The “place for smiles” is usually Eat’n Park. In April, it will be PPG Paints Arena, for the Pitt Business 2019 spring graduation ceremony.
Jeff Broadhurst, the president and CEO of the Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, will be the graduation speaker at the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration graduation ceremony on Saturday, April 27, 2019.
In his address, Broadhurst is expected to touch on leadership lessons from his experiences in running the Eat’n Park Hospitality Group.
Eat’n Park — and the famous Smiley cookies it serves up — is a household name in the Pittsburgh region. The family-owned restaurant chain has over 60 locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.
In recent years, Eat’n Park has diversified its foodservice portfolio. The company also operates Hello Bistro, The Porch restaurants, and the Parkhurst Dining catering services organization.
Under Broadhurst’s leadership, Eat’n Park has also stepped up its focus on locally sourced foods. Fruits and vegetables from area farms stock its salad bar.
“Pitt Business is absolutely thrilled to welcome Jeff Broadhurst of Eat’n Park as this year’s graduation speaker,” says Audrey J. Murrell, associate dean of Pitt Business and director of the David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership.
“Jeff is one of the most prominent leaders in the hospitality industry and has incredibly powerful insights for our graduating students as they are poised to start their careers. He has pioneered innovation in many different forms and has made a significant mark on the community,” Murrell says.
Broadhurst has worked at Eat’n Park Hospitality Group since 1996. He began as director of business development for Parkhurst Dining. In 2002, he was promoted to president of Parkhurst Dining, and in 2006, he was named president of Eat’n Park Restaurants. In 2008, he became president and CEO of the Eat’n Park Hospitality Group.
Broadhurst serves on the board of directors of the business school’s David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership
Take the Next Step
- Visit the Pitt Business graduation website for everything you need to know about the ceremony
- Create a profile in the Pitt Business Mentoring Match program to connect with prominent alumni for career and networking advice
- Learn how Pitt Business is ranked the #11 public business school in the country by Poets & Quants
