oug Dean is the general manager of the Hyatt Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago. Dean graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in hospitality management in 1988. Since then, he has worked in the hotel industry for companies like Hyatt and Marriott International in cities all over the country. Dean also completed graduate courses in the MBA program at St. Louis University while advancing his career.

“I feel that I came out of Mizzou with a well-rounded education,” Dean said. “More importantly, [I obtained] an ability to continue the learning process throughout my career.”

Before working at Hyatt Magnificent Mile, Dean was a general manager at St. Louis Union Station Marriott and the director of sales and marketing at Renaissance Chicago Hotel, St. Louis Airport Marriott, Atlanta Airport Marriott and Des Moines Marriott. He has held numerous other positions and has been consistently employed in the hotel industry since his first internship while he was a Mizzou student.

Dean obtained his first job within the industry as an intern for Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Mo.

“I enjoyed the public facing components of business and the industry,” Dean said. “I did an internship when I was in school and found that I fell in love with the business… Tan-Tar-A at the time was a Marriott resort. It was a very active and interesting summer.”

Dean said he finds fulfillment in his job through a variety of ways. Two particular ways he finds job satisfaction is through enhancing the guest experience and through watching employees grow and advance in the industry.

“I’ve seen many, many people grow in their careers in this industry, and it’s one that allows for career progression and growth, sometimes at a very rapid pace,” Dean said. “It’s very exciting to see people take advantage of opportunities and increase their role and their scope of responsibility.”

The most useful piece of advice Dean has received in his career was said by Bill Marriott, the Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Marriott International. Marriott’s father J. Willard Marriott founded the well-known hotel chain.

“If you aren’t serving the guests, make sure you are serving those who are,” Dean said. “That’s something I continue to practice today.”

Dean also identifies as one of the “most vocal” fans of the St. Louis Cardinals living in Chicago. He frequents games in both Chicago and St. Louis. His son Andrew Dean, who graduated from the CAFNR sports management program in 2014, works for the St. Louis Cardinals as an account executive in group sales.