Ben May

Ben May is a Board Director of the Center for Excellence in Public Safety and The Leadership Crucible and recently retired as Global Director of Corporate Alliances for The Walt Disney Company. During his Disney career, he led major international partnerships and created seven-figure, interactive social marketing initiatives focused on fire protection and prevention. One of his notable accomplishments was creating “Where’s the Fire?” at Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort—the world’s largest interactive public fire education attraction. Developed through an alliance with Liberty Mutual Insurance and Reedy Creek Fire and Safety, the attraction welcomed more than 10 million guests over eight years. A former firefighter and fire commissioner, Ben has served with Hillandale Fire and Rescue in Montgomery County, Maryland, and as Fire Commissioner for Woodinville Fire and Rescue in Washington State. He was also a contributing editor to Firehouse Magazine for 15 years and has advised the U.S. Fire Administration, IFSTA, and fire departments nationwide on strategic marketing communications. Ben is a member of several leading fire protection and executive organizations, including the National Society of Executive Fire Officers, Institution of Fire Engineers, and Society of Fire Protection Engineers. He holds degrees from the University of Oklahoma and American University, as well as a leadership diploma from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He is conversant in Russian, German, and Hebrew.