Academics
Lecture Series
Previous Speakers at
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration
Spring 2007 Distinguished Speaker Series
- James Rooney, Executive Director, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
- Bjorn Hanson, Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Hospitality Practice
- Gregory Vickowski, EVP & CFO, Procaccianti Hotel Group
- Ryan Cole, Manager, Clio, SHA Alumnus
- Eli Feldman, Manager, No. 9 Park Street Restaurant, SHA Alumnus
- Andrew Holden, Manager, Eastern Standard Restaurant, SHA Alumnus
- Richard Colangelo, Director of Operations for Boston/Cambridge, Kimpton Hotel Group
- George Berkowitz, Founder and Chairman, Legal Sea Foods
- Stevan Porter , Chairman & CEO, USA InterContinental Hotels
- Harold Theran, Owner & Developer, Regency Boston Hotel and SHA Parent
- Jacqueline Sonnabend, EVP, Sonesta Hotels and Resorts
- Geoff Gardner, Executive Chef and Partner, Sel de la Terre Restaurant and SHA Alumnus
- David Marr, VP, Sales and Field Marketing, Starwood Hotels and Resorts
- Richard Ade, CFO and Executive Vice President, Ocean Properties and SHA Parent
- Josh Lesnick, Founder & CEO, imin.com (travel website) and former VP, Marketing, North American Division, Starwood Hotels and Resorts
Spring 2006 Distinguished Speaker Series
- Tim Kirwan, General Manager and Vice President, InterContinental Boston and ex-Managing Director, Hotel Commonwealth
- Rachel Roginsky, Principal, Pinnacle Advisory Group
- Pat Moscaritolo, President & CEO, Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Stephanie Gerken, Director of Operations, Finale Desserts
- Ronald Shaih, CEO, Panera Bread Company
- Jim Apteker, Owner, State Room, SHA Alumnus
- Jeffrey Selden, Director, Food & Beverage, New York Palace Hotel, SHA Alumnus
- Paul Pinto , Corporate Director of Labor Relations, Omni Hotels, SHA Alumnus
- Ted Ratcliffe, SVP – Operations East, Hilton Hotels
- Simon Cooper, President & COO, Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
- John Shigley , CFO, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas
- Larry Broughton, President, Broughton Hospitality (Boutique Hotel Company)
Spring 2005 Distinguished Speaker Series
- Bjorn Hanson, Global Hospitality Industry Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers
- James Rooney, Executive Director, Massachusetts Convention & Exhibition Center
- Timothy Kirwan, General Manager, Commonwealth Hotel
- Paul MacPhail, President & COO, Uno Restaurant Holdings
- Keith Clancy, Executive Recruiter, Houston’s Restaurants
- Gary Leopold, President & CEO, ISM Strategic Marketing
- Skip Sack, Major Stockholder, Applebee’s Restaurants; Owner, Several Irish Pubs
- Edwin Fuller, President and Managing Director, Marriott Lodging International
- Jan Shrem, Proprietor, Clos Pegase Wine Company
- Fred Kleisner, Chairman, President & CEO, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
- Michael Leven, President & CEO, US Franchising Systems, Inc.
- Gary Loveman, Chairman & CEO, Harrah’s
Spring 2004 Distinguished Speaker Series
- James Rooney, Executive Director, Mass. Convention Center Authority
- Rachel Roginsky,Managing Principal, Pinnacle Advisory Group
- George Poll, Owner, Bryant & Cooper Steak House, SHA Alumnus
- George Berkowitz, Chairman, Legal Sea Foods
- Denise Coll, Chief Operating Officer, World Trade Center & Seaport Hotel
- John Murtha, General Manager, Cambridge Royal Sonesta Hotel
- Bill McCormick, Owner, McCormick & Schmick Restaurants
- Jim Apteker, Owner, Veronique and Bay Tower Restaurants, SHA Alumnus
- Jeffrey Selden, Director, Food & Beverage, New York Palace Hotel, SHA Alumnus
- David Keamy, Area Director of Marketing, Ritz-Carlton Hotels of Boston
- Harold Theran, Developer, Regent Hotel, Battery Wharf - Boston, SHA parent
- Josh Lesnick, Vice President, Marketing, North America Division, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
- Douglas Geoga, President, Hyatt Hotel Corporation
Spring 2003 Distinguished Speaker Series
Theme of Series: Hospitality Industry: Emerging From Difficult Times
- Timothy Kirwan, Managing Director, The Hotel Commonwealth
- Thomas Engel, Chairman & CEO, T.R. Engel Group, Inc.
- Lydia Shire, Owner & Chef, Locke-Ober Restaurant
- Jeffrey Saunders, President & CEO, Saunders Hotels Group
- Bjorn Hanson, Managing Partner, Pricewaterhouse Coopers Hospitality Practice
- Karen Waltuck, Owner & Chef, Chanterelle and LeZinc Restaurants
- William McCormick, Owner, McCormick & Schmick Restaurants
- Richard Bartell, Owner, Seven San Diego Hotels
- Michael Leven, Chairman & CEO, U.S. Franchising Systems
- Wolf Hengst, President, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
- Edwin Fuller, President & Managing Director, Marriott Lodging - International
Spring 2002 Distinguished Speaker Series
Theme of Series: Theme of Series: Hospitality Management During Difficult Times
- Rachel Roginsky, Principal, Pinnacle Advisory Group
- Gloria Larson, Chairman, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
- Timothy Kirwan, Sy Mintz & Peter Nessen — Developers, Hotel Commonwealth
- Denise Coll, Chief Operating Officer, World Trade Center & Seaport Hotel, Boston
- Rick Kelleher, Ex-President, Promus and Doubletree Hotel Corporations
- Joe McInerney, President, American Hotel & Lodging Association
- George Berkowitz, Founder & Chairman, Legal Sea Foods
- Dave Keamy, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Rocco Dispirito, Owner, Union Pacific Restaurant, SHA Alumnus
- Richard Bartell, Owner, Bartell Hotels (both independent & franchised hotels)
- Bob Cotter, Chief Operating Officer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
- Carol Beggs, Vice President, Technology, Sonesta Hotels
- Javier Rosenberg, SHA Graduate & General Manager, Atlanta Swissotel
Spring 2001 Distinguished Speaker Series
- Robyn Brown, General Manager, Boston Four Seasons Hotel
- Susan Brush, Vice President, Westin Brand Manager, Starwood Hotels and Resorts
- Jon Cahill, President & CEO, planetbistro.com
- Keith Clancy, Executive Recruiter, Houston's Restaurants
- Roger Cline, Director, Hospitality Consulting Services Arthur Andersen
- Sid Feltenstein, Chairman & CEO, Yorkshire Global Restaurants
- Laurence Geller, Chairman & CEO, Strategic Hotel Capital Incorporated
- Tim Healy, CEO, planetbistro.com
- Dr. Robert Krim, Executive Director, Boston History Collaborative
- Jim Pilarsk, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Marriott International
- Armando Rodriguez, Director, Environmental Affairs - Disney
- John Russell, Chairman, American Hotel & Lodging Association
- Raxit Shah, President, Liberty Group of Companies
- George Vizar, Vice President, Food & Beverage, Hyatt Hotel Corporation
Spring 2000 Distinguished Speaker Series
- Richard Bartlett , President, Bart-Rich Enterprises (major Burger King licensee)
- George Berkowitz, Founder & Chairman, Legal Sea Foods, Inc.
- Robert Cumings, Partner, Cumings / McNulty
- Ira Goldklang, Vice President & Group Director, Strategic Marketing, Inc.
- Bjorn Hanson, Global Hospitality Industry Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Robert Huntington, Vice President, Strategic Planning, Allied Domecq
- Gloria Larson, Chair, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
- Charles Ledsinger, President & COO, Strategic Marketing, Inc.
- Michael Leven, President & CEO, US Franchising Systems
- Stephanie Seacord, Independent Consultant, Hospitality Public Relations
- Marc Shapiro, Director of Hospitality Services, Pinnacle One
- Gordon Stevenson, Chief Marketing Officer, Millennium Hotels and Resorts
- Bruce Wolff, Senior Vice President, Distribution, Sales & Marketing Marriott International
Spring 1999 Distinguished Speaker Series
- Hugh Andrews, President, International Hospitality Enterprise
- Jim Apteker, Owner, Veronique Restaurant, SHA Alumnus
- David Chag, General Manager, Country Club of Brookline, MA
- Denise Coll, Chief Operating Officer, World Trade Center Boston and Seaport Hotel
- Thomas Engel, President, T. R. Engel Group, LLC
- Edwin Fuller, President and Managing Director, Marriott Lodging - International
- Donald Landry, Vice Chairman & CEO, Sunburst Hospitality Corporation
- Gary Leopold, President & COO, Strategic Marketing, Inc.
- Stuart Meyerson, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Cambridge
- John Russell, Vice Chairman, Cendant Travel Division; President & CEO, RCI Global Operations
- “Skip” Sack, Former owner of Pub Ventures of New England & currently a major shareholder of Applebee’s International
- Robert Sage, President, Sage Hotel Corporation
- John Wilhelm, President, Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees International Union
Spring 1998 Distinguished Speaker Series
- Nicholas Athanasiou, Vice President, Arthur D. Little International
- George Berkowitz, Founder & Chairman, Legal Sea Foods, Inc.
- Thomas Engel, Executive Vice President, ERE Yarmouth & Head, Lodging & Leisure Group
- Laurence Geller, Chairman & CEO, Strategic Hotel Capital Incorporated
- Leslie Hogan, Vice President, Marketing, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Thomas Kershaw, Chairman, National Restaurant Association; Owner, Hampshire House and Bull & Finch Pub ("Cheers")
- Michael A. Leven, President & CEO, US Franchise Systems, Inc.
- Irma S. Mann, Founder, CEO & Chairman, Strategic Marketing Inc.
- Roderick McLeod, Senior Vice President – Marketing, Carnival Corporation
- Scott Miller, Executive Vice President, Hyatt Development Corporation
- Bruce A. Rogal, Co-Founder, Rogal Associates (now a division of McGettigan Partners)
- Marc Shapiro, Vice President - Facilities, Loews Hotels
- Jacqueline Sonnabend, Executive Vice President, Sonesta International Hotels
- Gordon Stevenson, President & CEO, Interactive Entertainment Limited