​Mike Lodge is a seasoned culinary, food and beverage, and hospitality operations executive with more than 50 years of leadership experience spanning world-class hospitality, restaurant operations, executive training, and organizational development. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for operational excellence, strategic leadership, and an unwavering commitment to creating exceptional guest experiences. His ability to develop high-performing teams while driving operational efficiency has made him a respected leader across the hospitality industry.
Mike began his hospitality journey in 1972 as a dishwasher at Walt Disney World before earning a place in Disney's inaugural Culinary Apprentice Program. Over the next 27 years, he advanced through increasingly senior leadership positions, serving as Executive Sous Chef at Disney's Grand Floridian Beach Resort and opening Executive Chef for Disney's All-Star Resorts. He also contributed to the opening of Disneyland Paris, gaining valuable international hospitality experience while helping launch one of Disney's most ambitious global resort projects. His years with Disney provided a strong foundation in culinary excellence, guest service, leadership development, and large-scale operational management.

Following his Disney career, Mike joined Papa John's, where he led a regional training organization and played an instrumental role in the opening of more than 1,500 restaurants across multiple markets. During this time, he partnered with the Ken Blanchard organization to develop Coaching from the Heart, a leadership development program inspired by Don Shula's acclaimed book Coaching from the Heart: How to Inspire Greatness in Others. The program emphasized servant leadership, accountability, and empowering employees to achieve exceptional results. Mike's passion for developing people later led him to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando, where he served as Chef Director of Student Affairs, mentoring aspiring chefs and preparing the next generation of culinary professionals for successful careers.

Since 2011, Mike has served in executive food and beverage leadership with Westgate Resorts, overseeing approximately 80 restaurant openings and acquisitions across premier destinations including Las Vegas, Nevada; Park City, Utah; and Branson, Missouri. His responsibilities have included concept development, kitchen and dining room design, menu creation, equipment procurement, staffing, leadership development, operational implementation, and ongoing performance management. His broad operational experience enables him to successfully guide projects from initial concept through grand opening while ensuring long-term operational excellence.
Beyond restaurant operations, Mike brings extensive expertise in multi-unit leadership, strategic planning, nationwide vendor negotiations, labor and food cost optimization, process improvement, and hospitality operations management. He has consistently demonstrated the ability to improve operational performance while fostering cultures centered on teamwork, accountability, innovation, and guest satisfaction. His balanced approach combines culinary creativity with sound business strategy to deliver sustainable growth and exceptional results.
An engaging speaker and passionate mentor, Mike enjoys sharing the leadership lessons and experiences gained throughout his remarkable career. Whether speaking to hospitality professionals, business leaders, culinary students, or service organizations, he inspires audiences with practical insights on leadership, team development, operational excellence, and creating workplace cultures where both people and businesses thrive.
Mike's career reflects a simple but powerful philosophy: exceptional guest experiences begin with exceptional leadership. His lifelong commitment to developing people, building successful organizations, and creating memorable dining experiences continues to leave a lasting impact on the hospitality industry and the countless professionals he has mentored throughout his distinguished career.