Welcome to the new Society of Hosts Website!
Alumni and Friends of the Dedman School of Hospitality
Welcome to the new and improved Society of Hosts alumni organization! This new site will allow better two-way communication with you, as well as provide connections to Facebook and Linked-In. This new format will allow us to manage our membership, provide newsletters, manage event registration, and much more.
While these are great things for the organization, it also provides some great things for our alumni. With the introduction of this new interactive web site, we bring you a new social and professional networking tool long absent for our Dedman School alumni. Use it to keep us informed of changes in your career and life. Use it to find friends from over the years. Post career opportunities and career aspirations. Rant! Rave! Resolve or Revolt!
Interact, encourage one another, and build a great community on-line to support the Dedman School. Sign up, sign on, and use this new, powerful tool to make the world smaller, and bring us together as members through our mutual devotion to Florida State University and the Dedman School of Hospitality.
Go Noles!
Chris Burr, '82
2009 Society of Hosts Alumnus of the Year
David L. Gilbert
Chief Operating Officer, National Restaurant Association
Executive Director, National Restaurant Association Solutions
Each year, the Society of Host Alumni Association Board and the Faculty of the Dedman School of Hospitality, select an individual that has made notable contributions to our school, our industry, and their company. This individual has served as a role model for our students and alumni by their behavior and accomplishments since graduation. This year, David Gilbert, Class of 1978, has been chosen as the alumnus who best exemplifies these qualities. “We are very proud to have David Gilbert named as Dedman School of Hospitality Alumnus of the Year 2009” states Dr. Jane Ohlin, Director of the Dedman School of Hospitality. “David was always recognized as one who had tremendous potential and so it is no surprise to those who remember him from his days as a student here at Florida State, that he flourished in his career and achieved the position of COO at the National Restaurant Association. For those of us associated with the Dedman School, it is an honor to have him serving in this role. We look forward to our relationship continuing into the future for many years to come.”
David Gilbert is the chief operating officer for the National Restaurant Association, the industry’s largest and most respected trade organization. In this position, he oversees the Association’s membership, technology and NRA Show teams. Additionally, he is Executive Director of National Restaurant Association Solutions, the Association’s wholly owned products and services subsidiary that produces ServSafe, the restaurant industry’s leading food safety training and certification program; ServSafe Alcohol, the industry’s trusted responsible alcohol service program; ManageFirst, the Association’s collegiate restaurant and foodservice management program; and ProStart, the Association’s career-building program for high school students who are interested in culinary arts and foodservice management.
As COO, Gilbert is focused on guiding the organization as it continues to provide and develop valuable products, services and benefits to help the Association’s members – the cornerstones of their communities – build customer loyalty, rewarding careers and financial success.
Prior to joining the NRA, Gilbert was a restaurant industry consultant for several years and previously served as the Chief Administrative Officer with Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBOCS) for five years. During his tenure at Cracker Barrel, Gilbert’s responsibilities included operational innovation, marketing, retail planning, retail and restaurant distribution, supply chain, purchasing, risk management, real estate development, construction, technology, strategic planning, business analysis, HR (OD, compensation, benefits), and financial planning on behalf of the 540-unit Company with approximately $2.3 billion in restaurant and retail sales.
Before joining CBOCS in 2001, he was EVP and CAO with Shoney's, Inc. where he was responsible for the shared support services for Shoney’s, Captain D’s, Pargo’s and their distribution Company, COI. The support services included legal, human resources (compensation and benefits), risk management, real estate, brand development, asset management and travel. He was responsible for divesting 389 restaurant properties exceeding $149M in proceeds.
Gilbert previously held positions as executive director of development with Applebee's; director of development and purchasing with Rio Bravo (purchased by Applebee's International); VP of real estate with Restaurant Systems Inc. (RSI) and a management company operating 96 Wendy's restaurants. Prior to these executive administrative positions, Mr. Gilbert spent five-years as a multi-unit restaurant operator.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Administration from Florida State University, and is married with three children.
David will receive his award at the Society of Hosts Annual Reunion at the Hotel Duval on October 9, 2009. He will also be recognized for his achievement at the College of Business Leadership Dinner on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at the University Center Club.
Congratulatory Message for David Gilbert.doc