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Hello, we are ready to continue our interview series "Zoom on" with a new a news interview.
Please meet Thomas Mas (Ch 219), Associate Project Manager at Walt Disney Imagineering
AFAM: Hello Thomas and thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. You are an Associate Project Manager at Walt Disney Imagineering. What is your role about? Could you maybe describe to us one of your days at work?
Thomas: Hey Albina, my pleasure to take some time to answer your questions. I am happy to share more about my job and the company that I value so much. As you said I am an Associate Project Manager with Walt Disney Imagineering. Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative engine that designs and builds all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, and cruise ships worldwide. As a project manager, I manage teams to deliver a project on time, within budget, and with good communication across the team. I am working with many different disciplines such as creative directors, ride engineers, show managers, or producers. My daily task is to ensure all the team members have clear milestones and everything they need to reach them.
AFAM: Today you work in Germany. Before taking this job, you were a project management intern at Walt Disney in Orlando, Florida. How come you could get a job with Walt Disney in Germany? Tell us a few words about the road that led you to your current position.
Thomas: This is correct, I started as a Project Management intern at Walt Disney Imagineering in Florida working on my current project. I spend almost a year there to learn more about the company culture leadership, and history, and about being a Project Manager at Walt Disney Imagineering. After that, I had the opportunity to relocate to Germany as an Associate Project manager. It was a chance for me to keep working on this project and to go through all the phases of it until the delivery and turnover process.
AFAM: What is the most exciting and the most challenging in your Associate Project Manager job at Walt Disney Imagineering?
Thomas: The most exciting aspect is supporting incredibly talented and passionate Imagineers, each excelling in their field. This gives me immense energy to succeed in my role and continually improve myself. Working with a global team on a project with people located around the world presents a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow. I always try to look at the positive side and see it as a way to get ahead.
AFAM: how did being a Gadz’Arts (alumni name e.g., Aggies) help you in your professional life so far?
Thomas: Being Gadz’Arts means embodying values such as fraternity, excellence, and openness. These values are dear to me and I try to make the Gadzarique community shine by emphasizing them in my daily behavior at work.
AFAM: anything about your future plans that you would like to share with us?
Thomas: For the time being, I'm going to take advantage of my remaining time in Germany while working on the project, and who knows, maybe I'll even improve my German.
AFAM: thank you, Thomas
Photo (courtesy of Thomas Mas)
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A 45 minutes Welcome meeting with students was organized by DG Amériques Patrice Brossard (Bo 195) on July 17th. The students who attended the meeting are those coming to Canada, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and other countries of the American continent to study abroad for a year or semester in 2024-2025.
More than 40 students attended the online event to meet Gadz'Arts regional representatives in America. Most of the students are going to the United States (18 students were present) and Canada ( 17 students present). During the event students joined break rooms to be able to ask questions and talk to their regional representative. Thank you to Patrice Brossard for organizing and to the alumni representing the regions - Arthur Boivin (Texas, US), Nicolas Horde (California, US), Paul Mottier (Canada), Pierre-Yves Bertou (Mexico), Cédric Palma ( Brazil), Lourde Peira (Argentina) to find the time to meet students. Albina Patou-Chebykina, AFAM community manager also attended the meeting.
Congratulations to all our students going abroad and good luck to you! See you soon!
Students and Gadz regional representatives during the meeting
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Gadz'Arts based in SF bay area gathered together on the weekend of July 14th to celebrate Bastille Day and enjoy the company of each other. We would like to thank Claude, A&M alumnus, and his wife Atsuko, for hosting the party, and Nicolas Horde, West Coast zident, for organizing.
Claude being a train enthusiast demonstrated his railway model to the guests. Gadz'Arts could also enjoy food, conversations, and exceptional Californian weather. Next Gadz party is happening in September and it is going to be the first addition of the Gadz'Meet. We are thrilled to see you there!
Yarith, Jean, Xavier, Nicolas and Vincent enjoying the party
Railway modeling is Claude's hobby
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Gadz'Meet 2024 will be taking place during the weekend of 6-8th of September is San Francisco.
AFAM team already started preparing the event and this week we got acquainted with Gadz'Meet future participants. It is to mention that the event is open to all Gadz'Arts living in the United States and today we can count at least 20 students of Georgia Tech (GTE program) who plan to join the event.
Monday and Tuesday, July 8th and July 9th, AFAM organized short Zoom sessions for all those who signed up for the event and have questions concerning the program, logistical details etc.
Our team was happy to meet you and we are looking forward having you all in San Francisco in September.
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On June 3rd, an AFAM board meeting took place. 12 Sequoia #2 grants* of $1000 to $4000 and 1 Shasta grant have been approved by AFAM board members. All the students received grants after careful consideration of their applications by members of Sequoia and Shasta committees.
12 Sequoia # 2 grants is a record number of grants that AFAM will be distributing this year to our students studying in the United States.
We would like to congratulate all the students! We are looking forward to meeting some of you this year during our Gadz'Meet 2024 event in San Francisco.
*About the Sequoia #2 grant
Sequoia grant #2 helps covering installation fees for students coming to the American Universities to study ( a year or a semester)
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Sequoia grant is available for Sequoia candidates (A&M students and alumni enrolled in Sequoia program).
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Sequoia grant #2 is also available for parcours US and GT Europe students ( if they did not obtain Louis Magne grant).
More information about the Sequoia program of AFAM and Sequoia grants and loans and how to apply is ON OUR WEBSITE
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