UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State School of Hospitality Management has named Alan Horowitz, vice president of enterprise sustainability at Aramark, and Rick Garlick, principal consultant of Richard Garlick and Associates Consulting and Research Services, as its 2024-25 Walter J. Conti visiting professors.
The Conti Professorship program brings hospitality industry leaders and scholars to serve as guest lecturers and mentors with students in the Hospitality Management program and to connect with faculty members and researchers in the school.
As part of its 36th anniversary, Horowitz and Garlick represent the continued growth and success of the Conti Professorship program, which sees increased engagement with the executives and scholars who are named Conti professors. For 2024-25, both will be in-residence at Penn State University Park during the fall and spring semesters to teach and advise students and faculty in their fields of study or areas of expertise. They will also engage in virtual seminars with undergraduate and graduate students throughout the academic year.
“Both Alan and Rick are on the leading edge of making the broad and dynamic hospitality industry the most sustainable, attractive and rewarding profession, for not only our graduates but for clients, guests, investors, owners, employees and communities across the United States and beyond,” said Donna Quadri-Felitti, Marvin Ashner Endowed Director of the School of Hospitality Management. “Their commitment to engaging with the school’s gifted faculty and talented students demonstrates what they share in common — a passion for advancing distinction in the next generation of leaders among the many, high-demand careers in hospitality management.”
About Alan Horowitz
Horowitz is vice president of enterprise sustainability at Aramark, a leading global provider of food and facilities services. Horowitz and his team are responsible for leading the development and delivery of the company’s sustainability commitments and targets, including Aramark’s enterprise-wide efforts to minimize food waste, minimize the use of single-use plastics and deliver ambitious carbon reduction goals. He is also responsible for leading the company’s environment, social and governance, stakeholder engagement, data management, and reporting programs, including publication of Aramark’s annual “Be Well. Do Well.” Progress Report.
“It is a true honor to be named a Conti professor, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with the students and faculty through this appointment,” Horowitz said. “I can’t think of a better place than the Penn State School of Hospitality Management to discuss how sustainability is being embedded in the hospitality industry and learn from each other.”
Prior to joining Aramark in 2022, Horowitz spent 20 years at AstraZeneca in the United States and the United Kingdom, initially as the company’s in-house environmental counsel and later as its global vice president of sustainability. He also built and led a sustainability team at Microsoft before co-founding Green Street USA, a startup focused on helping Main Street-type enterprises embrace and embed sustainability. Alan was recently named one of the Top 20 North American Chief Sustainability Officers by the Futur/io Institute.
About Rick Garlick
Garlick has more than 30 years of experience in hospitality research and consulting, beginning with his work at The Gallup Organization in the mid-90s. He has held leadership roles at Maritz CX and J.D. Power before establishing his own consultancy. Currently, he serves as a consulting partner to BVA BDRC, a European research firm specializing in hospitality brand tracking, and WorkProud, an employee engagement firm where he leads employee experience survey initiatives.
“I started my professional career as a professor and never lost my love for teaching students and conducting research,” Garlick said. “It is a true privilege to invest in the students and faculty at the Penn State School of Hospitality Management at this stage of my career.”
Throughout his career, Garlick has held key research leadership positions with organizations such as Meeting Professionals International, the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Foundation, and the Incentive Research Foundation. He is a past member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants.
Garlick has led research initiatives in customer experience, brand marketing, product development and employee experience for nearly every major hotel brand in North America, as well as prominent luxury chains in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Additionally, he has consulted for airlines, restaurant chains, airports, rental car companies, cruise lines and destinations, encompassing the entire travel and hospitality sector. He also brings energy savings solutions to hotels and other businesses to promote sustainability and cost-efficiency.
Before transitioning to the private sector, Garlick taught research methods, marketing and persuasive communication at Michigan State University and DePaul University. He has published numerous articles in industry and academic journals and has appeared on national media outlets such as MSNBC, CNBC, CNNfn, Bloomberg Television and National Public Radio. His insights have also been featured in many national publications.
Garlick holds a doctor of philosophy in communication studies from Michigan State University.
About the Conti Professorship program
Walter Conti earned his bachelor’s degree in home economics from Penn State in 1952, becoming a well-known restaurateur and industry leader. He served on the Penn State Board of Trustees from 1974-92, achieving trustee emeritus status.
The Conti Professorship program was established by alumni and friends of the Penn State School of Hospitality Management in 1987 to honor Conti for his contributions to the school, Penn State and the hospitality profession. Beginning in 1988, industry leaders and hospitality’s best scholars have served each year as guest lecturers and mentors as part of this program. Conti died in 2016 at the age of 87.