JEFFREY BZDAWKA
Park Ridge,IL
Summary
Accomplished, results-driven executive management professional with demonstrated visionary leadership and distinguished performance in operations management, acquisition / integration, change management, and strategic planning across hospitality, travel, information technology, and customer service arenas. Proficient in strategizing and applying tactics in business planning and development, technology, system integration and operations. Effective in reorganizing, streamlining, and strengthening all areas of operations to maximize performance and profitability. Recognized as a catalyst for change, combining tactical execution of strategic initiatives with strong leadership of cross-functional staff.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Executive Officer
Knowland
06.2021 - Current
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - GLOBAL HOTEL TECHNOLOGY & FIELD SERVICES
HYATT
04.2012 - 06.2021
- Assumed responsibility for the strategic planning, analysis, design, deployment, and support of all property-based technology solutions; and the integration of the property-based solutions with Hyatt's centralized technology solutions
- Led a cross functional, multi-disciplined team to provide technology solutions that lead to brand preference across guests, owners, and colleagues
- Developed vision based roadmap for Property Systems Portfolio that aligns with brand mission
- Reengineered team and deployment processes for new and existing properties to reduce time and costs associated with technology solutions
- Developed technology vendor management engagement model to maximize investment and improve service levels provided to property owners and end users.
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
TRAVELCLICK
01.2005 - 02.2012
- Managed a cross-functional, geographically-dispersed team in carrying out full-scope responsibilities to ensure the successful delivery and support of product / service portfolio of a leading provider of hotel business process management and distribution solutions serving 30,000 customers across 140 countries
- Led the delivery of service to $220M revenue base and administered annual operating budget of $70M, and capital expenditures of $10M
- Managed largest personnel, organizational, and budget responsibilities for an executive team while it boosted revenue nearly four-fold and took EBITDA margin from under 10% to over 20% in a four year period
- Played a key role in the subsequent execution of a highly successful sale of the company to a private equity buyer in 2007 and then delivering above-budget performance for the first full year under new ownership
- Led operational integration of five acquisitions into the company's products and services portfolio.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - SERVICE DELIVERY
PEGASUS SOLUTIONS, INC.
08.2003 - 12.2004
- Directed activities associated with contract fulfillment, customer satisfaction, and revenue generation across five service lines for a pioneer company in the travel industry
- Integrated operational elements from legacy business unit organization; created functional service delivery organization with focus on enhancing customer experience and improving operational efficiencies
- Established customer satisfaction level benchmark for all service lines; subsequently, implemented program to actively monitor and improve ratings
- Identified key business partners to sub-source specific operational tasks, increasing scalability while reducing operational costs and improving overall customer experience.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - FINANCIAL SERVICES
PEGASUS SOLUTIONS, INC.
07.1999 - 08.2003
- Directed activities within Financial Services Business Unit focused on providing centralized travel agency commissions payment services to the hospitality sector
- Responsible for product development, product delivery, sales and support for the global service offering
- Led revenue growth across assigned unit from $18M to $34M and delivering contribution margin of 40%
- Introduced two new products to market, enabling company to further penetrate the travel agency marketplace and generate $7M+ in incremental annual revenue
- Identified key business partners to sub-source numerous operational tasks, reducing annual operational costs by over $2M
- Steered operational expansions into the United Kingdom and Singapore.
VICE PRESIDENT - STRATEGIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
SECURITY CAPITAL GROUP
01.1997 - 07.1999
- Defined, implemented, and supported telecom and strategic information systems for Homestead Guest Studios, which grew from 18 to 133 properties during tenure with company
- Created IT / Telecom strategic plan supporting rapid growth environment
- Established and implemented formal procedures for project and vendor management
- Negotiated contracts with service providers, resulting in $1.4M annual reduction in fees associated with hardware, software, long distance, and support
- Instituted changes within support organization, decreasing call volume by 50% and increasing overall end-user satisfaction
- Led the Business Unit Advisory Committee to define IT priorities and assisted in deploying the model to other businesses within the Security Capital Group portfolio of companies.
Education
Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management -
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - STOUT
Menomonie, WISkills
- Operations & Finance Administration
- Customer Satisfaction & Retention
- Cost Reduction & Profit Growth
- Team Building, Leadership & Training
- Change Management & Process Improvements
- Organizational Leadership & Development
- Product & Service Development / Integration
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Strategic Partnership Development
- Program Development & Implementation
Affiliations
- Hospitality Technology Next Generation, Board of Governors, 2012, Present
- University of Wisconsin - Stout Foundation, Member; Executive Director, 2008, 2016
- University of Wisconsin - Stout Alumni Foundation, Member & Executive Director, 2002, 2008
- University of Wisconsin - Stout Curriculum Development Hospitality Leadership Program, Member, 2006, Present
- Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals, Member, 2000, Present
Accomplishments
- International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame
- Hospitality Upgrade Technology Rock Star
Professional Development
THE WHARTON SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia, PA, Executive Development Program, 2009
Timeline
Chief Executive Officer
Knowland
06.2021 - Current
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - GLOBAL HOTEL TECHNOLOGY & FIELD SERVICES
HYATT
04.2012 - 06.2021
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
TRAVELCLICK
01.2005 - 02.2012
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - SERVICE DELIVERY
PEGASUS SOLUTIONS, INC.
08.2003 - 12.2004
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - FINANCIAL SERVICES
PEGASUS SOLUTIONS, INC.
07.1999 - 08.2003
VICE PRESIDENT - STRATEGIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
SECURITY CAPITAL GROUP
01.1997 - 07.1999
Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management -
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - STOUT
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