Dennis Edwards, SHL Advisory Board Chair

Having spent 34 years in the hospitality industry and over nine years as President & CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) I am thrilled to be vice chair of the ECU School of Hospitality Leadership Advisory Board.

When I arrived in Raleigh I quickly discovered the quality school we have in North Carolina, the positive impact it has created for our industry and how fortunate we are to have it so close to Raleigh. It’s vital that the hospitality industry in the entire state continues to work closely with and supports this outstanding school.

I have been extremely impressed with the quality of the students that graduates from the school annually. The GRCVB has had several interns since I arrived in 2007 and we were fortunately in a position to actually hire two of them full-time after their graduation.

Dennis Edwards, President & CEO
Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau

The depth of the curriculum that the students are required to take immediately prepares them to enter the workforce with the skills they need to be successful.

Having had the opportunity to meet most of the professors and speak in many of their classes, it’s clear that the faculty truly cares about the students and create an environment to make learning fun. They give the students opportunities to engage in practical and real world experiences enhancing their understanding of how to handle today’s challenges.

Our goal as the Advisory Board is to continue to help elevate the ECU School of Hospitality Leadership as one of the most recognized and respected schools in the country. It’s impressive to see the positive changes that have occurred over the past few years and there is no question that the school has become the leader in the state and before long will become viewed as one of the finest hospitality schools in the country.