Outlook Magazine - Fall 2018

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Shining examples Managing restaurants, hotels, properties — these alumni are enjoying success in their hospitality careers

David Crabtree, a 1989 graduate, visits a Landshark Bar & Grill, one of the restaurant brands he is expanding as CEO of IMCMV Holdings.

David Crabtree Whether it’s the people or restaurants he’s been associated with — Debbie Reynolds, Jimmy Buffett, Planet Hollywood — David Crabtree has had a star-studded executive career in the hospitality field. The 1989 graduate isn’t slowing down, either. Starting in 2016 he became CEO of IMCMV Holdings, an Orlando company that’s developing Margaritaville, Landshark and other tropical-style casual restaurants in tourist areas of the U.S. In two years, Crabtree has expanded the Buffett-licensed business from 14 to 22 restaurants. More are on the board, including three in a Margaritaville hotel in 2020 in Times Square. IMCMV Holdings is a subsidiary of International Meal Company of Brazil. Crabtree was sought out by IMC because of his management success — president/CEO of Planet Hollywood restaurants from 2010-2014; COO of sales and marketing with Westgate Resorts from 1998-2010; and manager of Debbie Reynolds Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from 1993-1998, the latter while working on his MBA at University of Nevada-Las Vegas and after he left Ruby Tuesday’s management program.

Crabtree helped Westgate Resorts, owned by timeshare king David Siegel, grow from five to 28 resorts and from $16 million to $250 million annual earnings before taxes. The company had more than $1 billion in revenue and 12,000 employees before the 2008 financial crisis hit, when Crabtree had to lay off 6,000 workers in one week. With his people-centered business philosophy, Crabtree is back doing what he loves — managing employees and visiting his restaurants to meet them. “I try to run it like a team or family. I love to see other people succeed and achieve whatever career goals they have. Someone gave me the opportunity and I seized it, and I’m very grateful for that.” Crabtree started at UW-Stout in the applied mathematics and computer science program after being recruited to play baseball by Coach Terry Petrie. He soon switched to hospitality. “I wasn’t sure what I would do with a math degree, and I always loved people. I have nothing but fond memories of Stout. It helped make me who I am today, and I built many close, lifelong friendships,” he said.

14

U W - S T O U T O U T L O O K