Hospitality executive from Carnival Cruise Lines to lead the board

MIAMI, Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management has welcomed three new members and named a new chair to the school's Executive Advisory Board, Richard Brilliant, who is also an FIU Hospitality alumnus. The new board members include two FIU alumni John Boettger '85, managing director of Westmont Hospitality Group and Jorge L. Rodriguez '91 president of Latin America and the Caribbean at SUBWAY®, in addition to Mutluhan Kucuk, complex managing director for Loews Miami Beach Hotel and Loews Coral Gables Hotel.

Coming from the hospitality and tourism industry, the new board members bring years of proven leadership and experience to help advise Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School, to elevate the top-ranked school to continued success. Brilliant takes the board's helm from fellow FIU alumnus, John McKibbon '75, who is a third-generation hotelier with McKibbon Hotel Group.

"The shared commitment to FIU of these hospitality leaders from all sectors of the industry is a testament to their character and the program's growth into one of the world's best hospitality schools in the world," Cheng said. "We want to thank John McKibbon for his years of dedication to our school, which under his tenure moved from No. 8 to No. 6 in the rankings. We look forward to working with the new board members to continue this shared success," added Cheng.

The new members include:
John C. Boettger, FIU alumnus and the managing director for the U.S. lodging platform for Westmont Hospitality Group where he is responsible for all aspects of hotel operations, investment and ownership for a family office including acquisitions, financing, asset management and capital investment for a diverse lodging platform that includes over 100 hotels in the full-service, luxury, resort, all-suite economy, and extended stay segments.

Jorge L. Rodriguez, president of Latin America and the Caribbean at SUBWAY® and also an FIU graduate. He has more than 25 years of finance, retail and consumer product goods industry leadership, transformation expertise, and executive management experience. He is responsible for overseeing the 3,600-restaurant portfolio in the region while transforming the franchisee route to market system by onboarding new master franchisees. 

Mutluhan Kucuk, complex managing director for Loews Hotels & Co. He is responsible for the oversight and property management of the iconic Loews Miami Beach Hotel and the AAA Four Diamond Loews Coral Gables Hotel. He oversees all aspects of property management for both renowned luxury hotels and has been with the company for more than 23 years.

The new members join an already impressive Chaplin School Executive Advisory Board:

• Norma Becker '82, president, Titan Group of New York
• Bruce Blum '82, president & founder, Liberty Hotel Advisors, LLC
• Wayne Chaplin, president and CEO, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits
• George Corton '03, MBA '14, managing principal, Westside Capital Group
• Curtis J. Crider, interim president and CEO, Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association
• Bettina Deynes, Global chief human resources officer, Carnival Corporation & PLC
• Philip Goldfarb '79, president and COO, Fontainebleau Miami Beach & Fontainebleau Development
• Lynne Hernandez, regional president, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association
• Lani Kane-Hanan '87, MS '04, CEO, O.N.E. Open Network Exchange
• Harry "Duffy" Keys '75, co-founder, B Cellars Vineyards and Winery
• Tony Latham, regional president of North America, Bacardi
• Edwin Mugnani '91, COO, Krafted Kitchen
• Matias Pesce MSF '18, CEO, Vida & Estilo
• Sergio Rivera '85, director, Welltower, Inc.
• Jan Rozenveld '90, MS '91, founder and CEO, Fare Thee Well Hospitality, SENTRAL
• Adam Stewart '03, executive chairman and CEO, Sandals Resorts International
• Stephen Von Oehsen, senior vice president, Office of Strategic Management, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, executive-in-residence, Chaplin School
• Regynald Washington '74, former president, Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail Dining Division
• David Whitaker, president and CEO, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau

Disney executive Valerie Ferguson, Senior Vice President of Operations & Learning at Loews Hotels Jenny Lucas, former CEO of Restaurant Brands International (RBI) Jose E. Cil and newly retired President & CEO of Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association Wendy Kallergis are also stepping down after years of commitment to the Chaplin School.

Media Contact:
Ivonne Yee-Amor
305.299.2091
iamor@fiu.edu
news.fiu.edu
@FIUNews

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fiu-chaplin-school-of-hospitality--tourism-management-announces-the-appointment-of-new-chair-and-members-to-its-executive-advisory-board-302381831.html

SOURCE Florida International University