Prominent businessman and Eastern Michigan University alumnus Frank Sickelsmith to speak at fall commencement Dec. 15

An overhead view of grads in caps and gowns filing into the seats at commencement.

YPSILANTI – Frank Sickelsmith, Global Director of Brand Development and Strategic Partnerships for the Autogrill Group, will be the Eastern Michigan University commencement speaker during fall commencement on Saturday, Dec. 15.

Frank Sickelsmith headshot
Frank Sickelsmith

The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents approved the speaker during its regular board meeting Thursday, Oct. 25.

Autogrill is the world’s leading provider of food and beverage services for travelers. Active in 31 countries with over 58,000 employees, it has around 4,000 points of sale in around 1,000 locations and operates prevalently under concession agreements in the main travel channels, as well as in select shopping centers, trade fairs and cultural facilities. The Company has a portfolio of over 300 international and local brands, managed directly or under license.

Sickelsmith works with executives in the Autogrill Group subsidiary business units to manage the global relationships with strategic brand partners and collaborates with the regional teams to find new, important partnerships that have potential for global expansion.

Previous to his role with the Autogrill Group level team, he was Vice President of Adult Beverage and Restaurant Development at HMSHost North America. He was responsible for the development and ongoing corporate level support of all restaurants and bars within the HMSHost North America portfolio, including leading direction on adult beverage products and standards.

He also held operational leadership positions within HMSHost North America including senior director of operations at Miami International Airport and Director of Operations at LAX (Los Angeles) International Airport. He joined HMSHost in 2005.

Prior to his time with HMSHost, Sickelsmith served in a variety of strategic and managerial positions within Brinker International, leading the non-traditional development of the Chili’s brand worldwide. He was also a franchisee of the Chili’s brand in Australia, and has owned and operated his own small restaurant business.

He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University having earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on French, International Relations and Advertising.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 19,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.

October 25, 2018

Written by:
Geoff Larcom

Media Contact:
Geoff Larcom
glarcom@emich.edu
734-487-4400