Dennis Szefel is Delaware North Companies’ chief strategy officer. In this position, he helps direct the long-term growth of Delaware North, a $2 billion-plus global leader in hospitality and food service and one of the largest privately held companies in the world.
 

Szefel has been with the company for more than 40 years, most recently as chairman of Delaware North Companies International, the company’s global business unit representing its businesses in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
 

He was named to the newly created position in July 2010 and given responsibility for developing a business, operational and global growth strategy. He likewise was responsible for leveraging Delaware North’s expertise across the entire enterprise as it increased its market presence in new and existing international markets.
 

Szefel has made significant contributions throughout his career to the company’s standing as a global hospitality company. He was chief administrative officer, overseeing the company’s vast support services. In addition, he was instrumental in establishing Delaware North’s Gaming Hospitality Group, a cross-divisional enterprise that lends expertise in areas such as culinary, retail, lodging, recreation and guest service to the North American gaming industry.
 

Szefel also held the position of group president of Delaware North, overseeing the operations of Sportservice, Parks & Resorts and Travel Hospitality Services. He was the founding president of the company’s Parks & Resorts division from the time of its inception in 1993 and his leadership, including the formation of the company’s award-winning, environmental program called GreenPath®, has established the company as one of the leading hotel and resort management companies in the world.
 

Szefel is active in many leadership organizations in the travel, tourism and hospitality industries and also spends time supporting local civic and community organizations. He is a member of several local and national boards. He received a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Program in Management Development.
 

In 2005, Szefel became one of only three people ever to receive the company’s highest honor, the Chairman’s Award of Excellence.