April 2023

April 2023
Jeff Denlea Jr.

(BBA Management, ’07)

Q & A:

1. What was your favorite class, who was your favorite professor, or what is your fondest memory of Hofstra?
   I can’t say I had one favorite class or professor at Hofstra. The majority of my courses were very interesting and applicable to what I do career wise. With a major in business management, my coursework included accounting, marketing, finance, and human resources – all of which have contributed to my successful career.
2. What was your first job after graduating from Hofstra, and what was the most valuable thing you learned there?
   My first job after graduating from Hofstra was in the restaurant industry. I accepted a bar manager position with The Jekyll & Hyde Entertainment Group working at three locations in NYC and one location on long island. I was quickly promoted to front of house restaurant manager. The most valuable thing I learned was the importance of building strong relationships with vendors and guests.
3. What is your field of specialty, and how did you come to work in the industry?
   My specialty is hospitality operations and strategy. In 2009, both the NY Mets and NY Yankees were building new ballparks; many job openings were available. During my college career, many professors and mentors along the way talked about the importance of finding a job you love, as it will never seem like work. If you love what you do, it’s not work. It’s something you love.
4. What advice would you give to current Hofstra students?
   Stay humble, build solid relationships with co-workers and others, surround yourself with nice people, and bring your best self forward every day.
5. In one word, how would you describe Hofstra?
   Exciting
6. How has your degree helped you?
   It helped build a solid foundation and pushed me to have an open mind and wear many hats in the operations field.
7. What is a typical day like for the vice president of hospitality strategy at Wrigley Field?
   I work directly with the Chicago Cubs executive team to craft and develop the best hospitality program in all the sports and entertainment industry. I lead the location team of 75+ full-time positions, proactively coaching and motivating team members to deliver their best. I work to build a strong partnership with the Cubs and develop a shared hospitality vision for the organization.
8. What is the best part about working at Wrigley Field?
   What could be better than working with the best MLB Club in all of baseball? Summers in Chicago – There is nothing like it!
9. What is the hardest/toughest part of your job?
   The industry is forever changing. Staying ahead of the pace can be challenging at times. But with the right long-term strategy and the overwhelming support from my team, we can make anything happen!