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Johnson & Wales University Dedicates First Professorial Chair
to Bill Tiefel, Vice Chairman Retired, Marriott International and Chairman Emeritus of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
PROVIDENCE, R.I. � November 11, 2003 � Johnson & Wales 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 on October 22.

The chair will be part of The Hospitality College; Michael Leven, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Franchise Systems, franchisor of the Microtel Inns & Suites brand and the Hawthorn Suites brand, will be the first industry expert to occupy it and assist in the education of the students in the hospitality area.

�Throughout his tenure in the hospitality industry, Bill Tiefel has devoted himself tirelessly to hospitality education and to the young people who will fill leadership roles in the future,� said Dr. John A. Yena, University president. �Today, he brings this dedication to a whole new level � one that will ensure that hundreds of hospitality students will reap the benefits of his generosity in the coming years.�
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Johnson & Wales University dedicated its first professorial chair at a
ceremony in Providence, R.I. (l to r) Dr. John J. Bowen, president of the
Providence Campus; Michael Leven, president and chief executive officer
of U.S. Franchise Systems; Bill Tiefel, vice chairman retired, Marriott
International Inc., and chairman emeritus of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company;
and Dr. John A. Yena, University president. 
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Tiefel joined Marriott in 1961 as sales manager at the Key Bridge Marriott and was later named general manager. In 1971, he was appointed regional vice president and supervised various locations in the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, Mexico and South America. He was named executive vice president in 1980 and president of Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites in 1988. In 1992, Tiefel was named president of Marriott Lodging with overall responsibility for the company�s lodging brands. He has earned numerous awards, including an honorary doctorate in 1998 from Johnson & Wales. Tiefel also sits on the board of trustees for the University.

�Johnson & Wales is close to my heart,� said Tiefel. �I like the kind of students who come here, I like what you do here, and I like the kind of employees that come out of here. I�m a big believer that Johnson & Wales has a great future. There�s a wide open field out there, and I hope that the work we do with this chair will bring more recognition to Johnson & Wales and what they do.�

The chair also brings with it the Tiefel Lecture Series, an annual panel of seasoned professionals who will come together to speak to students on industry topics.

"To be chosen by the University and Bill for this honor is humbling and challenging," said Leven, the first industry expert to occupy the chair and also an honorary doctorate recipient from Johnson & Wales. "I look forward with great anticipation to executing their vision." In his previous position as president and chief operating officer of Holiday Inn Worldwide, Leven pioneered their highly successful Holiday Inn Express concept. From 1985 to 1990, he was president of Days Inn of America. He co-founded the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) which now has over 7,000 members, and has lectured at most of the hotel schools in the United States. Leven's career spans 42 years in the hotel industry.

Dick Brush, dean of The Hospitality College, said �The programs and student opportunities that will grow out of the Tiefel chair initiative will advance significantly our students� careers and ultimately The Hospitality College.�

Johnson & Wales � America�s Career University® � was founded in 1914. It is a private, non-profit, accredited institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, food service, hospitality and technology. With an enrollment of more than 15,000 students, Johnson & Wales is based in Providence, R.I., and maintains campuses in Charleston, S.C., Norfolk, Va., North Miami, Fla., Denver, Colo., and Göteborg, Sweden, with plans to open a new campus in Charlotte, N.C. in 2004. 


 
Contact:
Johnson & Wales University
Jodi Hoatson
401-598-1848
[email protected]
www.jwu.edu

 
Also See: Marriott International and Bulgari SpA to Launch New Luxury Hotel Brand, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts; William R. Tiefel Will Head the New Luxury Group / Feb 2001


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