Executive-In-Residence
About The Executive-In-Residence Program
The Howard Johnson Executive-in-Residence Program was established in the fall of 2016 and is supported by William H. Weeks in tandem with the Howard Johnson Foundation. The Executive-in-Residence program allows the School of Hospitality Administration to host industry executives and leaders, where they can share their expertise with students and faculty via lectures, workshops, mentorship, and elective courses.
The program is graciously supported by a gift from William H. Weeks in concert with the Howard Johnson Foundation. William H. Weeks’ gift is made in honor of his grandfather Howard D. Johnson, Boston-native and founder of the American restaurant and motel chain Howard Johnson’s. Johnson is most accredited with founding the concept of restaurant franchising in the late 1920s. By 1965, the Howard Johnson brand included 770 restaurants and 265 motels.
Spring 2022 - Wolfram Schaefer, Board Member
We are delighted to welcome as an Executive-in-Residence, Advisory Board member Wolfram Schaefer, who previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Avendra. During this residency, Mr. Schaefer will share his expertise as a guest lecturer in classes, in one-on-one career development mentorship sessions with our undergraduate and graduate students, and will cap off the week by attending our annual signature and highly anticipated Hospitality Leadership Summit at the Hotel Commonwealth on Friday.
Spring 2022 - Patti Simpson, Union Square Hospitality Group
The Executive-in-Residence program stems and continues to grow through a long-term engagement with exemplary companies and leaders in the hospitality industry.
Executive-in-Residence – Spring 2022, Patti Simpson, Chief People Officer of Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG)
February 17 and 18, 2022
Objectives of Residency:
- Share insights and information in a variety of forums to engage in a personal and substantive way with undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty.
- Career Opportunities: Abe Monzon, Director of Talent, and Erin Cotterell, Director of Training lead an Information Session on Thursday, February 17. Following this session, students will be able to learn about and interview for current job opportunities including summer internship openings with on-the-spot, one-on-one interviews with the “Talent” team.
- Academic Engagement: Patti will participate in interactive discussions in Human Resource Management and Hospitality Law classes.
- Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series on Friday, February 18 at 11 am in SHA’s auditorium with Patti Simpson along with USHG founding partner Richard Coraine, who will join in a live, recorded conversation in front of an audience of students, faculty, the wider hospitality community, and Hospitality schools at universities across the world.
About Union Square Hospitality Group
Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) has created some of New York’s most beloved restaurants, cafes, and bars. In addition to also founding Shake Shack, USHG offers operational consulting, runs a multifaceted catering and events business, Union Square Events, and a growth fund, Enlightened Hospitality Investments (EHI). This residency extends from an ongoing collaboration with USHG founder and CEO Danny Meyer, who was awarded the BU SHA ICON Award in 2021. The residency further delves into this award-winning company’s distinctive style of hospitality.
The ongoing partnership with USHG continues with a Masters student field experience at the NYC headquarters in March 2022.
For more information on the Executive-in-Residence program, please contact Leora Lanz, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs; Faculty Chair, MMH; Associate Professor of the Practice.
Fall 2021 - Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity Cruises
2019 - Asad Ahmed, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
2016 - Chef Jacques Pépin
