Meet the Air Force Veteran that built a 25 year career at ESPN
“Take every opportunity and take the chance!” is exactly the advice Anita has followed throughout her entire life.
Meet Anita, the Director of International Syndication at ESPN. She has built a 25-year long career in Bristol, Connecticut, and credits much of her drive and skills from her time in the United States Air Force.
She decided to enlist in the Air Force after graduating high school in Puerto Rico. Having many family friends in the military and knowing it would be a great opportunity to learn more about the world outside of her community, Anita knew it was the right decision for her future. She spent almost five years in the Air Force and garnered the rank of E4 Sergeant, acting as a communications specialist. During her last two years in the Air Force, she managed the Special Security Office, Communication Center at Rhein Main Air Base in Germany.
When she knew it was time to transition out of her service, her communications skills came into play and helped her land at Emerson College in Boston earning her degree in television production. After freelancing and working part time in television stations, she was able to network and gain an opportunity at ESPN! Her Spanish language skills were a valuable asset, and she started with the international department. She has grown her career from an associate producer to producer and now as the Director of International Syndication.
She has watched the growth and changes of ESPN throughout her 25 years, especially The Walt Disney Company’s strong integration within the brand. From including Disney properties in various broadcasts to the recent addition to streaming services, she is excited to see what the future holds for both ESPN and Disney.
Anita’s daughter, Taryn, has also joined the ESPN family! She works the international assignment desk and is inspired by her mother’s illustrious career. They are both grateful to create a family legacy with ESPN and Disney. “It is great to create long lasting memories here as a family,” Anita said.
To this day, Anita holds the military community very close to her heart. She is grateful for her time in the military as it brought many special relationships to her life. Her best friend from Germany now lives in Orlando, and she says they share a bond that is different from anything else. Being able to build a core group with shared experiences is something she doesn’t take for granted.
In her spare time, she stays involved with The Walt Disney Company’s support for veterans and military families. This was another area of the company that she has watched grow immensely through the years. She reflected, “When I started working at ESPN, there was an annual veteran’s luncheon in November, organized by then President of ESPN, George Bodenheimer. The luncheon was the company’s way of celebrating veterans. In 2015, ESPN veterans became part of TWDC Business Employee Resource Groups (BERGs) and a few years after was renamed ESPN Salute."
She shared that ESPN and Disney is a great place for veterans to work. There are many opportunities for the veteran skillset to thrive and she hopes that those seeking the transition take the chance! “Don’t second guess yourself,” she shared, “Even if it doesn’t feel like 100% fit, you never know where one position will lead you and where your career can go!”
Head to Heroes Work Here to learn more about Disney’s support of Veterans and Military Families as well as helpful resources to start your career at The Walt Disney Company!
To learn about opportunities at ESPN, click here!
