The Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration of Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business celebrated its 50th anniversary at a gala and awards celebration on October 26.
More than 325 hospitality alumni, donors, and industry partners attended. The program celebrated leaders in hotels and lodging, club management, event management, foodservice, and travel/tourism. Georgia State President M. Brian Blake opened the evening with a message of congratulations on 50 years of excellence, and Robinson College Dean Richard Phillips concluded the evening with a toast to 2073 when the School of Hospitality will celebrate its centennial.
Among the honorees were Georgia leaders in restaurants and private club management. Karen Bremer, CAE was honored for 50 years of service to the restaurant industry and her upcoming retirement as president and CEO of the Georgia Restaurant Association in January 2024. The School of Hospitality announced a new position, the Karen Bremer Executive-in-Residence for Hospitality Leadership, in her honor
G. Mead Grady, CCM was honored for his 56 years of service to the club management profession. The School of Hospitality plans to name a dedicated space in his honor in the coming year.
Honorary School of Hospitality alumni named included Jim Sprouse, executive director of the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, and Wassim Takriti (EMBA ’22), regional vice president of dining operations for Paradies Lagardère. Additional awards were given for honorary hospitality faculty, hospitality service, hospitality impact, and rising leaders in hospitality.
History of the School of Hospitality
Georgia State’s first hospitality students enrolled during the summer of 1973 in the College of General Studies for a two-year associate of science degree. On May 11, 1988, the program was renamed the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration in recognition of a generous gift from Georgia State alumna Deen Day…
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