OFM_Movers & Shakers_0421FINAL.qxp_DEPT 3 / 29 / 21 1 : 23 PM Page 5 mark Rasesh Tester Thakkar Senior Managing Director , Tavistock Group Executive Director , Orange County Convention Center hakkar’s name has ester grew up absorbing become synonymous T information from his father T with Lake Nona as he is who operated destination credited with being a major marketing organizations player behind the town’s before transitioning to con - evolution . Whether he’s vention and trade shows . working to bring Amazon Armed with that knowledge , to the area , the newly Tester followed in his foot - opened UCF Lake Nona steps and the experience he Medical Center or any other gained working in the number of big projects , industry in cities like Austin Thakkar’s fingerprints are all and Chicago well prepared over town . He’s also been him to be at the helm of the lending his extensive exper - second - largest convention tise to the planning and exe - center in the United States . cution of Sunbridge , a And to his credit , the Orange 24,000 - acre development County Convention Center across Orange and Osceola is one of the few that are cur - counties that will incorpo - rently hosting large - scale rate residential housing , local events — including five in the businesses and commercial first weekend of March districts . Currently , Thakkar alone — without incident . serves on the board and gov - ernors council of Orlando Economic Partnership and is also a member of the board of trustees of the Tavistock Foundation and of the Florida Gov - ernor’s Council of 100 . craig jeff Ustler Vahle President , Walt Disney World Resort President , Ustler Development ahle began his journey with s a local developer and Disney in 1990 and since V investor , this third - gen - A then he has steadily risen eration Orlando resident has through the ranks thanks to an dabbled in it all — housing , unwavering commitment to hotels , office space , restau - creativity and innovation with rants , retail and more . But in a special focus on generating a recent years Ustler’s calling one - of - a - kind guest experience card has been exploring how and future growth . After the new urbanism movement working in various high - profile fits into Thornton Park , the capacities with the company , North Quarter District and most recently as president of other areas surrounding Disney Signature Experiences , Downtown . Thanks to his Vahle is now in charge of a staff vision , he is highly regarded of more than 77,000 at the for his creative urban revital - four theme parks and 30 hotels ization and his redevelop - that make up the landscape of ment projects like the $ 1.5 the family destination . Addi - billion Creative Village have tionally , he is responsible for created jobs , business oppor - facilities and operations services tunities and the impetus for for Disney theme parks located more investment in the sur - across the globe . rounding areas . 26 ORLANDO FAMILY april 2021 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM