MARY E. CONNORS

 

Q&A with Mary

 

Best part of your job? 

 

Enabling leadership at every level of an enterprise.

 

Who’s your favorite business leader?  

 

Any entrepreneur who put their ideas and money at risk to achieve a dream!

 

What’s your down time activity?

 

Sailing on the Chesapeake!

 

Mary Connors is the co-founder of Connors Davis & Company and brings 25 years of experience as a successful entrepreneur, educator and business leader to the organization.

 

Mary has extensive international and domestic experience in organizational and human development, strategic formulation, change management and knowledge transfer.  She works with organizations spanning the globe including large multinational corporations, small businesses, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and universities.

 

In addition, Mary is a graduate-level professor with a focus on the design and implementation of Leadership and Change and Project Management coursework and curriculum. She is associated with Lehigh University and National University of Galway in Ireland where she has taught courses in the MBA and masters programs, respectively.  She is a faculty member at Aileron a Center for Entrepreneurial Education in Dayton, Ohio and formerly for the Presidents Association of the American Management Association.

 

Mary earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the State University of New York and Queens College and is presently completing her Doctorial Dissertation in Human and Organizational Systems.

 

BRIAN P. CONNORS

 

Q&A with Brian

 

What's your favorite place and why?

 

Block Island, RI. You can’t beat New England in the summer and Block Island is a small oasis in the Atlantic Ocean. Add some family, friends, great food and wine and I am happy.

 

Your biggest pet peeve?

 

Lipstick on wine glasses!

 

Best part of your job?

 

Developing people and exceeding guest expectations.

 

Brian Connors is a consultant and educator for the hospitality business segment of Connors Davis & Company and works directly with clients and industry leaders creating innovative operating solutions and developing and repositioning new and existing concepts. 

 

Throughout his career, Brian has consulted to every segment of the industry including independent and multi-unit restaurant groups, private city and country clubs, retailers of natural and organic goods, hospitality REITs, and the mega yacht industry.  Brian began his career on the operations side where he has had the opportunity to work with a number of well-known and successful industry leaders and organizations.

 

Brian earned his culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University, has trained for his Sommelier certification at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley and is certified by the Court of Master Sommelier.  He is also a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) according to standards achieved through the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.  Brian currently serves as Alumni Admissions Ambassador at Cornell University and a board member of the Cornell Hotel Society.  Brian has developed a nationally recognized and award winning wine and beverage programs and has appeared on the Travel Channel’s ‘Trip of a Lifetime’ as well as local television features. 

 

Brian has a Master's degree from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, a Bachelor of Science from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University.