USF School of Hotel and Restaurant Management hosts Applebee’s Chairman of the Board as keynote speaker for the second annual Linda Novey-White lecture series

 

SARASOTA, FL (February 22, 2007) – On Wednesday, March 7 at 4 p.m. the USF School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at USF Sarasota-Manatee, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) and the Hyatt Sarasota will host Chairman of the Board of Applebee’s International, Inc., Mr. Lloyd L. Hill, as the keynote speaker of the second annual Linda Novey-White Memorial Lectureship.

 

The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature a 45 minute lecture and a 15 minute question and answer session, and will be held at the Hyatt Sarasota at 1000 Boulevard of the Arts.  The lecture is entitled “The Leadership Imperative.”

 

“It is an honor to speak to students and members of the hospitality industry,” said Hill.  “During my years in the restaurant industry and in the health care field, I saw many examples of good leadership, bad leadership and no leadership. I’m looking forward to sharing what I’ve learned about the common keys to being a successful leader in any business.”

 

Under Mr. Hill’s leadership, Applebee’s grew into the largest casual dining concept in the world, with more than 1,900 restaurants in 49 states and 17 countries.  In 2005, Hill was named by Institutional Investor magazine as one of America’s Best CEOs and as one of the top-performing CEOs within the restaurant industry.  He also was named 2005 Operator of the Year by the operators/readers of Nation’s Restaurant News.  In 2006, Applebee’s International, Inc. was named “Most Shareholder Friendly” by Institutional Investor magazine.

“Mr. Hill is an honored participant in our lecture series,” said Dr. Jay Schrock, Director and Associate Professor of the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at USF Sarasota-Manatee.  “Our students have the opportunity to learn a great deal from someone so highly regarded in the hospitality industry.

The Linda Novey-White Memorial Lectureship Series recognizes and honors the outstanding contributions that Ms. Novey-White made to the hospitality industry.  The lectureship series endowment funds annual lectures, featuring keynote speakers known for their experience and leadership in the advancement of best practices and customer service in the hospitality industry.

“The hospitality industry is proud to sponsor such a leader within the restaurant community,” said Carol B. Dover, president and CEO of the FRLA.  “It is an honor to welcome someone who has led this company to the top of its industry.”

The event is organized by the USF School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. That department’s mission is to provide excellence in teaching, research and service to all persons and to build foundations for lifelong learning. The School of Hotel and Restaurant Management prepares individuals for industry management and leadership roles in a global economy and interfaces with stakeholders to deliver hospitality professionals that add to the financial, intellectual, environmental, ethical and social growth of Florida and the Nation.

Space is limited at this event.  To reserve your seat, contact Pam Gleason at 941-359-4602 or pgleason@sar.usf.edu.

 

USF Sarasota-Manatee is an upper-level campus for those with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree who are interested in getting a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification, or continuing education credit. The regional USF campus offers the prestige of a national Research 1 university with the convenience of a hometown campus, including classes in south Sarasota County at our Manatee Community College Venice site.