Hannah Yang ’18 was fortunate to speak with Gary Mendell ‘79, the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Shatterproof, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the stigma against addiction and helping those who suffer recover from it. Gary is also the founder of HEI Hotels and Resorts, a multi-billion dollar company that oversees a portfolio of 70 hotels.
Gary Mendell ’79
Can you tell us about your current day-to-day involvements with HEI Hotels and Resorts, as well as Shatterproof?
I still own HEI Hotels and Resorts, but I work full-time on Shatterproof.
You are an entrepreneur – having founded a hotel operator company as well as a non-profit. How did HEI first get started?
I was in the restaurant business when my brother Steve (SHA ’82) and I got together and saw that a lot of companies have been investing across the range. We decided that it will be good for us to focus on one specific area. There were two options – taking the restaurant business and building it up to a national chain, or focus on hotel investing. My brother was an analyst at that time and was familiar with many hotels, and we decided to go into hotel investing.
How do you translate the same principles used to lead a hotel company to running a non-profit?
There is a lot of cross-over. A hotel company is like other decentralized companies, with its multi-unit businesses. You work with things like creating a vision, developing a business plan, attracting extremely high caliber talent, and leading people.
Have you translated your work at Shatterproof to HEI in some way?
Basically every year we (Shatterproof) have events all over the country, not just with HEI, but the entire hotel industry. We have had events where people rappel off a building, and fundraisers – not just fundraising, but plenty of people getting together to end the stigma of addiction, to get people talking about it as opposed to the silence on addiction. Approximately 40 companies in the hotel industry have been involved in our events all across the country, where people have been rappelling off buildings. We hold a big one at ALIS (Americas Lodging Investment Summit) every year, the hotel conference in LA, and 5Ks and walk-a-thons. Again, they are not only fundraisers, but plenty of people coming together to end the silence on addiction.
What is something you are most proud of in your work at Shatterproof?
It is hard to say one thing, but I’d say that I am most proud of the people I meet whose lives that have been saved by the work that we do.
What is something you were most proud of in 2017?
In 2017, I am most proud of the launch of our task force to fundamentally and systemically change and improve the quality of treatment to those getting treated for addiction.
Do you think the work you have done in addiction can be extended to mental illnesses and other lesser known illnesses?
Absolutely. Once we build it up for addiction, we will move into mental health.
At Cornell and other colleges around the country, many struggle with mental illnesses, yet we don’t talk about it enough. Many don’t know how to systemically help others or even get help for themselves.
You are exactly right, that’s why we are doing this, to get people talking about it, to get rid of the shame and the stigma that anybody with mental health or issues with substances, drugs, or alcohol would face. They should not be ashamed, it is not their fault, there is nothing wrong with it but they don’t get treated like with other diseases.
What is the most memorable thing for you at Cornell?
The friendships that I developed there, both in the hotel school and my fraternity, and I continue to maintain them.
What is one thing that you would like to tell all Hotelies?
I think it is what we were just talking about – that those who struggle with addiction to substances, or mental health issues, those are diseases like any other. There should be no shame and stigma with anyone who struggles with either or both of these diseases. It will be wonderful if those in the hotel school, those in college, or coming out of college can lead an effort around our country, to get people talking about it, and get rid of what I believe is a social injustice of our time. Young people, and people in college, have the power to change that. They can be leaders, and they can change that.
* * *
The Cornell Hotel Society Executive Board thanks the Cornell Hotel Society – Collegiate Chapter for initiating and conducting the “Conversations with Alumni” project.
Hotelies Gather in Nashville
/in Chapter Event/by Robert MandelbaumOn Thursday, August 16, 2018, CHS hosted a reception for sixty Cornellians at the 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Attendees consisted of local alumni, as well as Hotelies in town attending the STR Hotel Data Conference. Thanks to our 21C hosts Nattie Trisarnsri, MMH ’09 – Nashville F&B Director, and Sarah B. Robbins ’95 – Corporate Chief Hospitality Officer, for providing complimentary appetizers.
CHS Reception at 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville
CHS Reception at 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville
CHS Reception at 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville
CHS Reception at 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville
CHS Reception at 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville
CHS Reception at 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville
CHS Reception at 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville
CHS Reception at 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville
CHS Reception at 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville
CHS Reception at 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville
CHS Reception at 21C Museum Hotel in Nashville
DC/Baltimore Chapter Enjoys The Summer
/in Chapter Event/by Robert MandelbaumIn early August 2018 members of the DC/Baltimore Chapter gathered for a picnic to enjoy the summer weather.
DC/Baltimore Chapter Summer 2018 Picnic
DC/Baltimore Chapter Summer 2018 Picnic
DC/Baltimore Chapter Summer 2018 Picnic
DC/Baltimore Chapter Summer 2018 Picnic
Georgia Chapter Welcomes Current Hotelies
/in Chapter Event/by Robert MandelbaumOn Tuesday August 7, 2018, the CHS Georgia Chapter hosted five current Hotel School students for pizza at the Mellow Mushroom – Brookhaven. Uma Patel ’22, Nina Bachich ’19, Kevin O’Gara ’20, Keval Rama ’21, and Hyun Ho Lee ’19 were five of an estimated dozen Hotelies interning in Atlanta during the summer of 2018.
CHS Georgia – Current Student Pizza Party
Left to Right: Uma Patel ’22, Nina Bachich ’19, Kevin O’Gara ’20, Keval Rama ’21, Hyun Ho Lee ’19
CHS Georgia Entertains Summer Interns
/in Chapter Event/by Robert MandelbaumOn July 26, 2018 the CHS Georgia chapter entertained current Hotel School students that are interning in Atlanta for the summer. The event was held at The Southern Gentleman restaurant in Buckhead.
CHS Georgia – Summer 2018 Intern Happy Hour
Sebastian Colella ‘05
/in Hotelie for Life/by Robert MandelbaumSebastian Colella ‘05, Vice President of Pinnacle Advisory Group, shares with us what it means to him to be a Hotelie for Life.
“It is the close-knit community of alumni, students, friends, family, and professors that allow us to all remain Hotelies for Life. The Hotel School’s unique social nature helped me to foster life long friendships as an undergrad and the Cornell Hotel Society has enabled me to continue meeting like-minded professionals while living in DC, NYC, and now Boston. The school offers a set of tools that can be used in all walks of life and in any profession, primarily how best to serve others (and how to enjoy doing it!).”
Sebastian Colella ‘05 and family.
Mike Cahill ’84
/in Hotelie for Life/by Robert MandelbaumMike Cahill ’84, CEO and Founder of HREC – Hospitality Real Estate Counselors and co-Founder of the Lodging Industry Investment Council (LIIC), shares what it means to him to be a Hotelie for Life®.
“Leaving the glorious cradle of Ithaca into the real world, we automatically join past and future generations of Statler Hall graduates and eagerly embark on building our individual lives. At that point, we learn to embrace the value of networking; seeking mentors to guide us and fellow Hotelies to support and grow with us. During this sojourn, we grapple with ‘the only constant in life is change’. As we age and grow, we learn to appreciate that Cornell Hotelies are always there for us, one of life’s few consistencies, as we change jobs, cities, and career paths. Regardless of whether you are 24 or 75, the Cornell Hotel School alumni network always greets you with open arms, immediate acceptance, and genuine care for your career and personal growth. Simply put: there is no superior, more passionate, and sincerely supportive collegiate alumni network outside being a ‘Hotelie for Life’. Cheers.”
Mike is pictured at the 2018 ICON & Innovator Dinner with Tim Hentschel ‘01, recipient of the 2018 Innovator of the Year Award, and rap artist Waka Flocka Flame.
Right to Left: Mike, Waka Flocka Flame, Tim Hentschel ’01
“Conversations with Alumni” – Gary Mendell ‘79
/in Conversations/by Robert MandelbaumHannah Yang ’18 was fortunate to speak with Gary Mendell ‘79, the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Shatterproof, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the stigma against addiction and helping those who suffer recover from it. Gary is also the founder of HEI Hotels and Resorts, a multi-billion dollar company that oversees a portfolio of 70 hotels.
Gary Mendell ’79
Can you tell us about your current day-to-day involvements with HEI Hotels and Resorts, as well as Shatterproof?
I still own HEI Hotels and Resorts, but I work full-time on Shatterproof.
You are an entrepreneur – having founded a hotel operator company as well as a non-profit. How did HEI first get started?
I was in the restaurant business when my brother Steve (SHA ’82) and I got together and saw that a lot of companies have been investing across the range. We decided that it will be good for us to focus on one specific area. There were two options – taking the restaurant business and building it up to a national chain, or focus on hotel investing. My brother was an analyst at that time and was familiar with many hotels, and we decided to go into hotel investing.
How do you translate the same principles used to lead a hotel company to running a non-profit?
There is a lot of cross-over. A hotel company is like other decentralized companies, with its multi-unit businesses. You work with things like creating a vision, developing a business plan, attracting extremely high caliber talent, and leading people.
Have you translated your work at Shatterproof to HEI in some way?
Basically every year we (Shatterproof) have events all over the country, not just with HEI, but the entire hotel industry. We have had events where people rappel off a building, and fundraisers – not just fundraising, but plenty of people getting together to end the stigma of addiction, to get people talking about it as opposed to the silence on addiction. Approximately 40 companies in the hotel industry have been involved in our events all across the country, where people have been rappelling off buildings. We hold a big one at ALIS (Americas Lodging Investment Summit) every year, the hotel conference in LA, and 5Ks and walk-a-thons. Again, they are not only fundraisers, but plenty of people coming together to end the silence on addiction.
What is something you are most proud of in your work at Shatterproof?
It is hard to say one thing, but I’d say that I am most proud of the people I meet whose lives that have been saved by the work that we do.
What is something you were most proud of in 2017?
In 2017, I am most proud of the launch of our task force to fundamentally and systemically change and improve the quality of treatment to those getting treated for addiction.
Do you think the work you have done in addiction can be extended to mental illnesses and other lesser known illnesses?
Absolutely. Once we build it up for addiction, we will move into mental health.
At Cornell and other colleges around the country, many struggle with mental illnesses, yet we don’t talk about it enough. Many don’t know how to systemically help others or even get help for themselves.
You are exactly right, that’s why we are doing this, to get people talking about it, to get rid of the shame and the stigma that anybody with mental health or issues with substances, drugs, or alcohol would face. They should not be ashamed, it is not their fault, there is nothing wrong with it but they don’t get treated like with other diseases.
What is the most memorable thing for you at Cornell?
The friendships that I developed there, both in the hotel school and my fraternity, and I continue to maintain them.
What is one thing that you would like to tell all Hotelies?
I think it is what we were just talking about – that those who struggle with addiction to substances, or mental health issues, those are diseases like any other. There should be no shame and stigma with anyone who struggles with either or both of these diseases. It will be wonderful if those in the hotel school, those in college, or coming out of college can lead an effort around our country, to get people talking about it, and get rid of what I believe is a social injustice of our time. Young people, and people in college, have the power to change that. They can be leaders, and they can change that.
* * *
The Cornell Hotel Society Executive Board thanks the Cornell Hotel Society – Collegiate Chapter for initiating and conducting the “Conversations with Alumni” project.
Alan LeBlanc ’84
/in Hotelie for Life/by Robert MandelbaumAlan LeBlanc ’84, President & Chief Creative Officer of Brewed to Serve, shares with us what it means to him to be a Hotelie for Life®:
Alan LeBlanc ’84
Since graduating from Cornell in 1984, I have consulted in real estate, developed and operated a retirement community, developed office buildings in Moscow, Russia, and along with my wife Cindy and nephew John, built a restaurant company in Atlanta, GA. In each of these capacities, it has been the desire to seek excellence and to serve that the Hotel School helped refine that has made the difference. The understanding that leadership through service, and the obligation one has to treat all persons with professionalism and respect, is the spirit of a Hotelie for Life®.
Vickie Kozhushchenko ’96
/in Hotelie for Life/by Robert MandelbaumVickie (Littler) Kozhushchenko ’96, Vice President – Human Resources for Clean Earth, Inc. shares with us what it means to her to be a Hotelie for Life®.
Vickie (Littler) Kozhushchenko ’96 (right) with Diana (Perkins) Hochkoeppler ‘95
“I’m a Hotelie for Life® for so many reasons. One primary reason is because everywhere I go, I look for opportunities (to paraphrase E.M. Statler) to ‘give a little more – a little better service’. People feel good and do good when they know you’re going the extra mile to help them out, whether it’s behind a front desk, behind a. stove, or behind the scenes in an organization – a lesson I learned early on in my Hotelie life from amazing people like Giuseppe, Cathy Enz and Bruce Tracey. It’s at the core of my decision to follow a career path in Human Resources and focus in on leadership development and career coaching, and it’s what I teach my two girls as we strive to help others locally and around the world.”
“Conversations with Alumni” – Dean Kate Walsh Ph.D. (Cornell MPS ’90)
/in Conversations/by Robert MandelbaumCornell Hotel Society Collegiate Chapter President Michael Baldyga ’19 was fortunate to speak with School of Hotel Administration Dean Kate Walsh Ph.D., a graduate of the SHA MPS program in 1990.
Dean Kate Walsh visited Dallas in December 2017.
Was there any particular story/moment when you first knew what it meant to be a Hotelie? If so, could you please share?
I would go back to my graduate student days nearly 30 years ago. I knew what it was like to be a Hotelie the very first day I walked into Statler Hall. Faculty were right there to welcome us home. I felt their hospitality from the start and it was infectious. Within a week, my small class of thirty-five was a bonded group, and we’ve stayed that way ever since. In my first semester as an MPS student I was a TA for an organizational behavior class and one of the first things we did was help freshmen participate in service work in the community. That combination of bonding with my class and learning to be other-centered was special. Being a Hotelie is being part of a community that cares.
What does it mean to be a Hotelie for Life®?
Being a Hotelie for Life is something that is sort of both in your head and in your heart. You carry it with you and you take it upon yourself to help other people be more successful in what they do. You pay it forward.
What has been your favorite Hotelie for Life® moment?
I love the closing banquet for HEC when all of the students who volunteered during the weekend, come around the stage and are high-fived by the executive team, in front of the whole an applauding community of alumni, faculty and staff. HEC takes so much organization and work. And it all comes together beautifully, every time. That’s a special one for me.
Whether on campus or when I go to Hotelie or CHS events, I see our alumni taking the students under their wings always – these are all Hotelie for Life moments.
Who, if anyone, has most shaped your definition of Hotelie for Life®? How?
Just about everyone. All the people – the alumni who care deeply, the students who are doing amazing things, and especially the faculty and staff who teach, and mentor and just give their time and attention to all our students – it gets reinforced just about every day. It’s a spectacular virtuous cycle.
In what ways has the student body changed since you were a student here? Stayed the same?
There’s something about Hotelies, their other-centeredness and graciousness. It is a service mindset. It’s about helping somebody else have a better day. That is what I still see in our students. When you bring together really smart students, who are also so emotionally intelligent and caring, that makes for a very special place. Our Hotelie community is like a family within Cornell. All of our students at Cornell are smart and accomplished, but there is just an essence of giving, of generosity, of being a great colleague that defines our hotelies. We cultivate that with our core curriculum. When you bring all of our students together in a shared project or experience, it’s really powerful.
What is your favorite spot in Statler? or Cornell? Why?
I love the Hersha Center, which is the space for Establishment, our student-run restaurant. I feel like magic happens there every night. It’s amazing what students create in a dining experience. It epitomizes who we are as a School. It’s a space that has heart and soul.
When students introduce themselves in class or extracurricular meetings, oftentimes they are asked to provide a fun fact. What is your fun fact?
I grew up with five brothers and no sisters. Growing up as one of six kids, you learn to live with lots of chaos, so it sure prepared me for the world of service-based work. As luck would have it, my husband and I have three sons, so I’m looking forward to the day when I get a daughter-in-law!
Is there anything else you would like to share with Hotelies? Or that you think would be helpful for this campaign?
Hotelies are amazing people. I see it all the time in my travels, wherever I go. Our alumni are so gracious, welcoming and fun. We all share a deep passion for the school, but our alumni use that passion more strongly link our school with our industry. We call our alumni our secret sauce. I don’t know any other school for hospitality or business, for that matter, that can quite replicate our magic. Someone once said that our school is the hub of the industry ecosystem, and it really is. All of us at SHA are deeply grateful to be supported by such a powerful community.
* * *
The Cornell Hotel Society Executive Board thanks the Cornell Hotel Society – Collegiate Chapter for initiating and conducting the “Conversations with Alumni” project.