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Gary Buchanan

Social Media and Public Relations Professional, Public Relations and Communications

Hi, I am Gary Buchanan and I am a social media and public relations professional in Celebration, Florida

Gary Buchanan's Bio:

Originally from Nashville, Tenn., Gary Buchanan worked at Walt Disney World Resort for 19 years in the Public Relations and Social Media Departments. Chosen in 1989 as the first intern to work in Walt Disney World Public Relations Department, he made it his career goal to return to the Happiest Place on Earth and re-join the PR team.   After working in Nashville as a newspaper reporter, Gary returned to Mickey’s world in 1996.  In his Disney career, he led many PR efforts for new Disney Parks attractions, resorts, in-park special events and celebrity outreach – as well as extended assignments at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Resort Paris, Disneyland Resort in California and Disney's resort in Hawai'i. Gary contributed to many of the PR and Social Media projects for Disney Parks.  He was regularly featured in a series of videos on The Disney Parks Blog, the Disney's Magical Express buses, and was a four-time "Telly Award" recipient for his work with Disney social media & online videos. He was a recipient of “The Walt Disney Legacy Award,” the highest honor an active Disney Parks employee can receive worldwide. Among other duties, he was charged with creating new and compelling content for the Disney Parks Blog and serves as a creative champion for PR and social media efforts.

Gary Buchanan's Experience:

  • Freelance PR & Social Media Professional at Vandelay Industries of Celebration, Inc.

    January 2015 - Present | Celebration, FL

    Deliver integrated public relations and social media based on client needs. Provide creative communications through social, broadcast and print media. Manage writing and editing projects, and produce photo and video shoots. Current clients include entertainment, food and beverage, resorts and hospitality companies.

  • Social Media Managing Editor and Celebrity PR Manager at Walt Disney World Resort

    January 2008 - January 2015 | Lake Buena Vista, Florida

    Strategic, tactical authority over social media campaign development and launch across all major Disney Parks’ social media channels. Oversaw and optimized editorial calendar, logistics, production, SEO alignment and reporting for all online posts and feature videos. Project manager over traditional media events, as well as large-scale budgets for annual attraction and park-based PR projects. Served as host, writer and producer for award-winning series of online videos. Facilitated celebrity PR outreach with visiting talent. Member of marketing team that produces “I'm Going to Disney World” commercial and PR / social media campaign at NFL’s Super Bowl. Key Achievements & Engagements • Managed Disney Parks Moms Panel program – initial online engagement panel of its kind at The Walt Disney Co. – with 100+ parent panelists and multi-million dollar annual budget • Co-chaired Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, annual, invitation-based social media conference presented annually for opinion-leading bloggers from the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico • Keynote Speaker, 2013 Type-A Parent Conference, PRSSA National Conference, and Disney Social Media Moms Celebration

  • Public Relations Manager and PR Photo Editor at Walt Disney World Resort

    January 1996 - January 2008 | Lake Buena Vista, Florida

    Architected and deployed content across major public relations collateral, including press kits, photo shoots and company’s first-ever podcasts. Produced and directed celebrity photo shoots, collaborating with visiting photographers, reporters and video crews. Served as a spokesman for proactive, positive issues and crisis communications and as a manager of the company's media-only website. Produced PR events in partnership with internal and external companies (Lucasfilm, Disney Channel, ESPN, ABC, NFL). Key Achievements & Engagements • Championed PR efforts for events at Walt Disney World including Disney Marathon, Star Wars Weekends, ABC Super Soap Weekend, the Disney Channel Games and the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade • PR touch point for major attraction and hotel openings, including Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge hotel, Disney’s Pop Century Resort hotel and The American Idol Experience attraction • Fulfilled extended global PR assignments, most notably at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris Resort

  • Editor-in-Chief at GCA Newspapers of Nashville

    January 1990 - January 1996 | Nashville, Tennessee

    In charge of editorial content for 6 weekly newspapers in Nashville, Tenn. Created editorial calendar and provided layout input for the newspapers.

Gary Buchanan's Education:

  • Middle Tennessee State University

    1988 – 1990
    Bachelor's Degree
    Concentration: Journalism

  • University of Tennessee, Knoxville

    1985 – 1988
    Concentration: Journalism

Gary Buchanan's Interests & Activities:

Travel, Star Wars, NFL, MLB, NCAA Sports, Technology,




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