Kathy Kilmer is Director, Sales Channel Planning and Analytics, Disney Destinations. As director of Sales Channel Planning and Analytics for Disney Destinations worldwide, Kathy oversees three distinct groups that are part of her organization. The Planning and Analytics team works alongside Sales and Travel Operations (SATO) senior leaders to evaluate and translate channel and distribution strategies into business plans, assess market trends in Sales, develop and administer sales incentive planning, set the third party nets and commission structure, and provide decision support and analytics. The Sales Channel Program Management team provides integration and continuous improvement support for the sales teams and worldwide call centers in the areas of technology implementations, telecommunications, and intermediary sales applications. The eBusiness Solutions team is responsible for developing and delivering technology to support B2B and B2C solutions and internal sales cast tools.
Prior to her current role, Kathy was director of Industrial Engineering for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., overseeing more than 120 industrial engineers who served as internal business consultants applying the IE skill set to a multitude of business challenges. Her role involved improving the effectiveness, efficiency and overall profitability across all areas of the business from front-of-house operations (e.g., six theme parks, two water parks, 20 resorts, two Downtown Disney areas, Disney Cruise Line, etc.) to back-of-house operations (e.g., four textile Plants, three distribution centers, asset maintenance, energy management, etc.), as well as sales and marketing, and new development around the world.
A graduate of Purdue University, Kathy received a B.S. in industrial engineering. She also holds a master's of science degree in operations research and an executive master's of business administration from the University of Central Florida (UCF). She serves on the Purdue Engineering Advisory board, has conducted many Industrial Engineering conference keynote speeches, and is passionate about educating children about the engineering discipline.
Kathy is a recipient of the Institute of Industrial Engineers' (IIE) UPS Excellence Award for Minority Advancement, Disney's Partners In Excellence lifetime achievement award, Purdue University's Outstanding IE Alumni Award, IIE’s Fellows Award, and Purdue University’s Engineering Co-op Hall of Fame. She is receiving the Purdue’s Distinguished Engineering Alumni award this spring.