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(1948-2022)
President & CEO
Interconnect Enterprises, Inc.

Robert “Bob” D. Planck (’71) graduated with the very first class of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership (then, the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management), in 1971. While a student at the College, he worked in numerous restaurants and clubs in Houston. He was the founding president of the Hotel and Restaurant Management Society (today called the Hotel Management Society) and served on the Student Senate, representing Hilton College. He also served in leadership roles in numerous student groups. Planck was named the Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, by the ̽����Ƶ selection board his senior year. In 1969, Planck wed his college sweetheart Sharron Brieger, and in December 2010, they celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary.

After graduation, he served as an Army captain during the Vietnam War, working stateside in management positions in Army hospitals and in food-systems development on assignment to the Quarter Master Corp. Planck was awarded two Army Commendation Medals for his service. He was also an advisor to the Quarter Master Center Army Chef's team and served on the Valley Forge Officer's Club Board.

After completing his military service, Planck became the corporate director of foodservice and housekeeping for Humana Hospitals Corporation, working in their corporate offices in Louisville, Kentucky. He worked in the field in the US and overseas.

In 1978, he joined Sysco Corporation, in Houston, as director of training and development. Over an 18-year period, he was subsequently the company's director of quality assurance, director of merchandising, director of marketing services, a divisional vice president in two different operations and finally, a corporate officer and the vice president of marketing.

In 1995, he left Sysco and relocated to Australia to direct John Lewis Foodservice of Australia, the first national foodservice distribution company, in that country. Over his term, the company acquired and integrated 17 operations, becoming the largest foodservice distribution operation there.

After returning to the US in 1997, Bob taught full time for a year at Hilton College, as a visiting professor and executive in residence. He also consulted with numerous firms in the US and Australia during this time. Subsequently, Planck became senior vice president of Ameriserve, an $8 billion revenue firm and the nation's leading limited menu restaurant distributor. He also was a founding partner of Food Service Associates of Australia, the first national foodservice brokerage firm in Australia. Here, he managed and developed a Northeast-based USA foodservice brokerage firm while employed by Damon and Associates.

For10 years, Planck served as president of the Independent Marketing Alliance (IMA), a supply chain management and marketing firm, whose principals boasted sales of $15 billion through 65 distribution facilities in the US. In addition, he was chairman of Customer Advantage Network, a firm that develops customer loyalty programs for thousands of operators through the same distribution system's IMA member/owners.

Planck has served as national president of the Society for the Advancement of Foodservice Research. He serves on the editorial advisory board for several industry magazines and has been awarded the Doctorate of the Foodservice Industry and the National Seafood Service Leader awards.

Planck also served as international president of Tau Kappa Epsilon (the world's largest social fraternity), was chairman of a national political action committee and was president of the Hilton College Alumni Association. Additionally, he was a board of directors member and the vice president of the UH Alumni Association. He was also a member of the ̽����Ƶ Athletic Foundation Board, the Honors College and the Hilton College Dean's Advisory Board. Additionally, he led the Hilton College portion of a UH development campaign. Planck was a member of the UH Presidents Club and of the 1927 Society. He was also a life member of the UH Alumni Association and the Frontier Fiesta Foundation, as well as an avid supporter of UH’s athletics programs, through Cougar Pride.

Planck was recognized as the Hilton College Alumni of the Year, UH Volunteer of the Year and UH Parent of the Year, with wife Sharron. He was also named the 2010 Distinguished Service Honoree, by the UH Alumni Association.