" decision (to groom someone, to nudge the park toward NextGen, etc) because the timing is all wrong. Rilous JUST GOT THERE. Someone, somewhere screwed up. Or this is a power play to undo something put in motion previously.
aladdin2007
Well-Known Member
This probably means a lot more cut backs for Epcot ahead, thats all this Erin Young probably knows how to do is play with numbers. Yes that may be a bit premature to say before shes even had a chance in the position I realize, but it just isnt sounding good unless she has some grand creative streak that we dont know about.
PirateFrank
Well-Known Member
You know, I find this prejudicial speak about this Erin Young to be rather offensive. Just because she has a finance/accounting background, it does not mean she isn't a creative person or would not view the park with a mind towards investment. I am an accountant by trade...and were I to be placed in a similar position, I'm not sure I would rely solely on numbers to make decisions. There are plenty of people out there with financial/accounting backgrounds that are creative, people-oriented workers...It'd be really nice if some of you people would be a little less judgmental and myopic.
Let's wait and see what kind of job she does before condemning the whole of Epcot to the attraction graveyard northeast of the mk.
Let's wait and see what kind of job she does before condemning the whole of Epcot to the attraction graveyard northeast of the mk.
wickedfan07
Member
I think it is terribly unfair to say that Youngs is going to enact a series of cutbacks at Epcot just because she is in a finance position at present. We only know the role she is currently filling, we don't know what her background has been before that (she apparently has 20 years with the company, that could have been anywhere). Also, she was most recently working in NextGen, which is a project that seeks to improve the park experience by finding creative ways to enhance the experience of waiting in line. This is something new that is being done as an extra thing. Disney does NOT have to make any improvements to waiting in line. She's probably not been in the business of cutbacks lately if she's been working with projects solely existing and designed to improve the park experience.
If she works for NextGen, maybe Jim MacPhee (her boss) recommended her for the position. given his history with Epcot, he'd probably have something to say about a new VP there, especially one coming from his own division.
PalisadesPkteer
Active Member
Could be a possibility. If this is the case, then I feel a little bit better.
Jim MacPhee if he had a say in choosing her would choose someone who wouldn't bring down EPCOT. IMHO
PalisadesPkteer
Active Member
Frank Stallone
New Member
Erin Young is a great woman. I met her back in the 90s, when she was a part-time performer at Cirque Du Soleil La Nouba as one of the Diablo Girls. She looked slightly out of place, but she had amazing talent!
njDizFan
Well-Known Member
Apparently Youngs?
Erin T. Youngs
(BSIE 1992)
Outstanding Industrial Engineer (2010)
Erin Trabel Youngs is vice president of finance at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Youngs leads a team of approximately 100 employees who support the areas of human resources and diversity and inclusion; global business technology strategy; new technologies; and facility and operation services across the U.S. For the past 20 years at Disney, Youngs cultivated a reputation for helping leaders manage their career development. She has held roles in business planning and development, industrial engineering, and organization improvement. Her work has supported the varied business units across Walt Disney World. Youngs serves on the Rollins College Hamilton Holt School Board of Advisors. She has been involved with Rotary International and was twice recognized as one of its Paul Harris Fellows. Youngs earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering with a minor in fine arts from Purdue in 1992. She earned her master's degree in business administration from Rollins College in 1999.
Erin T. Youngs
(BSIE 1992)
Outstanding Industrial Engineer (2010)
Erin Trabel Youngs is vice president of finance at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Youngs leads a team of approximately 100 employees who support the areas of human resources and diversity and inclusion; global business technology strategy; new technologies; and facility and operation services across the U.S. For the past 20 years at Disney, Youngs cultivated a reputation for helping leaders manage their career development. She has held roles in business planning and development, industrial engineering, and organization improvement. Her work has supported the varied business units across Walt Disney World. Youngs serves on the Rollins College Hamilton Holt School Board of Advisors. She has been involved with Rotary International and was twice recognized as one of its Paul Harris Fellows. Youngs earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering with a minor in fine arts from Purdue in 1992. She earned her master's degree in business administration from Rollins College in 1999.
sshindel
The Epcot Manifesto
Those darn bean counters with backgrounds in Industrial Engineering have no idea how to run a park.... wait.... :lol:
It seems a fairly decent fit to me from this bio. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt for the time being.
CaptainJackNO
Well-Known Member
Exactly. Putting young business executives in charge to maximize prices and push stock value without any regard to theme park quality.
NoChesterHester
Well-Known Member
Really? No qualifications whatsoever eh? Know her personally?
I'm excited to have some new blood. In a corporation as large as Disney do you really think favoritism due to family connections plays a big role. It doesn't.
I am also excited that she has a history in design. A creative in charge... oh my. Creative people can actually be good at finance also contrary to popular opinion. The best finance people are very creative and open to new methods of solution.
CaptainJackNO
Well-Known Member
I said nothing about her qualifications or lack, thereof. I, also, did not make accusations concerning nepotism, either. I assume you are posting in response to the wrong quote. However, I am sure she has many qualifications through various degrees and prior jobs, as well. I am, merely, commenting on posts made by folks who seem to know more about her than I. Also, I am also commenting concerning the current American business climate that values stock prices, quick sales, and dividends over quality products (not exclusive to Disney.)
I, for one, hope I am wrong. And, I will gladly say so. But, until I see different from the execs at WDW, I will maintain my opinions. And, unless you know her personally, your beliefs are just as accurate as mine. We have a difference in judgement and beliefs. Last I checked, that is permitted.
I, for one, hope I am wrong. And, I will gladly say so. But, until I see different from the execs at WDW, I will maintain my opinions. And, unless you know her personally, your beliefs are just as accurate as mine. We have a difference in judgement and beliefs. Last I checked, that is permitted.
Captain Neo
Well-Known Member
What exactly is going on with this next gen thing anyway? Jim Macphee was put in charge of it in 2008. That was almost five years ago and theres nothing to show for it?
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
I find it incredible how people here can determine doom and gloom before this woman even picked up the keys to the park. Since when is a finance background a detriment to being in charge of a major business like a theme park? How do you know she hasn't spent the last few weeks learning the operational ins and outs of Epcot? Maybe someone named Erin started your car on Test Track or handed you a drink at electric umbrella. Who are we to judge someone's work without experiencing it? It seems like it is happening all the time now though...
Cosmic Commando
Well-Known Member
Could she turn out to be a disaster? Sure. So could some guy who's from ops and has been with the company for 25 years and started out loading people onto Horizons.
Her education mix actually seems very interesting: business, engineering, and fine art. Sounds like a theme park to me. Give her a chance.
scpergj
Well-Known Member
Good points - and I agree. She might have some interesting ideas for adding more performing arts to the park, too....or she could be a dud. Either way, lets at least see how she does for a bit before condeming her...
flynnibus
Premium Member
That's what happens when outsiders with no real clue to how the company operates or the people within.. try to play critic of the internals of the company instead of what the company produces - which is really where they do have interaction with the company.
Anyone who works in a public corporation that has a 'internet community' that follows the company sees this exact behavior all the time. It's hysterical usually. 'Fans' need to climb above the rest, and instead of simply following products and being critics of those, they start trying to be critics of the internal happenings of the company. Then when the fan's comments get read or passed around (typically for humor) the community gets all jazzed because 'see, they do read us!', etc.
As with most stuff.. a shred of truth passed on in conversation takes on a life of its own and people have some 'alter ego' established in the online world. These are never corrected simply because the REAL people involved can't address it directly due to company policy and typically because professionals typically will be PC or not air dirty laundry to avoid burning bridges even once on the outside.
It doesn't matter if you work for Ford, Apple, Dell, Disney, or whatever. It happens around all the companies or industries that have online communities that follow them closely.
In my industry it's even more fun because these 'experts' do get to mingle with those they claim they know so much about and why the company does X instead of Y. Meanwhile, we (the true decision makers) know they are completely off-base, but can't tell them the real reasons or even correct them. Then the online guys get together face to face with the true industry power players and act like they are the true industry insiders. The online guys take their prominance and awareness and think it's admiration or respect.. when really its because their name is known the same way everyone knows who the village idiot is, etc.
The 'name dropping' has gotten a lot worse in the online Disney community in the last 5-6 years or so. A name gets thrown out there, and all of a sudden everything on the planet gets attached to that person. This happens for Imagineers, Park Execs, even the CEO. People flock to pin decisions on an individual as they need someone to burn in effigy, as that is more 'connected' then simply blaming the company - which being oblivious to the fact they couldn't name 1/100th of the people that really were involved in the decision. Be it Small World, a fireworks show, Haunted Mansion or whatever... fans love to be able to sound cool by associating a name with the 'reason' as if they knew what really drove it all.
Meanwhile.. the people really on the inside, love to watch the 'experts' continue to hang themselves over and over again.