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Fred Lawlor |
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Although he was a GBC student for only
a brief time, the three-month co-op program opened the
door to a long and successful career in the hotel industry for Lawlor.
"I
had been working in the business since I was 17 years
old and I was looking for ways to really get into it,"
he recalls. “I
only had food and beverage experience up until then and
I thought the George Brown program was a good opportunity
to get onto the front desk."
It proved to be a smart move for Lawlor as he landed
a co-op placement in the front office of the Four Seasons
Hotel. Since then, Lawlor has garnered extensive experience working
for major chains
like Canadian Pacific Hotels and Fairmont Hotels (which
were separate companies until 1999).
After completing the certificate
program at George Brown
in 1975, Lawlor attended Ryerson University for a diploma
and Bachelor of Commerce in Hospitality and Tourism Management
and Guelph University
for Advanced Management for the Hospitality Industry.
Over his 34-year career, Lawlor has worked his way up
from the front office to employee training to hotel management.
He is now the Vice President and General Manager of Avendra,
a major procurement
company for the hospitality industry.
Although the program
that Lawlor graduated from no longer exists at George
Brown, he still maintains a relationship
with the College as a member of the Hospitality and Tourism
Sector Council. This group,
made up of industry leaders and experts, meets twice
a year to advise the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism
Management on industry trends
and needs.
"George Brown has a very good balance between the practical
and the academic," says Lawlor. “The facilities are good
and their associations with other schools like Ryerson
University and Niagara College gives their students options to further
develop."
We encourage you to visit the Alumni Association.
Or, contact information the Hospitality & Tourism Alumni association
at:
Hospitality & Tourism Alumni
300 Adelaide St. E.
Toronto, ON M5A 1N1
To learn more, visit the George
Brown College Alumni page.
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