This workshop provides supervisors with practical tools to set expectations clearly, delegate with confidence, and address performance issues before they escalate. The outcome is a more reliable and engaged team that reduces daily friction and strengthens overall business performance.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
In partnership with the Savannah Tourism and Leadership Council
Michael began his lifelong career in the hospitality industry while growing up in Atlanta and he made his home in Savannah over 20 years ago. For a decade, Michael worked for HLC Hotels, a local Savannah Hospitality company. At HLC, Michael was charged with overseeing the operations of multiple properties. In 2012, he was hired as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Leadership Council. He and his distinguished board of directors lead the largest trade organization representing the tourism and hospitality community in Georgia.
Bennett has spent his career in sales, operations, and supply chain roles both in consulting and private equity. Bennett has been an operations partner at both Deloitte and EY focusing on manufacturing, operations improvement and supply chain. Bennett finished at EY as the practice leader for the Midwest Supply Chain practice, responsible for all sales and delivery. While in private equity Bennett served as an operating partner holding various operations roles within the portfolio companies including COO for a global Tier 1 automotive supplier, VP of Operations for a large industrial products manufacturer and VP of Supply Chain for a North American industrial and consumer products manufacturer. During his private equity tenure, he has worked with many entrepreneurs to improve operations in anticipation of a due diligence review and sale to PE firms.
Sheila Cosgrove is an executive coach and leadership consultant with deep experience in the hospitality industry. She held director-level roles at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), where she led global operational planning, process standardization, and leadership training initiatives supporting hotel performance and consistency. She holds the SHRM-CP (SHRM Certified Professional) designation, reflecting expertise in operational HR practices and the competencies critical to effective supervisory leadership.
This program is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is supported by federal taxpayer funds. By registering, you certify that you are legally authorized to receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations.
All programs are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
The UGA SBDC is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
All SBDC services are provided in a nondiscriminatory way to all legal residents and citizens in the United States. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
The UGA SBDC is an accredited member of America’s SBDC.
The University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center
382 East Broad Street
Athens, GA 30602-5412
P: (706) 542-2762
