2016 Spring Newsletter

Dale Haney is Dedman’s 2016 Alumnus of the Year
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                    Dale Haney

Dale Haney, a 1971 hotel and restaurant administration alumnus, has been selected as the Dedman School of Hospitality’s 2016 Alumnus of the Year. He will be honored in the fall at the 2016 Society of Hosts Alumni Luncheon on Oct. 27.

Haney is no stranger to students at the Dedman School of Hospitality. For the last 15 years, the president of Gate Hospitality Group has been sharing his expertise in the management of exclusive resorts and private clubs as a guest speaker in their classes.

In his role as Gate’s president, Haney oversees all management of several top northeast Florida properties — the AAA Five Diamond-rated Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, the AAA Four Diamond-rated Lodge & Club at Ponte Vedra Beach, as well as the Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club and The River Club. In addition, he serves as president for Ponte Vedra Club Realty and Stockton Property Management Company.

“Dale is a great choice for recognition as our 2016 alumnus of the year,” said Bob Brymer, Dedman’s Cecil B. Day Professor of Lodging Management. “Not only is he highly regarded in the industry with a history of leading successful hospitality organizations, but he has been a loyal supporter of the Dedman School of Hospitality.”

In addition to Haney’s guest appearances on FSU’s campus, students and alumni recognize him from internships they have garnered at his clubs. “Dedman interns are always well prepared with solid interviewing skills, proper attire and great motivation,” he said. “We hire approximately five to 10 interns a year. Currently, we have nine on staff.”

All Florida State University hospitality alumni and current majors are invited to the October luncheon to celebrate the career and accomplishments of Dale Haney (see below). Learn more about his more than 35 years in the hospitality industry.

 

Kim named No. 3 worldwide in hospitality research impact
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  Dr. Woody Kim, right, inspects a student's portfolio.

Woo Gon “Woody” Kim, the Robert H. Dedman Professor of Hospitality Management, ranks third in a list of the “Top 32 Hospitality Faculty by Research Impact,” a study published in the Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism.

Kim, who directs the International Center for Hospitality Research & Development at the Dedman School of Hospitality, has long been a prolific researcher. Studies published in 2011 and 2012 recognized Kim fifth and fourth respectively in worldwide productivity.

The 2015 study measured faculty research productivity based on four criteria—quality, quantity, consistency and longevity—to distinguish the best in hospitality research. The study analyzes research published from 2001 to 2010.

In addition to his research, Kim directs Dedman’s new online MBA with a major in Hospitality and Tourism Management (MBA-HTM). He holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University and has taught at universities within the U.S. and abroad. His research and teaching interests include revenue management, pricing, brand management, customer relationship management and hospitality finance. Learn more about the new MBA-HTM.

 

Ohlin takes on new role as director of Strategic Development
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       Jane Boyd Ohlin

After almost eight years of service as director of the Dedman School of Hospitality, Jane Boyd Ohlin has moved into a new role as the school’s first director of Strategic Development.

“I’ll be able to focus on the things I love most,” said Ohlin. “I’ll be assisting with development and alumni relationships, focusing on our European programs in Switzerland and at Krems University in Austria, and other projects that benefit the school in addition to continuing to teach and move forward with my research interests.”

Ohlin, who is the Robert H. Dedman Professor of Hospitality Management, has taught at the school since 1989. She also is an alumnus, having earned her Bachelor of Science in hospitality and restaurant management in 1979 before receiving a Juris Doctorate from the FSU College of Law.

Don Farr, the Don & Frances Veller Professor of Professional Golf Management and interim assistant dean for Academic Affairs, has agreed to serve as the interim director of the Dedman School of Hospitality.

“I am very pleased that Don will be serving in this capacity as he is very knowledgeable about the unique aspects of operating our vibrant community,” said Ohlin. “Don and I have a history of working well together, and I look forward to our continued, positive working relationship.”

 

Popeyes’ CEO receives Cecil B. Day Ethics Award
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Cheryl Bachelder, CEO of Popeyes Louisiana
Kitchen, at center, holds the 2016 Cecil B.
Day Ethics Award.

Cheryl Bachelder, CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, was awarded the 2016 Cecil B. Day Ethics Award before several hundred gathered for the company’s annual corporate kickoff in Atlanta on Jan. 19. Presenting the award were Robert Brymer, the Dedman School’s Cecil B. Day Professor of Lodging Management, and sons of the late Cecil B. Day, Clint and Peyton Day.

Each year, the Dedman School of Hospitality confers the award upon a highly successful hospitality industry leader who is recognized for ethical leadership. The award was established in 2007 by Day’s son, Clint, a 1982 Florida State graduate, in conjunction with his family, the university and the National Restaurant Association. It honors the memory of Day, whose success building the Days Inn chain reflects his faith-based values that led him to treat everyone with dignity and respect.

After years of declining sales and stock prices, Popeyes appointed Bachelder as CEO in 2007. Relations between the company and its franchise owners were strained at the time. By 2014, Bachelder had, by all accounts, led a remarkable turnaround of the company resulting in industry-leading performance for franchise owners and shareholders. In her book, “Dare to Serve: How to Drive Superior Results by Serving Others,” Bachelder takes readers through the transformation of Popeyes and promotes servant leadership as a path to superior performance.

“By creating a workplace where everyone is treated with respect while challenging them to perform with excellence, Cheryl Bachelder shares the values exemplified by the late Cecil B. Day,” said Brymer.

Past recipients of the Cecil B. Day Award include Robert B. Rowling, TRT Holdings, Inc.; Joel Manby, Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation; Eric Affeldt, ClubCorp; J.W. “Bill” Marriott Jr., Marriott International Inc.; Richard Rivera, Real Mex Restaurants Inc.; Michael Kaufman, National Restaurant Association; Horst Schulze, Capella Hotel Group; Craig Miller, SONIC Drive-in; and Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A Inc.

 

Smokehouse’s Rivers supports school and students
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            At left, John Rivers.

Restaurateur John Rivers, owner and head chef of 4 Rivers Smokehouse, and his wife, Monica, have committed $105,000 to create the John and Monica Rivers 4 Rivers Dedman School of Hospitality Endowed Scholarship. An annual $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a degree-seeking Dedman undergraduate student with “proven leadership characteristics and a servant’s heart” based on financial need. Rivers is a 1989 marketing graduate and serves on the college’s Board of Governors. Learn more about John Rivers here.

 

 
35 interns experience the 2016 Masters Tournament

While the world’s greatest professional golfers were teeing off at Augusta National for the 2016 Masters Tournament, 35 Florida State students were behind the scenes sharing in the excitement. They were interns hand-picked for key positions by Augusta National executives at an invitation-only event hosted by Dedman’s Global Club Management program earlier this semester. The substantial number of interns hired this year reflects the growth of a long-standing relationship between Augusta National and the school as past interns have proven themselves and benefited from the experience.

 

Seminole Tribe hosts student Hard Rock Casino tour
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     At the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida hosted 28 hospitality majors from Dr. Nathan Line’s Integrated Marketing for Hospitality class on a two-day familiarization tour of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. On the first day, students enjoyed a networking reception held at Kuro, the casino’s innovative, new-style Japanese restaurant. The second day included presentations by both property- and corporate-level executives and a behind-the-scenes tour of operations, food and beverage, and special events departments. “The trip was a great success,” said Line, an assistant professor. “Our students represented us with the utmost of professionalism. Several executives expressed how impressed they were with our group—from their overall poise to the quality and insight of their questions.”

 

Alumni Spotlight: Andrew Rubinacci, Class of ’91
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       Andrew and Marybeth Rubinacci

Andrew Rubinacci, who graduated from Florida State University in 1991 with degrees in hospitality administration and marketing, recently funded the Andrew and Marybeth Rubinacci Dedman School of Hospitality Director's Office in Legacy Hall. His wife, Marybeth, is a 1993 Florida State graduate, who majored in speech pathology. Rubinacci is senior vice president of Distribution Marketing & Revenue Management for InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), where he is responsible for all revenue management, third party Internet and global distribution systems for their family of brands.

We asked the 25-year veteran of the hospitality industry, with extensive experience in sales, revenue management, guest services, hotel operations and e-commerce, about their generous gift and experience at Florida State University.

Q. Why did you and Marybeth create the Andrew and Marybeth Rubinacci Dedman School of Hospitality Director's Office?
A. Florida State University has been a major part of our lives. In fact, it is where Marybeth and I met. We owe so much to the university that we felt it was right to give back.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your investment in the legacy of the Dedman School and the College of Business?
A. It is rewarding to know this gift will be used to develop the business leaders of tomorrow.

Q. What was your first job after graduation?
A. I was accepted into a management training program with Holiday Inn Worldwide. It was the first step in my career in the hotel industry.

Q. How did your education at the College of Business help prepare you for your career?
A. Florida State’s hospitality program gave me a strong foundation in hospitality and business that accelerated my career. Something that one of my teachers, either Ashby Stiff or Bob Brymer, said about the value of hospitality to people has always grounded me: In the hotel industry, people spend some of their most memorable times with you. It might be at a wedding, a honeymoon, a vacation or just on a road trip with friends. These are the events in life that people live for and will always remember. As an hotelier, you can make those memories truly special.

Q. Why did you choose your profession?
A. I had to do a report as a junior in high school on “What do you want to be?” and hotel manager caught my interest. After that, it was looking at the best hospitality schools in the nation, and Florida State ranked very high. It was a natural fit.

Q. What is/was your ultimate career goal?
A. I want to do something that makes an impact on the industry. I have that in my current role, but I am by no means done with learning and growing.

Q. Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
A. Not much, but I do wish I had completed an MBA. I believe it would have accelerated my career.

Q. What is the best part of your job?
A. I get to work with people from all over the world, learn new cultures and work on really challenging issues that impact my company and the hotel industry.

Q. What do you consider your greatest accomplishments?
A. My sons, Nic and Drew. No matter how much success you have in other areas of your life, watching your children learn and grow into great people is extremely rewarding.

Q. What did you learn in college that has helped you to succeed?
A. Get involved, listen and understand, be a part of the solution, work hard and see things through. This works in school, work, family and life, in general.

Q. What advice do you have for COB students interested in your field?
A. Hospitality is a fantastic industry and I would highly recommend it. Hotels are dynamic, ever-changing, a ton of hard work and a lot of fun. You can’t go wrong in pursuing this career.

Q. Anything else you would like to say?
A. Go Noles!