Florida International University - School of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Biography

Dr .West, served ten years as Dean, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and one year as Vice Provost, Biscayne Bay Campus of Florida International University. During his tenure as dean he co-founded the South Beach Wine and Food Festival and established a satellite campus in Tianjin, Peoples Republic of China – the first United States University to do so - which currently has an enrollment of over 1200 students. His entrepreneurial initiatives brought over $22 million to the school.   He also served as Chairman of the Department Hospitality Administration, College of Business, The Florida State University and Director, Hospitality Education Program, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, State of Florida. While at Florida State University he was instrumental in founding and developing the University Center Club in partnership with Club Corporation of America and the Seminole Boosters.  During his eight years of leadership, the Department of Hospitality Administration received the largest cash gift ever made to Florida State University to that time and raised over $18 million.

Possessing extensive managerial experience in the hospitality industry, he has served as Vice President of Operations, Spring Garden Grill and Bar (Greensboro, N.C.); General Manager, Franklin's Off Friendly (Greensboro, N.C.); General Manager, Colony House/Wine Cellar Restaurants (Charleston, S.C.); and, General Manager, Colony Caterers (Charleston, S.C.).

Serving over twenty-one years in the U. S. Navy, he rose from Seaman Recruit to Commander (selectee), Medical Service Corps.  He held many positions of responsibility, including tours of duty as Director of Dietary Services in three Naval Regional Medical Centers - two of which were teaching facilities. He has consulted for such varied organizations as the United Nations (strategic planning for tourism in emerging countries), the U. S. Army (morale and recreation facilities management), Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation (franchise operations), Barnett Bank, Inc. (foodservice facilities design and operation), and St. Augustine (Florida) Tourism Development Council (service employee development).

Professor  West has made many international, national and regional presentations, published numerous articles in leading industry and academic journals, including chapters in three books: Hospitality Management: An Introduction to the Industry; International Hospitality Management: Corporate Strategy in Practice; and Service Quality in Hospitality Organizations. He has co-authored a book, now in its 3rd edition, on competition and strategy in the hospitality industry published by Prentice Hall: Strategic Management in the Hospitality Industry.  In 2001 he was recognized as one of the most influential hospitality authors of the decade (1989 – 1999) by researchers at Michigan State University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  He has been listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers 2002 –2003 and 2003-2004.  In 2004 he was honored as the Educator of the Year by the Florida Hotel and Motel Association; in 2005, he was listed among “Florida Hospitality’s Most Influential People” by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association; and, in 2006 he was recognized by the South Florida Business Journal as a “Heavy Hitter in South Florida Education”.

Professor West is a member of the Board of Directors of Benihana, Incorporated as well as The Greater Miami CVB, the Greater Miami and The Beaches Hotel Association, the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and the Education Foundation of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. He is a member of the Industry Advisory Committee of the Division of Hotels and Restaurants, State of Florida. Professor West received his BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University, MS in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, and Ph.D. in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management from Virginia Polytechnic and State University. He has completed executive education in leadership development at the Kennedy School of Harvard University. He resides with his wife Liz in Hollywood, Florida.

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