Robert C. Ford

Robert C. Ford (Ph.D., Arizona State University) is professor emeritus of management in the

College of Business Administration (COBA) of the University of Central Florida (UCF) where

he taught management of service organizations. He joined UCF as the chair of its hospitality

department. He was also the COBA Associate Dean for Graduate and External Programs.

Bob has authored and coauthored numerous publications in both top research and practitioner

journals. He has served on several editorial boards including Cornell Hospitality Quarterly,

British Journal of Management, Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, Journal of

Convention and Event Tourism, and Journal of Service Management. Currently, he is associate

editor of Organizational Dynamics. He has also published several books including Managing the

Guest Experience in Hospitality, Achieving Service Excellence: Strategies for Health Care, Managing

Destination Marketing Organizations, and The Fun Minute Manager.

Bob has participated actively in many professional organizations. He has served the

Academy of Management (AOM) as editor of The Academy of Management Executive, Director

of Placement, board member of the HRM and Careers divisions, Division Chair for both its

Management History and its Management Education and Development divisions, and as a member

and chair of its Ethics Adjudication Committee. Bob has served the Southern Management

Association (SMA) in every elective office including that of president. He was a founding member

and Chair of the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration and

served on the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program.

Bob has been recognized for his service by many organizations. He received the

Distinguished Service Award from AOM’s MED, the Richard Hodgett’s Distinguished Career

Award from Management History, and SMA’s Distinguished Service Award and was elected

to SMA Fellows. In recognition of his service to hospitality education, Bob was given the Paul

Brown Award by the Florida Hotel and Lodging Association. He was also twice awarded a W.