Rob Mitchell - What Does Kayaking, the Navy, Olympics, Disney & Reynolds Have In Common?
- 47:21
- September 30th 2022
Rob Mitchell can be described by many adjectives...interesting, fascinating, inspiring, compelling, giving, sharing, humble, just for a start! Rob grew up in small town Louisiana, but completed high school in Indiana, at Culver Academy, a difficult decision he and his parents made that changed the trajectory of his life. There, he excelled academically, as well as in sports, including swimming, wrestling, soccer, gymnastics, canoeing and kayaking. Following graduation, he attended Georgia Tech, and joined ROTC, which led him into the Navy. The Navy allowed him to continue training in competitive kayaking, where he earned his place on the the 1972 US Olympics Team, where he represented his country at the Munich Olympics. You'll hear how he witnessed, first-hand, the tragic event that forever marked those Olympic games.
We discuss, when, after the Navy, Rob took on a major role with the Walt Disney Company, where, for 21 years, as Director of Engineering, he oversaw the expansion & construction of Disney World into the incredible entertainment complex it is today!
You'll hear how his impressive journey continues after his tenure with Disney, when he and some of his colleagues formed a new company, Celebration Associates. They were recruited by Mercer & Jamie Reynolds to lead the design and construction of the Ritz Carton Lodge and to develop the Reynolds community master plan. Subsequently, he was hired by the Reynolds family to serve as President of Reynolds Plantation, and then as CEO of Reynolds Communities.
We will talk about how Rob loves to give back to his community, to those who desperately need it. He shares his time & gifts with Atlas Ministries, Greene College & Career Academy, Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the Greensboro First United Methodist Church. But even though he stays busy, he loves spending most of his time with his wife Karen and with their 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
Connect & Keep Up with Rob:
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Atlas Ministries
Lure of the Lake
Lake Oconee, Georgia, located halfway between Augusta and Atlanta, is a man-made paradise with incredible beauty that makes it a great vacation destination for people of all ages. More than that, though, it's a community for those that are looking for a peaceful life filled with nature and beauty.
I, myself, am a member of that community. I moved to Reynolds in 2020 and started to hear the incredible stories of its residents. Join me, now, as we take a plunge into some fascinating stories of the many well-lived lives of our community and learn why they were Lured to the Lake.