Bob DeZinno is a career hospitality professional. As the founder and former owner of one of Connecticut’s leading hospitality consulting and marketing firms, Bob focused on branding, image building and ideation within the restaurant industry. His journey in the industry has included positions as manager, owner, director, consultant, designer, developer, trainer, teacher and marketer.
Bob is a certified ServSafe and ServSafe Alcohol Instructor and Exam Proctor. He authored and has presented his popular “Dynamite Server School” to numerous excellent restaurants, hotels and casinos. His thoughts and opinions about the hospitality industry have been published regularly in various industry trade journals.
Bob was an adjunct instructor in the hospitality management program of Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury, CT, and has taught graduate level courses at the Hotel School of the University of New Haven. He served the industry as President of the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation for nearly a decade, and was appointed Interim President & CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association for almost two years during the board’s search for permanent management.
Bob brings to the table his keen insight into the proper design, development and operation of first-rate restaurants at all levels of cuisine and service style. He has helped develop the careers of many successful chefs and restaurateurs, and remains a coach and mentor to many of them to this day.
Gary has 30+ years of hospitality operations leadership, gaining expertise in a variety of exposures in many markets and businesses. From the early years of Atlantic City’s casino launches with a focus on food & beverage development and high-volume operations execution, to northern Nevada’s Reno/Lake Tahoe region and its mature gaming resorts environment.
His resumé includes food & beverage directorship with the
Walt Disney Dolphin Resort, Mississippi Gulf Coast’s Grand Casino Gulfport as Vice President Food & Beverage, Vice President of Food & Beverage at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and 14 years with Mohegan Sun Gaming in Connecticut rising to the level of Senior Vice President, Resort Operation.
The disciplines and experiences range from pre-opening coordination, concept development, and project construction
coordination with an emphasis on smooth transitions from construction phase to the operations posture.
Much of his time was also spent in recruiting, developing and inspiring new teams of operations professionals driven toward excellence and bottom-line performance.
Gary entered the consulting arena over a decade ago with engagements for renowned resorts, entertainment venues, Caribbean assignments in St. Lucia, Nassau, and Curacao, and regional hospitality clients in Michigan, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
As of 2021 Gary has joined DeZinno Inc. to continue to impact hospitality projects and the evolution of the industry.