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Ronald Cichy

Professor Emeritum
Department: The School of Hospitality Business
  • Biography
    Dr Ronald F Cichy, O.M.
    Professor Emeritus
    Michigan State University

    Fifty-one years ago in the summer of 1968, I set foot on MSU campus for the first time to attend Freshmen Orientation.  A self-funded declared HRI (Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management) major, my mission was to earn my degree in four years. Mission accomplished in 1972 as I set out to manage and operate a Northern Michigan hotel, restaurant, and show bar in the Coral Gables portfolio. 

    I graduated from the Dale Carnegie Course in 1973. Returning to MSU and earning my MBA in 1977 and Ph.D. in Food Science and Human Nutrition in 1981, I was appointed as an assistant professor.  Following a detour for a few years to the University of Denver to help launch their HRI MBA, I returned to MSU as a part-time instructor, while full-time director of Educational Services for the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Motel Association on campus.  There Shelley and I met, and we were married in 1988. 

    I was invited in 1988 to return to our School as director where I served in that leadership role for 26 years.  I am proud of our alumni, our students, our School, of my role in its mission, and of my scholarship endeavors.
    I have taught thousands of undergraduates and executives on four continents since 1975 in 44 years of college teaching.  And by the numbers, I have 275 publications, including articles for the industry, courses, academic refereed journal articles, and books used around the globe.  Dr JaeMin Cha and I just co-authored Food Safety and Quality Management. Third Edition. published by the National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute

    Along the journey, I was inducted by the International Brotherhood of Magicians into the prestigious Order of Merlin.  My fellow conjurers advised me to avoid being hooked off?� a stage because the audience believes that the prestidigitator is past his prime.  They also said to avoid being dragged off the stage by your heels because you no longer have the magical touch.  Instead, my compeers say: walk off the stage leaving the audience wanting more. In the course of travels to deliver speeches and create connections, mission accomplished.  

    I serve on The School of Hospitality Business Alumni Association Executive Board of Directors.  I have served on countless industry boards of directors, task forces, certification commissions, and committees.  I also developed and delivered hundreds of keynote addresses, executive development programs, and seminars for hospitality business executives while traveling to four continents.  I was a popular and entertaining speaker for Fortune 500 company executives, as well as many non-hospitality business leaders from trade associations, manufacturing firms, governmental agencies, and talent agencies. I am a member of the faculty of the Club Management Association of America Business Management Institute. I am also a member of the Michigan Accordion Society, the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame, and the International Polka Association.   
    pax 

    THANK YOU 
    Dr Ronald F Cichy, O.M.
    Professor Emeritus
    Michigan State University      





  • Publications
    Book
    Ronald F Cichy, O.M. and JaeMin Cha. (2019). Food Safety and Quality Management. Third Edition. published by the National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute   
    Book
    Ronald F. Cichy and Philip J. Hickey, Jr.. (2017). Managing Service in Food and Beverage Operations. Fifth Edition. American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute.
    Book
    John H. King, Jr. and Ronald F. Cichy. (2010). Your Emerging Leadership Journey. iUniverse.
    Book
    Ronald F. Cichy and Lendal H. Kotschevar. (2010). Managing Beverage Operations. Second edition. [www.ei-ahla.org]:American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute.
    Book
    Ronald F. Cichy. (2008). Food Safety: Managing with the HACCP System. Second Edition. American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute [www.ei-ahla.org].
    Book
    Ronald F. Cichy and Jeffery D Elsworth. (2007). Purchasing for Food Service Operations. American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute.
    Book
    John H. King, Jr. and Ronald F. Cichy. (2006). Managing for Quality in the Hospitality Industry. Pearson Prentice Hall.
  • Courses
    • HB 489: Hospitality Business Strategy
  • Media Mentions

Related News:

It may be unusual for a school to send its students to another course, but Dale Carnegie is a partner not competitor
Industry Leader Teaches Servant Leadership in the School of Hospitality Business
Tom LaTour
The decision to start giving back to the place that started it all was easy and obvious
Alumnus Kurt Wisniewski returned to campus to speak in Dr. Ron Cichy’s Hospitality Business Strategy classes
Six carefully-selected students graduated from the Dale Carnegie Course offered in Lansing, MI.
Donald I. Smith died on November 29, 2016. He was 89.
Two Spartans given awards bearing the name of R.D. Musser and his family, owners of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
Honored for lifetime academic achievement by the School’s Alumni Association
 A tribute after 26 years as director of the Department of Hospitality Business