Distinguished Business Speaker Series Kicks Off With Talk About Caring for Employees and Social Responsibility

Published on: October 5, 2023

Hospitality professional Sean Riley told Husson University students Wednesday that the most important thing to him in running businesses is to take care of his people.

That’s why he phones workers during their shifts on Thanksgiving and Christmas and sends birthday cards to all his more than 700 employees every year. He also corresponds with others, including sick children of his employees, keeping track of their progress. 

“Giving is the keyword,” Riley said. “Choose something that really hits you in the heart and that you can feel good about [doing].”

The Distinguished Business Speaker Series for the 2023-2024 academic year kicked off on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, as Riley, president and CEO of Maine Course Hospitality Group, spoke with students, staff and members of the public at the Gracie Theatre on Husson University’s campus.

Riley was introduced by President Robert Clark and interviewed by College of Business Dean Marie Hansen during the talk.

The series, sponsored by MMG Insurance Company, is intended to educate and inspire students, alumni and community members on the challenges facing businesses and related professions. Launched in September of 2021, in conjunction with the opening of Harold Alfond Hall, the new home of Husson University’s College of Business, this series includes dynamic speakers from a variety of disciplines ranging from banking, manufacturing, government and security, to agriculture, management, marketing, sports and more.

Riley told students that people today are looking for socially responsible companies and that can also make companies stand out. But the drive to take care of employees should be the real goal.

“If I could offer some kind of wisdom or advice, it’s that every job you’ve had you can take from it and learn something to mold you into maybe the CEO of a company,” Riley said.

The next Distinguished Speakers series event will be held on Oct. 25, 2023 from noon to 1 p.m. at The Gracie Theatre and will feature Dajuan Eubanks, president of the Maine Celtics.