FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Lauren Mackiel
Joanna DiNizio
Coyne Public Relations
973.316.1665
OKLAHOMA CITY RESIDENT LAUNCHES ONLINE VOTING CAMPAIGN
TO BE THE FIRST-EVER DISNEY PARKS CHIEF MAGIC OFFICIAL (CMO)
- Patrick Michael Hurd campaigns for America's vote to secure his spot as CMO -
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA., MARCH 7, 2008 - "Say cheese!" may be Oklahoma's Patrick Michael Hurd's favorite phrase as a professional wedding photographer, but he knows it will take more than a "mouse" to secure his shot to be the first-ever Disney Parks Chief Magic Official (CMO). One of 10 semi-finalists, Hurd was chosen from more than 1,300 applicants who applied to be the Disney Parks CMO in a national search with CareerBuilder.com.
During the Year of a Million Dreams, the part-time CMO will travel to Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts and help create magical experiences for guests, participate in special events and wizard behind-the-scenes with the Walt Disney Imagineers.
Political symbols such as donkeys and elephants have been traded in for princesses, pixies and everyone's favorite mouse. Today, Hurd officially launches his "Two Left Feet"-themed online campaign for CMO featuring Disney's ‘goofiest' friend of all. Hurd will vie for consumer votes in hopes to be crowned the first-ever Disney Parks CMO. He has only three weeks on the campaign trail to gather enough votes to put him into the top three running for CMO.
Voting is open now through March 22 (11:59 p.m. ET). Over the next three weeks, consumers are encouraged to visit www.DreamCMO.com and vote for the candidate they believe is most magically fit to be the Disney Parks Chief Magic Official.
"Disney has always been an important part of my life - inspiring me to spread joy and laughter to my friends and family," described Hurd. "I hope people will vote for me as CMO because all I dream about is the opportunity to bring some magic to guests visiting the Parks from all over the world."
If chosen, Hurd, a photographer, will continue to capture weddings and portraits, as his CMO duties should not interfere with his current career.
BALLOTS REOPEN FOR THE TOP THREE
After America's votes are in, the top three vote-getters will be announced mid-April, along with details surrounding their two-day competitions at Walt Disney World Resort. Semi-finalists will face tests of creativity, enthusiasm, knowledge of the Parks and actual magic aptitude. The competition will be recorded and videos highlighting each of the three finalists will be posted on www.DreamCMO.com for a final round of voting. The top vote-getter during April 14-21 will be named the Disney Parks Chief Magic Official.
For additional information about the CMO search, please visit www.DreamCMO.com.
[Note to Editors: For news media inquiries and photos, please visit Disney's media-only news sites - www.wdwnews.com or www.disneylandnews.com - or call Walt Disney World Public Relations at 407/566-6397 or Disneyland Public Relations at 714/781-4500.]
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