SOUTH PORTLAND — Southern Maine Community College is excited to announce the launch of Bed & Butter: THE Hospitality Podcast. Bed & Butter will be an exploration of the hospitality industry hosted by seasoned hotel executive Sean Riley. The podcast is produced in collaboration with SMCC’s Communications & New Media Studies program, offering a unique platform for students to delve into the world of culinary arts and hospitality.
Bed & Butter is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the fast-paced and dynamic hospitality world, including students and young professionals. Riley, who has over 40 years of industry experience, shares his unique perspective by revealing untold stories, challenges, and triumphs young professionals face as they navigate this vibrant industry.
Each episode will provide a backstage pass to the real world of hospitality. It will feature interviews with top-notch nationwide hotel company leaders, successful restaurateurs, renowned chefs, and aspiring young professionals. Listeners can expect to gain invaluable insights, inspiration, and a comprehensive understanding of the hospitality industry.
Riley has been in the hospitality business for five decades, managing properties from a 19-room motel to a company with 24 hotels and close to 700 associates. In 1989, he joined Maine Course Hospitality Group, a restaurant company with one hotel and seven restaurants. The company currently has a portfolio of 25 hotels, comprising 10 Marriotts, 12 Hiltons, and three independents. Maine Course also works with third-party investors to help develop and manage hotel projects.
“Bringing together business and education in a collaborative effort will ultimately help prepare students and aspiring young professionals to enter leadership roles in the hospitality industry,” Riley said. “Through my 40-plus years in business, I have built a network of successful people nationwide. I’m now looking for ways to give back to young people interested in hospitality. This podcast is that vehicle.”
Maureen LaSalle, chair of Culinary Arts and The L. Joe Van Why School of Hospitality, is excited to offer students a new tool for teaching. “We are thrilled to introduce this new podcast to our students at SMCC,” LaSalle said. “Our goal is to provide our students the best possible education, resources, and experiences. This podcast provides another way for students and the community to learn about pathways to reach their goals by combining Sean’s vast knowledge and real-world expertise with the unique perspectives offered by those already in the hospitality world. We can’t wait to see the positive impact Bed & Butter will have on their learning experience.”
“The interdisciplinary effort between the CNMS program, the hospitality school, SMCC’s communications team, and industry leaders has made Bed & Butter possible,” Riley said. “This unique collaboration reflects SMCC’s commitment to providing students with real-world experiences and lasting industry connections.”
“I am proud to have our CNMS students, guided by Jeff Pierce, CNMS adjunct professor, producing this project,” said Kate Sibole, chair of the CNMS program. “It’s what our students do best–participate in real-world projects that demonstrate their aesthetic and technical skills while highlighting SMCC and the other great programs on campus.”
If you want to initiate your hospitality career journey, you can begin here at SMCC. Please visit smccME.edu/hospitality for all the information on how to get started at the L. Joe Van Why School of Hospitality today.
Visit smccME.edu/bedandbutter to learn more about Bed & Butter. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio and others. Episodes will be released soon. Stay tuned for a journey through the heart of the hospitality industry.
