Rick Doody, founder, chairman and director of the Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, will present this year’s Schwebel Lecture Series from 4-5 p.m. next Thursday.

According to the Schwebel Lecture Series website, “In 1992, Rick, his brother Chris Doody, and their executive chef Phil Yandolino opened their first restaurant – Bravo Cucina Italiana – in Columbus. The BBRG has grown to include more than 115 Bravo and Brio Tuscan Grille restaurants throughout the United States, with over 11,000 employees and over 17 million guests per year.”

The Schwebel Lecture Series is an annual event hosted by the Kent State Hospitality Management program.

“Most of the people we’ve had over the years … have been entrepreneurs, they have been self-made and they have gone through a lot of challenges they have had to overcome to become this successful person that they are today,” said Swathi Ravichandran, associate professor in the School of Foundation, Leadership and Administration. “I think those are inspirational stories that students need to hear to know that they could be that person down the road.”

The event will be held in room 214 of Ritchie Hall and is free and open to the public.

Alexandra Seibt is the EHHS reporter of The Kent Stater, contact her at [email protected].