The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute and the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management are grateful for the contribution of the industry leaders who are part of our Industry Advisory Board. We take this opportunity to thank all members who have been with us for the past years sharing their experiences and insights with our faculty, researchers, students and staff. We are excited to continue expanding our board and welcoming new insights and perspectives in the field.
Now more than ever, the Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management industries benefit from the information provided by research, as well as students need to be properly trained to showcase excellence when becoming the next generation of professionals. The input from the Industry Advisory Board will continue to be valuable for our next research projects and curriculum adjustments in the years to come. This month, we welcome John Meyers to our board.
John Meyers currently serves as the VP, Head of Finance and Analytics for the rapidly growing 1,100 store pizza chain, Marcos Pizza.
Growing up, Meyers worked in a local fast-casual restaurant and worked in a deli during his college years. After graduating with a degree in Economics from Eastern Illinois University, he pursued his MBA at the University of Florida, where he graduated in 2006. After college, he moved into finance and analytics roles at The Walt Disney Company and Darden Restaurants.
“I feel fortunate because there are a lot of industries that produce various widgets, but ours is the business of fun,” Meyers says. “We have the opportunity to create life-long experiences and memories for our guests.”
Within Finance and Analytics, his passions are storytelling with data, shaping strategy, and leading and developing teams. Beyond Finance, Meyers understands the importance of building a sustainable business through operational excellence. While he works every day with our operations leadership team, Meyers also spends time in Marcos Pizza restaurants to understand the needs and mindset of the front-line team members. He also has a great deal of passion for growing a healthy top-line and believe in the effectiveness of Marketing. At Marcos, Meyers works closely with the CMO, media agency and serves on its Marketing Advisory Council.
John currently resides in Windermere, Florida, with his wife Kristy, son Jack and daughter Brooklyn. In his free time he loves to cook, boat, and spend time with family and friends.
