DALLAS - Eric Affeldt, Invited president and CEO, was honored March 27 by the Dedman School of Hospitality at Florida State University with the prestigious Cecil B. Day Ethics Award. The award recognizes national leaders in the hospitality industry who live and lead based on their faith, family and respect for others.

The Cecil B. Day Ethics Award, which was named after the founder of Days Inn of America Inc., was first established by Day’s son, 1982 FSU business graduate Clint Day, the Cecil B. Day Family and FSU in cooperation with the National Restaurant Association. Former recipients of the award include Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-Fil-A, and J.W. “Bill” Marriott Jr., chair of the board of Marriott International Inc.

“The Cecil B. Day Family and Florida State University are honored to recognize Eric Affeldt as a national leader in the hospitality industry who embodies the values and traits of the late Cecil B. Day,” said Robert Brymer, the Cecil B. Day Professor of Management at FSU who presented the award. “He lives and leads based on his commitment to his faith, family, employees and respect for others. Eric is the first recipient from the club industry and we’re proud to present this award to him.”

“Since life is a team sport, I am pleased and grateful on behalf of Invited and myself to accept this award,” said Affeldt. “It is an honor to be associated with Cecil B. Day, along with the previous award recipients, and I am especially proud to be the first recipient from the club industry.”

The presentation was made at the FSU University Center Club during a two-day “Faith, Ethics and Servant Leadership” conference meeting of students and industry leaders. The honor comes with a $10,000 award, which is given to the non-profit organization selected by the recipient. Affeldt has chosen the Dedman School of Hospitality as the recipient of his award.

About Invited

Dallas-based Invited is The World Leader in Private Clubs®. Since its founding in 1957, Invited has operated with the central purpose of Building Relationships and Enriching the Lives® of its members. Invited owns or operates a network of more than 150 golf and country clubs, business clubs, sports clubs, and alumni clubs in 23 states, the District of Columbia and two foreign countries that serve over 350,000 members, with approximately 14,000 peak-season employees. Invited properties include: Firestone Country Club (Akron, Ohio); Mission Hills Country Club (Rancho Mirage, California); Capital Club Beijing; and Metropolitan Club Chicago. You can find Invited on Facebook at facebook.com/Invited and on Twitter at @Invited.