A native of Strongsville, Ohio, Jim began his creative career at Disney Event Productions as a Disney Fairytale Weddings and Event Photographer. During the transition from film to digital, Jim began to cultivate a new set of skills as a graphic designer. In the early 2000s, Jim and his fellow Cast Members began fusing exciting multimedia content into standard boring presentations for live on-stage productions and conventions. In addition, Jim worked with Production Designers and Show Directors at Disney to design keynote presentations and corporate event theming for companies such as HP, Dunkin’ Donuts, Mars Inc., and the Oreck Corporation. Jim jumped at the opportunity when Walt Disney World Sales and Travel Operations was looking to hire a designer to update Disney’s B2B Disney Travel Agents website. It was the perfect opportunity to help bring the travel industry website into the then web 2.0 era. Later, Jim began partnering with niche public relations departments at WDW to help support them with their creative marketing need. This led to Jim’s favorite Cast Member experiences at WDW, Press Events! Working with public relations departments gave Jim the opportunity to serve as a Disney Representative at property-wide media events such as: Year of a Million Dreams, Magical Gatherings, Happiest Celebration on Earth, ESPN the Weekend, Night of Joy, Feature Animation in Florida movie releases, and other opening attraction & resorts celebrations.
In September of 2009, Jim, his wife Jill, and son packed up and moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany, to work for DoDEA. Jim spent all 11 years in K-Town working at Kaiserslautern Middle School. Jim worked at KMS as an Educational Aide, Substitute Teacher, AVID Tutor, and Administrative Officer. While at KMS Jim was honored to be invited to the 2001 Future Business Leaders of America conference to be the keynote speaker sharing his experiences working with the Walt Disney Company about what qualities are essential for a leader. Jim finished out his time with DoDEA, Europe East, as the Administrative Officer of KES and KMS (1150 total student population) coordinating the shutdown of three K-Town middle schools and consolidation into a newly renovated legacy school. After being overseas for 11 years Jim, Jill, and two children relocated back to the states to West Point where Jim is currently supporting USMA Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership as their Media Manager.
Keynote Speaking Engagements:
- 2011 Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe Future Business Leaders of America Leadership Conference “Technology: Key to the future!” – Garmisch, Germany
Presented the Disney “DREAM”, an acronym that outlines some of the most important qualities in a
leader; Dedication, Responsibility, Education, Attitude, and Motivation. - 2007 Adobe MAX Conference – Chicago, Illinois
Partnered with Adobe and Frog Design to design, develop and present one of the world’s first Adobe Air enhanced content applications, Disney Travel Agent Booking Engine.
Mentions:
Keynote Speaking:
2011 Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe Future Business Leaders of America Leadership Conference “Technology: Key to the future!” – Garmisch, Germany
Presented the Disney “DREAM”, an acronym that outlines some of the most important qualities in a leader; Dedication, Responsibility, Education, Attitude and Motivation.
Jim straka 