PULLMAN, Wash.–“Soft Skills Aren’t Soft Anymore” is the title of a presentation by Roz Mallet, vice president of human resources and operations services for Friday’s Hospitality Worldwide Inc. Mallet will deliver the speech as the Burtenshaw Distinguished Lecture at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 16, in the Todd Hall Auditorium on the Washington State University campus.
“Hospitality has historically been recognized as a ‘people’ business, yet only in the past three to five years have we, as an industry, dealt with what that really means,” Mallet says. Her topic will cover the philosophies and strategies that several high profile hospitality companies are using to embrace and enrich the ‘people’ aspect of the industry.
Mallet has more than 20 years experience in the restaurant industry. This year, she was named “Motivator of the Year” at the Elliot Conference for hospitality leaders, and recognized by “Nation’s Restaurant News” as one of the “Fifty New Players” whose creativity and leadership will influence the industry for the 21st Century. “Restaurant Hospitality” named her one of the restaurant industry’s “Rising Stars–the Best and the Brightest of 1995.”
Mallet joined Friday’s in June. A graduate of St. Mary’s University, she began her career as a management trainee for El Chico and became its director of training. She served as director of Human Resources for Applebee’s, and in 1988 co-founded American Services Management Resources, a company specializing in human resource consulting and recruiting for the hospitality industry. She has been a consultant in organization design and training, and conducted management development courses for her clients.
In 1995, she became vice president of franchise systems development for Applebee’s International Inc.’s new-acquired Rio Bravo Cantina, where she prepared the Tex-Mex concept for franchise expansion. After completing development agreements for the first 10 Rio Brava franchisees, Mallet was appointed vice president of human resources and training. She was also responsible for the entire human resources development at Applebee’s International Inc.
The fall semi-annual Burtenshaw Lecture is sponsored by the Hotel and Restaurant Administration Program in the WSU College of Business and Economics, directed by W. Terry Umbreit.
“We are thrilled to have Roz Mallet, an honored and respected hospitality expert, visit our campus and classrooms as the Burtenshaw lecturer,” Umbreit says.
The Hotel and Restaurant Administration program is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, and has been part of the WSU College of Business and Economics since 1946. Students in the undergraduate four-year degree program can study in Pullman, Seattle or as part of an affiliation with a Swiss institute.
The Burtenshaw Distinguished Lecture Series began in 1981 and is sponsored by D. Jerry and Angelina Burtenshaw of Mercer Island in memory of their son, Calvin Brett.
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