Industry
Fall 2007
November 29, 2007:
As chief operating officer, Steven Wells is responsible for overseeing all of American’s food service operations, excluding its vending and office coffee division. He oversees business operations, marketing and concept development, restaurant layout and design, food and beverage operations, purchasing, and corporate legal functions. As Vice President and General Counsel of American, Joshua Wells oversees management of the company’s corporate dining and vending operations.
American Food & Vending Corporation was founded in 1990. Its headquarters are in Syracuse, New York and it operates in fifteen states. Focusing on the business and industry segment of the market, American has consistently achieved annual growth rates of more than twenty percent. The company has positioned itself in a unique niche, as an outstanding alternative to the “Big 3” multi-billion dollar international foodservice companies. American Food & Vending Corp. is generating a fast growing list of satisfied blue-chip clients such as: Anheuser-Busch, BlueCross/BlueShield, British Aerospace, DailmerChrylser, E.I. Dupont de Nemours, Inc., General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, American Century Investments, Huntington National Bank, N.A. and Nestle-Purina Petcare.
To learn more....
Conversations with Entrepreneurs - Steven and Joshua Wells
Application to participate in an Individual Conversation with Steven and Joshua Wells
American Food & Vending Corp.
October 17, 2007:
Bob Alter is the Chairman of Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc., a Southern California-based lodging Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Sunstone currently owns 47 hotels primarily in the upper-up scale and upscale segments operated under franchises such as Marriott, Hilton, InterContinental, Hyatt and Fairmont. Sunstone was formed in 1985 and it was originally taken public in 1995 with a total enterprise value of $75 million dollars and sales of $30 million. Then, in 1999, Sunstone was taken private in a successful management buy-out in partnership with Westbrook Partners, with a total enterprise value of $975 million and sales of $300 million. In 2004, the company was taken public again with a total enterprise value of $1.6 billion with a $400 million IPO that was the largest public raise in lodging industry history.
Under Mr. Alter’s leadership, Sunstone has increased its market capitalization from $1.4 billion to $3.9 billion in total enterprise value and increased sales from $500 million to over $1 billion in 2007. From October, 2004 through 2007, Mr. Alter has presided over significant growth at Sunstone Hotels, including: $1.9 billion in acquisitions of 17 high quality hotels in the top ten U.S. markets, with an average of 462 rooms per hotel (including the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Marriott Boston Long Wharf, Hilton Times Square, DC Renaissance and Fairmont Newport Beach).
To learn more...
Conversations with Entrepreneurs - Bob Alter
Robert Alter Bio
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.
Alter Press Release
Robert Alter Podcast
October 2, 2007:
Mike Leven is Vice Chairman of the Atlanta-based Marcus Foundation, where he has been a trustee and a member of the board of The Marcus Institute and Georgia Aquarium since 2003. The Marcus Foundation was founded by Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot and one of America’s most generous philanthropists. Leven was formerly President and CEO of US Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS), the company he founded in 1995 which franchises the Microtel Inns & Suites and Hawthorn Suites hotel brands. Under Leven’s tenure, USFS has gained national recognition as a fair franchisor, both customer and franchisee-oriented. Prior to that, he was president and COO of Holiday Inn Worldwide. From 1985 to 1990, he was president of Days Inn of America, where he led initiatives to hire older workers, people with disabilities and the homeless, and was recognized by AARP as Outstanding Employer. He also served as president of Americana Hotels.
In addition to being a hotel industry icon and one of franchising’s most innovative leaders, Leven has served many industry organizations throughout his 45-year career, and has been active in numerous civic organizations. He was a member of the National Board of Governors of the American Red Cross, vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta; chair of the marketing and public affairs committee for United Jewish Communities (UJC), and general chairman of the Atlanta State of Israel Bonds Committee.
To learn more...
Conversations with Entreprenuers - Michael Leven
Mike Leven Bio
Leven Press Release
Michael Leven Podcast