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Hospitality Week Burtenshaw Lecture

Burtenshaw Lecture

2024

Thursday, February 29, 2024
1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
CUB Auditorium/Zoom

A Conversation with Howard Wright

Speaker:


Howard Wright
Chair & Founder
Seattle Hospitality Group, LLC

Howard Wright (’76), an entrepreneur and business executive, is the founder and chairman of Seattle Hospitality Group, a company he founded in 2002 that holds interests in best-of-class management, hospitality, tourism, and transportation companies in the Pacific Northwest. He is a board member of several closely-held tourism and hospitality ownership groups with high profile properties and businesses in the PNW. Wright is deeply involved in the region’s business, arts, and education issues and has held leadership positions with many local and international organizations, including the WSU Board of Governors, the boards of the Amigos de las Américas Foundation, the Seattle Symphony Foundation, Intiman Theatre, Vermont Academy, the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington, and The Children’s Discovery Foundation. Wright also has led successful campaigns for PATH, Amigos de las Américas Foundation, and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Wright earned his bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies and Spanish from WSU. He also completed the Harvard owner/president management business program in 2001.


Previous Event Videos

2023

 

2022 Event

2021 Event

Past Burtenshaw Lecturers

YEARSPEAKER
2023

Navin C. Dimond
Founder & CEO
Stonebridge Companies

2022

Sarah Phelps
Director of Astronaut and Customer Experience
Blue Origin

2021

Chad Mackay,
CEO,
Fire & Vine Hospitality

2020

Jan Hazelton,
VP of Development – Europe and the Americas,
Kerzner International

2019

Bob Donegan,
President,
Ivar's

2018

Joe Berger,
Executive Vice President and President,
Americas for Hilton

2017

John Ascuaga
Former Owner, Emeritus Chairman,
Nugget Hotel-Casino


Stan BoydOwner/Winemaker,
Boyd Family Vineyards


Chris Burdett
Senior Vice President,
CBRE Hotels


Jerry Burtenshaw
Chairman,
ABC Services


Dwight Call
President, retired,
Westin Hotels and Resorts


Larry Culver
Chairman and Ceo, retired,
Inn Ventures Inc.


Tom Drumheller
Chief Executive Officer,
Escape Lodging


Jerry Jaeger
President,
Hagadone Hospitality Corporation


Craig Schafer
Owner,

2016

Dave Furano,
Co-Founder,
Rock & Brews


Michael Zislis
Owner,
Brewco

2015

Rob Steigerwald
Chief Operations Officer,
The Americas–Western Region Marriott International, Inc.

2014

Rick Ellingson
Vice President & Owner,
Bargreen Ellingson

Spring 2013

Stein Kruse
Leadership Lessons from the Sea,
President & CEO, Holland America Line,
Chairman, Seabourn

Spring 2012

Andrew Cherng
The Panda Story: A Conversation with Andrew Cherng,
Founder, Chairman, and Co-CEO,
Panda Restaurant Group

Spring 2011

Joe Fugere
Do What You Love,
Founder, Tutta Bella Neopolitan Pizzeria

Spring 2010

Stan Boyd
From Water to Wine,
Vintner, Boyd Family Vineyards

Fall 2009

Carla J. Murray
Hope is Not a Business Strategy,
Senior Vice President Operations,
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc

Fall 2008

Clarice Turner
Powerful Leadership is Not about the Power,
President & COO, Papa Murphy’s International, Inc

Fall 2007

W. Terry Umbreit
Lessons from a Journey,
Taco Bell Distinguished Professor Director,
School of Hospitality Business Management – WSU

Spring 2007

Jim Treadway
Life, Lodging, Luxury and WWF,
CEO, MTM Luxury Lodging

Fall 2005

Niki Leondakis
Corporate Social Responsibility: Maximizing the Benefits of Your Company and Community,
CEO, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurant Group, Inc

Fall 2004

Joseph P. Micatrotto
Can You Be Both a Leader and an Entrepreneur?,
Chairman, President, CEO,
Micatrotto Ventures, Inc

Fall 2003

Gerry Fernandez
The Business Case for Diversity,
Founder and President, The Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance (MFHA)

Fall 2002

Cheryl Bachelder
You Gotta Be a Maniac! Success Criteria for the Hospitality Industry,
President & Chief Concept Officer, KFC Corporation

Fall 2001

Dennis Koci
A Comprehensive Approach to Creating Value for All Constituents,
Senior Vice President Operations Support,Hilton Hotels


Fall 2000

Robert C. Hazard, Jr
As I See It…Tomorrow’s Travel Industry,
Chairman, The Creative Hotel Associates, LLC


Spring 2000

Laurence Mindel
A View from a Barstool,
Chairman of the Board Il Fornaio Corporation

Fall 1999


William McCormick
Chasing the Rabbit: The Baby Boomer,
Chairman,
McCormick & Schmick Management Group


Spring 1999


Gerard Centioli
In the Footsteps of Legends,
President & CEO, Emerging Concepts Division,
Brinker International, Inc


Fall 1998


William P. Fisher
Creating Creativity Creatively,
President & CEO, Emerging Concepts Division
American Hotel & Motel Association


Spring 1998


Todd Clist
Dealing with Change in the Lodging Environment,
President,
Marriott Lodging North America


Fall 1997


Roz Mallet
Soft Skills Aren’t Soft Anymore,
Vice President for Human Resources and Operations Services,
Friday’s Hospitality Worldwide, Inc


Spring 1997


Wallace B. Doolin
American Food Service–A Global Perspective,
President & CEO,
Friday’s Hospitality Worldwide, Inc


Fall 1996


Deidra Wager
Starbucks Coffee, Creating the ‘Third Place’,
Senior Vice President, Retail Operations
Starbucks Coffee Company


Spring 1996


Juergen Bartels
The New Global Consumer,
Chairman & CEO,
Westin Hotels & Resorts


Fall 1995


Richard Rivera
Being and Doing ¾ Leadership Priorities for the 90’s,
President & CEO,
Longhorn Steaks, Inc


Spring 1995


Gretchen Mathers
Never Confuse a Memo with Reality,
Operating Partner,
Gretchen’s of Schwartz


Fall 1994


Ron McDougall
Challenges of the Future,
President & COO,
Brinker International


Spring 1994


Ron Magruder
Customers Don’t Want to Break Even; They Want a Profit Too!,
President,
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant


Fall 1993


John Norlander
Radisson’s Blueprint for the Year 2000,
President,
Radisson Hotel Corporation


Spring 1993


Jackie Trujillo
Where Will My Strengths and Weaknesses Lead Me?,
Executive Vice Chairman & President of Operations,
Harman Management Corporation


Fall 1992


Norm Doerges
We Create Happiness,
Executive Vice President,
Disneyland


Spring 1992


Robert I. Small
It's your Choice,
President & CEO


Fall 1991


Michael A. Leven
If It Ain’t Broke — Now is the Time to Fix It,
President, Franchise Hotel Division,
Holiday Inn Worldwide


Spring 1991


Jerry Best
The Hospitality Industry in the 90’s: The Pace Changes,
President & CEO,
Red Lion Hotels & Inns


Fall 1990


Michael Hurst
Food for Thought,
President,
National Restaurant Association


Spring 1990


Richard Komen
Upscale Restauranting in the 90’s,
Chairman,
Restaurants Unlimited, Inc


Fall 1989


Patricia Swinton
A World of Opportunity,
General Manager,
The Westin Hotel, Edmonton


Spring 1989


Herman Cain
Success Is a Journey,
President & CEO,
Godfather's Pizza, Inc


Fall 1988


Mitchel E. Rhoads
Meeting the Challenges of the Service Sector,
Executive Vice President, Western Division,
Burger King Corporation


Spring 1988


Jack P. DeBoer
Success is Seldom Permanent. Neither is Failure.,
Chairman of the Board,
Neighborhood Inn Corporation


Fall 1987


Richard E. Marriott
A Tradition of Success,
Vice Chairman of the Board,
Marriott Corporation


Spring 1987


John E. Martin
You Snooze, You Lose!,
President,
Taco Bell Corporation


Fall 1986


John J. Ascuaga
A Recipe for Success,
Owner,
John Ascuaga's Nugget


Spring 1986


William N. Hulett
A Bright Future for the Best,
President,
Stouffer Hotel Co.


Fall 1985


Don N. Smith
Franchising in the Restaurant Business,
Chief Executive Officer,
SES Management


Spring 1985


James A. Collins
Food Service: Where Have We Been, Where Are We Going?,
CEO/Chairman of the Board,
Collins Foods International, Inc


Fall 1984


M. Eugene Stone
Your Future in the Hospitality Industry: Where Do You Go From Here, What Can You Expect, and Have You Considered Your Options?,
President & CEO,
Skipper’s, Inc


Spring 1984


William H. Edwards
Tourism is Everybody’s Business,
President,
Hilton Hotels Division


Fall 1983


L.W. “Bill” Lane Jr.
Tourism Has Earned A Better Image,
Chairman of the Board,
Lane Publishing Company


Spring 1983


Walter W. Ashcraft
Human Resources Management: The Missing Link,
Director of Human Resources,
National Restaurant Association


Fall 1982


Victor Rosellini
A Profile of the Food Service Industry,
Chief Executive Officer,
Rosellini’s 410 and Other Place.



Harry L. Mullikin
The Management Triangle,
Chief Executive Officer,
Westin Hotels


Fall 1981


Charles A. Lynch
Strategic Planning at SAGA Corporation,
Chief Executive Officer
SAGA Corporation



Patrick Foley
The Future of the Hotel Industry,
President,
Hyatt Hotels



Edward E. Carlson
The Service Industry in a Free Enterprise System,
Chairman,
United Airlines, Inc


The Burtenshaw Distinguished Lecture Series is sponsored by alumnus DeVere Jerry and Angelina Burtenshaw in memory of their son, Calvin Brett.

The lecture is presented annually by the WSU School of Hospitality Business Management.


Questions?

The School of Hospitality Business Management
509-335-5766
shbm@wsu.edu

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