Robert 鈥淏ob鈥� D. Planck (鈥�71)
(1948-2022)
BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS
President & CEO
Interconnect Enterprises, Inc.
Robert D. 鈥淏ob鈥� Planck (鈥�71) graduated with the first class of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership 鈥� then the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management 鈥� in 1971. While a student, he worked in numerous restaurants and clubs in Houston. He was the founding president of the Hotel and Restaurant Management Society, today called the Hotel Management Society, and served on the Student Senate representing Hilton College. He also held leadership roles in numerous student groups and was named to Who鈥檚 Who in American Colleges and Universities by the University of Houston selection board his senior year. In 1969, Planck wed his college sweetheart, Sharron Brieger.
After graduation, he served as an Army captain during the Vietnam War, working stateside in management positions in Army hospitals and in food-systems development on assignment to the Quartermaster Corps. Planck was awarded two Army Commendation Medals for his service. He was also an adviser to the Quartermaster Center Army Chef鈥檚 team and served on the Valley Forge Officer鈥檚 Club Board.
Upon completing his military service, Planck became corporate director of foodservice and housekeeping for Humana Hospitals Corporation, working in its corporate offices in Louisville, Kentucky, and in the field in the U.S. and overseas.
In 1978, he joined Sysco Corporation in Houston as director of training and development. Over 18 years, he was subsequently the company鈥檚 director of quality assurance, director of merchandising, director of marketing services, a divisional vice president in two operations, and finally a corporate officer and vice president of marketing.
In 1995, he left Sysco and relocated to Australia to direct John Lewis Foodservice of Australia, the first national foodservice distribution company in that country. Over his term, the company acquired and integrated 17 operations, becoming the largest foodservice distribution operation there.
After returning to the U.S. in 1997, Planck taught full time for a year at the College as a visiting professor and executive in residence, and he consulted with numerous firms in the U.S. and Australia. He then became senior vice president of Ameriserve, an $8 billion revenue firm and the nation鈥檚 leading limited-menu restaurant distributor. He was a founding partner of Food Service Associates of Australia, the first national foodservice brokerage firm in that country, and he managed and developed a Northeast-based U.S. foodservice brokerage firm while employed by Damon and Associates.
For 10 years, Planck served as president of the Independent Marketing Alliance, a supply chain management and marketing firm whose principals posted sales of $15 billion through 65 distribution facilities in the U.S. He was also chairman of Customer Advantage Network, a firm that develops customer loyalty programs for thousands of operators.
Planck served as national president of the Society for the Advancement of Foodservice Research, sat on the editorial advisory boards of several industry magazines and received the Doctorate of the Foodservice Industry and National Seafood Service Leader awards.
He also served as international president of Tau Kappa Epsilon, was chairman of a national political action committee, and was president of the Hilton College Alumni Board. He was a board of directors member and vice president of the UH Alumni Association, and a member of the 91视频 Athletic Foundation Board, the Honors College, and the Hilton College Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board. He led the Hilton College portion of a UH development campaign.
Planck was a member of the UH Presidents Club and the 1927 Society, a life member of the UH Alumni Association and the Frontier Fiesta Foundation, and an avid supporter of UH athletics through Cougar Pride. He was recognized as Hilton College Alumni of the Year, UH Volunteer of the Year, and, with his wife, Sharron, UH Parent of the Year. The UH Alumni Association named him its Distinguished Service Honoree in 2010.