Eisner to Speak at KU Decision Makers Forum

Michael D. Eisner, CEO and Chair of the Walt Disney Company from 1984-2005, will be the speaker at the 18th Annual Kutztown University Decision Makers Forum on April 25.

The Decision Makers Forum is KU’s annual community event that has featured speakers such as Colin Powell, Tim Russert, Rudy Giuliani, President George H.W. Bush, Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher, and Madeleine Albright. Proceeds from the event support scholarships for Kutztown University students.

“We are extremely pleased to have Michael Eisner as our speaker this year,” said Ronald Lewis, Forum coordinator and KU’s director of development for the College of Business. “His achievements in business and entertainment are among the best in the world. Having him at KU will be a great experience for our students and the surrounding community.”

Eisner revitalized and reinvented Disney into a full spectrum entertainment enterprise during his 21-years stint. Under his leadership, the company began implementation of a continuing series of creative growth strategies that resulted in its annual revenues rising from $1.7 billion to more than $30 billion.

During Eisner’s stewardship, Disney animation experienced a renaissance with hits including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Toy Story, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. Disney also became a leader in live-action films with pictures such as Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Three Men and a Baby, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Pretty Woman, Sixth Sense, Pearl Harbor, Signs and Pirates of the Caribbean; produced such hit TV shows as Golden Girls, Home Improvement, Lost, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Desperate Housewives; opened Disneyland Paris, Tokyo DisneySea and Hong Kong Disneyland; expanded the existing Disney theme parks with The Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris and Disney’s California Adventure at The Disneyland Resort; opened first class hotels designed by the world’s leading architects at all Disney resort sites; acquired Capital Cities/ABC which included the ABC television network, ESPN cable networks and equity ownership in The History Channel, Lifetime, A&E and E!; launched the SoapNET and Toon Disney cable networks, Radio Disney and ESPN Radio; developed such leading Internet sites as Disney.com, ESPN.com, ABC.com and Family.com; acquired Miramax Pictures, which produced films that won 53 Academy Awards, including best pictures for Chicago, Shakespeare in Love, and The English Patient; created Walt Disney Theatrical which produced the hits Beauty and the Beast, AIDA, The Lion King and Mary Poppins; developed the Disney Cruise Line and acquired the Fox Family Channel (now ABC Family), Baby Einstein and the Muppets.

The Decision Makers Forum will get underway at 8 p.m. at KU’s Keystone Arena. Tickets for balcony seats are currently on sale for $40 each. For ticket information, call 610-683-1394.

Corporate sponsorships for the event are also available. Corporate partner information can be found here.