Visit Orlando With an Alumnus

As vice president of global consumer marketing for Visit Orlando, Peter Cranis, ’84, is helping to make people’s dreams come true. And, as the next chair of the association’s board of directors, he’s hoping to make the dreams of the UCF Alumni Association come true too. For more than 20 years, Peter has remained connected to his alma mater, as an adjunct professor in both the Nicholson School of Communication and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

10 QUESTIONS WITH PETER

Q. Favorite thing about your job?

A. Not only am I promoting the greatest vacation destination in the world, but, through what we do, we have a huge, positive impact on Orlando!

Q. Describe a typical day at work…

A. There is no typical day. One day I can be talking about a digital advertising program we’re doing in Brazil, the next day it could be a partnership with the theme parks in the U.S.-Hispanic market. That’s the fun!

Q. Most memorable experience on the job?

A. One of my most memorable experiences was being part of the efforts to promote tourism following the great recession and, over the next few years, watching the number of people traveling again return to previous levels, and watching new businesses open and people getting back to work.

Q. What was your first paying job?

A. When I was a little kid, I worked at a little store in New York City, stocking shelves and the soda machine. When they would pay me on Fridays, I would turn around and spend it all on comic books.

Q. Favorite UCF memory?

A. I have so many! But, I was a member of the Student Escort and Patrol Service (SEPS), and loved patrolling at night and meeting all the great people on campus.

Q. How do you hope your leadership will affect the future of the alumni association and the university?

A. I just hope that in some small way, I can contribute to the efforts of the association and make sure that alumni have a voice in the university’s future. I feel like UCF gave me so much, I always want to find a way to give something back.

Q. Pet peeve?

A. When someone says it can’t be done

Q. Happiest/proudest moment of your life?

A. UCF winning the Fiesta Bowl and ending up in the Top 10 (of course!)

Q. Volunteer work/philanthropy?

A. Rescuing kitties/Grasty Scholarship

Q. What’s something most people don’t know about you?

A. I was once in the Top 25 tennis players in Florida in the 25 and older division.

Read more stories about alumni at ucfalumni.com.