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as Johnson & Wales University’s Tiefel Chair |
| PROVIDENCE, R.I. (January 19, 2005) -- Michael Leven,
president and chief executive officer of U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc.
(USFS), returned to the Johnson & Wales University Providence
Campus in December to cap off his year as The Hospitality College’s
first Tiefel Professorial Chair. Leven spoke to a select group of
students majoring in Hotel Management and other related disciplines
during a presentation, taped for distribution, entitled “Inside
Hospitality Leadership: A Conversation with Michael Leven.” “The presentation is the first in a series of interactive discussions exploring leadership strategies through the eyes and experiences of the country’s leading names in the hospitality field,” said Richard Brush, dean of The Hospitality College, Providence Campus. During the production, Brush and Tarun Malik, vice president and dean of Academic Affairs, Charlotte Campus, interviewed Leven about his career and what he’s learned along the way – in a fashion very similar to the well-known “Inside the Actor’s Studio” hosted by James Lipton. When asked what makes a person successful, Leven replied: “At the end of the day, you need to look at yourself and be proud of what you’ve done. Your net worth isn’t the end score. Not everyone has the opportunity to do great things, but what counts is who and what you’ve impacted.” The session concluded with questions from the students. When asked if the leadership skills he learned were the same that were needed today, Leven responded: “There are more technical demands and more cultural sensitivities that are needed today. You need to know more about people and places, but in terms of the skills of leadership – they’re the same today as they were when I was starting out.” “I know that the University’s Hospitality students have benefited over the last year from Mike’s campus appearances,” said Brush. “His dedication to the future leaders of the industry has made the inaugural year of the Tiefel Professorial Chair a successful one.” USFS is the parent company of the franchisor of the Microtel Inns & Suites brand, the Hawthorn Suites brand, and the America’s Best Inns & Suites brand. Before founding USFS, Leven was president and chief operating officer of Holiday Inn Worldwide, and has also been president of Days Inn of America. Noted for his trend-setting work in hotel franchising, his philosophy has long been “The Franchisee Is Our Customer”, and his personal guarantee of fairness, honesty and support is the backbone of the business. For more information, visit www.usfsi.com. In October 2003, the University dedicated its first professorial chair to Bill Tiefel, vice chairman retired, Marriott International Inc., and chairman emeritus of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, with an investiture ceremony last fall. About Johnson & Wales University Johnson & Wales — America’s Career University® – was founded in 1914. It is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, food service, education, hospitality and technology. Preparing students for successful careers is the cornerstone of the University’s educational philosophy. A benchmark of the University has been its 27 consecutive year employment record - within 60 days of graduation, 98 percent of its students from the 50 states have jobs in their chosen career field. With an enrollment of more than 16,000 students, Johnson & Wales maintains campuses in Providence, R.I., Charleston, S.C., Norfolk, Va., North Miami, Fla., and Denver, Colo. In September 2004, it opened its newest campus in Charlotte, N.C. For more information about Johnson & Wales University, visit www.jwu.edu. |
| Contact: Jodi Hoatson Assistant Director of Public Relations Telephone: 401-598-1848 Email: [email protected] or Miriam Weinstein Director of Public Relations Telephone: 401-598-1157 Email: miriam.[email protected]. |