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Luzerne man, Nanticoke woman are finalists in the national contest.
Among a sea of 300,000 Americans, two locals recently found themselves as finalists in the Disney Parks and CareerBuilder.com Dream Job contest.
Ron Reino, of Luzerne, and Jennifer Nestorick, Nanticoke, found out a few weeks ago that they were two of 100 finalists for the national contest.
Nestorick heard about the contest while searching on the Disney Web site.
“There was an ad banner across the top (of the page) that said they (CareerBuilder and Disney) were doing something together to send people on a vacation.”
Participants entered by creating a 45-second video, showcasing why they should be chosen to work for a day in their “dream job” capacities of jungle cruise skipper, haunted mansion butler or maid, pirate, princess-in-waiting or Disney Park parade performer.
“I said, ‘What the heck, let’s try it, it might work,’” Nestorick said, and originally made a video to audition for the haunted mansion part.
“I love parades. That’s my favorite thing when I go down to the park. You laugh and smile, music is playing, I dance along with it. I want to make someone else feel that way,” Nestorick said.
So Nestorick, who is employed as a traffic assistant at Fox 56, entered a second audition video featuring why she should be a parade performer. “I’m a super huge Disney fan. And getting to work at Disney is one of the biggest dreams I’ve ever had.”
“I wanted to do something different,” Reino said. “All of the videos that are finalists are monologues. If you watch video, I’m not a pirate,” he said.
Although Reino took a creative approach, he’s hopeful that all the hits the YouTube video has gotten are an indication of success. “I really think it (the video) has a good chance because of its uniqueness.”
Reino, who found out about the contest while searching for information on a family vacation for him and his wife and two sons, got the idea for his video the second he decided to enter the contest.
“I wasn’t gonna be good at the parade performer one, pirate was just the easier character to go for. When I read it, I actually pictured the production piece in my head in about five minutes of what I wanted it to look like.”
Reino, whose real job is being broadcasting coordinator at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, filmed the video on campus and said he is “pretty excited” about being a finalist.
Reino and Nestorick are staying positive about winning a trip for four days and three nights to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., in June for the grand opening of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.
“I can’t forget my family and friends for voting. They’re a big part of this,” Nestorick said.
“I thought if it was creative enough, it would stand out and grab the judges’ attention,” Reino said. “I’m bugging all my friends and co-workers to support it. I would like to win this.”
PICK your favorite
Go to www.careerbuilder.com/disneydreamjobs to view videos of all finalists. Ron Reino is in the pirate category, “Disney Dream Job pirate Ron,” and Jennifer Nestorick is in the parade performer category, “Jennifer’s Disney Dream Job.”