James Broadhurst, chairman of Eat n' Park Hospitality Group, will wrap up the spring 2011 series of "CEO Conversations" at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 20. The free event is open to the public and will be held in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the campus' Community Center.
In 1973, Broadhurst joined the Eat n’ Park company as executive vice president and treasurer after working at PNC Bank’s commercial banking division for seven years. In 1975, he was elected president and became chairman and CEO nine years later. Broadhurst has received several professional accolades, including Hospitality Executive of the Year from the Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society, the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year Award, and the Keystone Award.
Broadhurst is active in his community and has served on many boards and committees, including the Executive Advisory Council of Special Olympics Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and as emeritus director of the National Restaurant Association.
Broadhurst, who is a 1965 graduate of Penn State University, was named the 1994 Alumni Fellow by the College of Health and Human Development, received the 1997 Distinguished Alumnus Award, and was selected to serve as the 1999 Conti Distinguished Professor at the University.
CEO Conversations is an initiative of the late Emmanuel I. Osagie, chancellor of Penn State Fayette from 2007 to March 2010. The program is designed to give students the opportunity to hear from and talk with key individuals in the local, regional, and national business communities about business, entrepreneurship and leadership.
CEO Conversations debuted in fall 2007 with local businessman, philanthropist, and former Fayette County Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III as the guest speaker. Guest speakers also have included Attorney General Tom Corbett; Fayette County Judge Nancy Vernon; Sheetz Inc. Chairman Stephen Sheetz; American Eagle Outfitters CEO James O’Donnell; Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack; Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl; Allegheny Construction Group Owner and President Laura Deklewa; Pittsburgh Penguins CEO Ken Sawyer; First Lady of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Marjorie Rendell; Principal/chairman emeritus of Burt Hill John Kosar; Chairman of Westinghouse Electric Company Steve Tritch; Philips Healthcare CEO Don Spence; President/CEO of Highmark, Inc. Dr. Kenneth R. Melani; President/CEO of Whitney, Bradley & Brown William C. McMullen; President/CEO of MSA William M. Lambert; President/CEO of Heinz North America Scott O’ Hara; President/Founder/CEO of ProTech Compliance Curtis Aiken; President of Hefren-Tilloston Kim Tilloston Fleming, CFA; and President/CEO of YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Eric Mann, and president of Steratore Sanitary Supplies and NFL official Tony Steratore.