IHOP'S Director of Training and Development, John Isbell, Elected President-Elect of the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART)
Isbell will serve as President-elect of the organization for one year, after which time he will be appointed President. As President-elect, Isbell will help oversee the organization's efforts to advance industry training practices and improve operational results through access to education, tools and other resources.
"We're excited for John as he prepares to take the helm of the industry's largest training organization," said Jim Peros, IHOP's Vice President, Operations Services. "John represents IHOP's commitment to training and ensuring our people have the skills and resources they need for personal and professional development, and his commitment and focus will be an asset as CHART continues to advance industry-wide training practices."
A CHART member for eight years, Isbell recently held the position of Vice President of Education at CHART, and formerly served as Treasurer of the organization. Isbell joined IHOP in 1996 as a member of the training team, and has served as Director, Training and Development since 2001.
Prior to joining IHOP, he was the Unit NCO in charge of Training and Development in the United States Air Force Reserves, and was also previously a Corporate Trainer for Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurants. Isbell serves as a member of the National American Society of Training and Development (NASTD) and also is on the New Products Committee for the Elliot Leadership Institute. He has presented at a number of industry gatherings, including The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant and Hotel Show, MUFSO, multiple CHART conventions and the Internal Quality & Productivity Center. Isbell received a Bachelor of Science in Workcenter Education and Development from the University of Southern Illinois, Carbondale, and is a Certified Hospitality Trainer (CHT) with The Educational Institute.
About CHART
CHART is one of the oldest and largest nonprofit organizations dedicated to training in the hospitality industry. Members number over 700 and represent multi-unit restaurant and hotel companies and all facets of hospitality training professionals, from entry level to senior executive. By helping trainers do their jobs better, CHART positively impacts millions of employees, customers and companies and the industry as a whole. CHART's mission is to develop hospitality training professionals to advance industry training practices and improve operational results by providing access to education, tools and resources.
About IHOP Corp.
The IHOP family restaurant chain has been serving a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner selections for more than 45 years. Offering 14 types of pancakes as well as omelettes, breakfast specialties, burgers, sandwiches, salads, chicken and steaks, IHOP's diverse menu appeals to people of all ages. IHOP restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale, California-based International House of Pancakes, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IHOP Corp. As of June 30, 2007, the end of IHOP Corp.'s second quarter, there were 1,319 IHOP restaurants in 49 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and Mexico. IHOP Corp. common stock is listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol "IHP." For more information, call the Company's headquarters at (818) 240-6055 or visit the Company's Web site located at www.ihop.com.
Contact: Jennifer Pendergrass IHOP Corp. 818-637-3603
SOURCE: IHOP Corp.