It all started with a weekly story.
The Friday Story began as a weekly voicemail to my team. Only the managers received it at first. These voicemails were an invitation to reflect on leadership, customer service, attitude, inspiration, and teamwork. Soon, the stories I left on voicemail took on a life of their own. They became a staple of weekly staff meetings and The Friday Story was born.
That was in 1992. From there, The Friday Story grew to reach more than 20,000 people weekly. While the medium has evolved, each story is still a “lesson plan for life.” Every story is an opportunity to stop and remember that goodness has an everlasting effect; that while plenty of people get ahead by doing bad, history shows that it catches up to them. Each story is an invitation to do good, to improve the human condition, and to lead. So...what’s your story?
About the Author
Rob Hebeler
Robert Hebeler is a hospitality executive and adjunct Professor and has held positions in the private, academic, and government sectors, including Westgate Resorts, Bluegreen Vacations, MasterCorp Hospitality Services, Wyndham Destinations, Rollins College, State of Florida, Harrah’s Entertainment, Marriott Vacation Club, and NASA.
Rob teaches Leadership, Strategy, Organizational Behaviors, Hospitality Management, Conflict Resolution, and Negotiation at the Graduate and Undergraduate levels. In 2020, Rob received the Walter E. Barden Outstanding Teaching Award at Rollins College.
Rob graduated from Boston College Carroll School of Business, holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Hartford, a Master of Business Administration, and a Doctor of Business Administration from Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business.
Biography
Professional Experience
WESTGATE RESORTS
• V.P. of Resort Operations, 2024 - Present
BLUEGREEN VACATIONS
• V.P. of Customer Experience 2022 - 2024
ROLLINS COLLEGE
• Visiting Assistant Professor / Program Director of the Holt School at Rollins College, 2020 - 2022
MASTERCORP
• V.P. of Client Relations, 2018 - 2020
WYNDHAM VACATION RENTALS
• V.P. of Customer Experience & Operations, 2017 - 2018
ROLLINS COLLEGE, CRUMMER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
• Assistant Dean, 2015 - 2017
WYNDHAM VACATION OWNERSHIP
• V.P., Owner Experience, 2012 - 2015
• V.P., Resort Operations, 2007 - 2011
STATE OF FLORIDA
• Chief Performance Officer, 2007
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT
• V.P., Customer Quality Assurance, 2005 - 2007
MARRIOTT VACATION CLUB WORLDWIDE
• V.P., Customer Engagement, 1995 - 2005
• V.P., Customer Experience, 1992 - 1995
Education
ROLLINS COLLEGE
Crummer Graduate School of Business, DBA, Executive Doctorate Business Administration
ROLLINS COLLEGE
Crummer Graduate School of Business, M.B.A., Business, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD
M.P.A., Finance, 1987
BOSTON COLLEGE
Carroll School of Management
B.S., Marketing, 1985
Recommendations
“Rob is the most dedicated, conscientious professional I have had the pleasure of working with over my 25 years. His focus, energy and attitude are an inspiration to all around him. Rob is extremely customer focused and relentlessly looks for ways to increase customer loyalty and engagement.”
“Rob is a consummate leader. He was able to show me what it means to be a true professional while still having a good time and enjoying our work. His skills allowed us to demonstrate to our colleagues the value of true customer service and the effect on the bottom line. ”
“Rob is one of the most energetic, hard-working, smart and focused customer relationship executives I have ever met. He is truly a fabulous manager of people and a creative get-it-done guy. Can’t say enough about him.”