Kent, OHIO – The Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship will present the Global Management Speaker Series featuring Michael Crawford, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of the Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company. The event will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 7, in the Kent State Student Center (KSC) Ballroom Balcony, with a reception to follow in the KSC Schwebel Room.
During the event, Crawford will discuss his career in international hospitality and his new book, From the Mouse's House to the Penthouse. Prior to joining the Hall of Fame Resort and Entertainment Company, he served as Global President of Portfolio Management for the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Company and previously served as Sr. Vice President of Shanghai Disney Resort and President of Shanghai's Walt Disney Holdings Company.
Crawford led the negotiation and multi-billion-dollar development of Shanghai Disney Resort from 2007-2014. As General Manager of Shanghai Disney, Crawford led a talented team throughout the formation of the company and the development of the new destination resort. He also managed relationships with the resort’s local business partners, community and government leaders, and industry experts supporting the new venture in Disney’s portfolio.
Prior to leading Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company, Crawford spent four years with the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Company. He started as President of Asia Pacific and went on to become Global President of Portfolio Management. While at Four Seasons, he led a company repositioning effort in Asia and oversaw all hotel development and operations for the region. As President of Portfolio Management, he held responsibility for business and capital planning, along with the design and construction of all new Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Crawford also oversaw the growth of the Four Seasons branded residential business with $10B of forecasted real estate sales over a five-year planning period.
An Ohio native, Crawford holds an undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame.
The event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is required.
About the Global Management Speaker Series
The Global Management Speaker Series brings business leaders with international experience to Kent State to discuss recent developments in the global economy of importance to the academic and business communities.
About Kent State University’s Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Kent State University’s Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship is among 1% of business schools worldwide to obtain dual accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in both business and accounting. The college offers 10 undergraduate majors, 14 minors, and an undergraduate Professional Sales Certificate; MBA; master’s degrees in accounting, business analytics and economics; graduate certificates, dual degree programs and a Ph.D. program. For more information about Kent State’s Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship, visit www.kent.edu/crawford.