After layoff from Disney, Winter Garden resident starts a successful new business

Winter Garden resident Mark Newman got the call on Sept. 30, 2020.

The longtime Winter Garden resident had spent more than two decades working for Disney but had been furloughed in April 2020 — shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Newman thought the call was to welcome him back. Instead, he was laid off.

“The dream just came to a crashing halt,” Newman said.

What’s more, Newman’s department retained 60% of its employees, but those kept were younger, lower paid and lacked experience.

“I lived for Disney,” he said. “I couldn’t even understand it, and the more I thought about it, the more emotional and difficult it became. For me, I am a very religious person, so I just felt it was God’s way of saying, ‘That’s not what I want you to do anymore.’”

Laura, Newman’s wife, said the news was devastating.

“It was like we lost a part of who we were,” Laura said. “Mark has always been able to stay focused and do what he needs to do to provide for our family, but I was extremely emotional.”

One year later, the Newmans now see the silver lining, manifested in Mark Newman’s woodworking talents. Today, the Newmans own and operate “It All Started with a Flag,” which sells Mark Newman’s handcrafted wooden U.S. flags.

The business has since grown in popularity. Newman has made about 2,000 flags since November 2020 and said he now makes about 30 pieces a week.

DREAM COME TRUE

For Mark Newman, Nov. 28, 1997, was one of the happiest days of his life.

That was the day he was offered his first job at Walt Disney World.

Newman grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. As a kid, Newman and his family moved to Florida for a few years before heading back north. While in the Sunshine State, his family always went to Magic Kingdom. And when he was back in Wisconsin, he watched “The Wonderful World of Disney” every Sunday night on TV. It was his connection to what felt like a second home.

“It was always my dream to work for Disney,” Newman said.

In 1997, after moving to Florida with the intention of fulfilling his dream, Newman did just that.

He was hired and worked as an hourly cast member. Newman spent the next 23 years of his life working at Disney. Throughout the years, Newman continued to be promoted, met Laura —who also worked at Disney — and had three sons. He even received a lifetime achievement award called “Partners in Excellence.”

In 2007, Newman joined the Disney Vacation Club as a quality assurance manager. He spent 13 years with DVC, where he had contact with thousands of members, worked on all four Disney cruise ships, sailed all over the world and logged more than 120 cruises. Newman said that by far, it was his favorite position. On the cruise ships, Newman worked 60 to 80 hours per week. Although it was tough, Newman said he never considered his position to be “work.”

“It wasn’t a job, and it wasn’t just a career; I loved Disney,” Newman said. “I ate, breathed, slept Disney. I wouldn’t care if I was cleaning the theme park, I didn’t care. I just wanted to work at Disney.”

Mark Newman began working on the flags during the furlough period and was inspired by his family’s passion for patriotism. His brother was in the U.S. Navy, and Newman tried, unsuccessfully, to enter the U.S. Air Force.

The flags quickly became popular with his family and friends.

“I always had a knack for working with wood,” Newman said. “When I was in college, I worked construction, so the basic concepts were second nature, but I never made anything like this before.”

FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY

Although he no longer works for the Mouse, in many ways, his layoff was a blessing.

Shortly after Newman launched It All Started with a Flag, the business garnered local and even national attention. His story went viral, sales spiked, and Newman worked24/7 to catch up and complete the flood of orders.

Mark Newman is self-taught and learned to perfect his skills by watching hours of YouTube. Each flag is made of solid pinewood, hand cut to size, stained, carved, torched and sealed. The stars, the designs and stripes are also carved for additional details and 3D effect.

“I never would have dreamed I would be supporting my family with what was my small woodworking hobby, and I’m so humbled and overwhelmed by everyone’s response,” he said. “If I wasn’t going to go back to the company I loved, then I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything besides run my own business. It has changed my life, it has changed my family’s life, and I couldn’t be more blessed.”

Newman has continued to expand his creativity with his woodworking designs. The pieces featured on his website range from wooden crosses to classic flags, Disney-inspired pieces, military flags, NFL and NCAA flags, and more. Newman also does customization and requested designs.

Carvings range in price from about $50 to a little more than $100, depending on the size and complexity of the design. 

"I’ve been so impressed by Mark’s hard work, dedication and creative ability, and I am so proud of him for turning a difficult situation into a positive one,” Laura Newman said. “He is a wonderful role model for our children, and he truly loves making patriotic flags.”

Although Newman has more than 70 designs on his website, he said his true satisfaction remains with the classic American flags.

“I can make 1,000 American flags and still feel good every time I make one,” Newman said. “I love this country, and there isn’t another one like it.”

IT ALL STARTED WITH A FLAG

For more information, or to browse his designs, visit Mark Newman’s website, itallstartedwithaflag.com.