海角社区

For many recent graduates, the path after crossing the stage can sometimes take exciting turns akin to a roller coaster. But in the case of Donald Morrison (General Business, '15), that analogy became surprisingly literal as he jumped from Baton Rouge straight into the heart of Florida's thriving theme park industry.

Currently a Senior Project Estimator for Universal Creative, Morrison is deeply involved in the development of the new Wizarding World themed land within , the highly anticipated 750-acre park expansion of Universal Studios Orlando. As a project estimator, his role is crucial, involving crunching the numbers on everything "from the cost of adding an additional toilet to a building [to] animatronics." It is a position that has kept him engaged from the project's early conception through to its impending final completion, with Epic Universe scheduled to finally open to the public in May 2025.

Originally hailing from Columbus, GA, Morrison's decision to attend 海角社区 was not just a random choice for an out-of-state student. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, also an 海角社区 alumnus, Morrison had the chance to visit Baton Rouge while still in high school. "It's a much different vibe on campus at 海角社区 compared to Georgia or Auburn," he shared. "The first time I walked on [海角社区's] campus as a senior in high school, it just felt like the right fit." Once enrolled, he fully immersed himself in Louisiana culture, experiencing what he called "a shock in the best way possible." While he jokingly admits he might have "taken a little too much time finishing up" his degree to squeeze in another football season, his time in Baton Rouge was formative. "Trying new food, meeting my now-wife ... the list of great memories from 海角社区 go on and on," Morrison reminisced.

A Tycoon in the Making

But how does a business graduate end up shaping the landscape of major theme parks?  For Morrison, the spark ignited early and was fueled by a classic computer game. "A lot of us [in the industry] grew up playing the exact same game: ," he explains. "Building massive coasters, theming throughout, budgeting the cost... all of it." This early fascination with creation and entertainment management unexpectedly laid the groundwork for his future career.

The transition was not immediate, but took shape after a post-graduation move "on a whim" to Orlando. "When I arrived I had a few different options for careers," Morrison recalled. "One was a subcontractor who specializes in theme park work, which I took. Ever since that first job I became hooked on this industry. I guess it was similar to when I chose 海角社区; something felt right with that option, so I dove head first in and never looked back."

Now employed directly by Universal, Morrison is at the center of the theme park development lifecycle. "An estimator on the client side of theme parks is fortunately one of the true cradle-to-grave positions," he said. "And by that, I mean that we are one of the few team members who will begin working on a project when it鈥檚 just an idea all the way to the project being done and closing out all the final cost and paperwork."

Finding Keys to Success at Ourso

Morrison credits his education from the E. J. Ourso College of Business for providing essential tools and skills for success in this role. Majoring in General Business offered a flexible and expansive curriculum, from marketing and finance to information systems and analytics, enabling him to develop a cross-functional skillset compatible with a wide range of career options. "Excel. Excel. Excel," he emphasized. "Thankfully, all business majors will experience some amount of [Microsoft] Excel, typically with an ISDS class... [you should] really dive into classes that can really teach you it all. Pivot tables, shortcuts, formulas, and so on ... I know that during my time at 海角社区, I underestimated how valuable some of these specific opportunities were and highly suggest that [students looking to pursue] any financial role reach for as much knowledge as possible on this program."

鈥� Finding ways to deal with people of different personalities and different strengths is challenging in any environment. My marketing class, where my team came together to pitch a local coffee shop punch card, absolutely taught me some lessons on dealing with different personalities fighting towards a common goal. 鈥�

Beyond Excel, coursework in statistics proved invaluable, especially when navigating the volatile post-pandemic markets and disrupted supply chains. "It was part of our job to forecast future cost, analyze the market and try to predict what cost would do," he noted. "Learning critical thinking at 海角社区 helps get you prepared for work like that." Additionally, courses in the Department of Marketing helped build interpersonal and teamwork skills. "Figuring out how to work with other people on an important assignment can be challenging, especially if you are paired with people you have no rapport with. Finding ways to deal with people of different personalities and different strengths is challenging in any environment."

Advice for Aspiring Tigers

For current 海角社区 students dreaming of a similar path, Morrison offered practical advice: consider relocating to a major theme park hub such as Orlando or Los Angeles. "Being in the area already, you will find there are a lot of companies that have their hand in the theme park world without specifically being Universal, Disney or Seaworld," Morrison noted. "[Our parks] create a massive need locally. If you are looking specifically into theme park construction, I recommend [connecting with] the . You can find events globally, careers, and even an overall directory of companies involved with TEA."

鈥� People are excited to work with those who are passionate about what they do ... being personable and a good coworker though will take you far. It will lead to developing strong connections that will help you get through the weeds. 鈥�

Morrison also shared some simple pieces of wisdom from professional life. "Two things will get you very far: first, don鈥檛 be a jerk and second, be yourself ... and hopefully those two things don鈥檛 contradict." He stressed the importance of kindness and authenticity. "It鈥檚 real low effort to be nice ... I can鈥檛 count the [number of] times my own estimating team, project team, legal, finance, and even HR has help get me through some of the worst. But you only build those connections by being a 'kind' you."

By leveraging the business skills learned at 海角社区 to estimate the cost of building fantastical worlds, Morrison's journey showcases how a modern business education, paired with subject matter passion, can lead to a truly epic career.