Spotlights

Student Spotlight - Nick Vojnovic

Until recently, Executive MBA student Nick Vojnovic served as president of the successful restaurant chain Beef O'Brady's. Now, the 52-year-old is busy with a new venture – leading the efforts to bring Little Greek, a fast-casual dining restaurant, into Tampa. In fact, he has several restaurants opening in the Tampa Bay area soon.

Vojnovic, who served as president of Beef O'Brady's from 2004 to 2010, helped the chain grow from a 30-unit, $16 million company to a business with 270 stores grossing nearly $250 million annually. When Beef O'Brady's parent company, Family Sports Concepts, was bought by a private equity firm, Vojnovic made the decision to return to school to pursue an Executive MBA at USF.

"I have been studying at USF for more than a year now and cannot be more pleased with my time in the College of Business. The professors are fantastic, really hands-on, and the curriculum is top-notch. I am able to take what I've learned in the classroom and instantly apply those real-world concepts to my current job. I cannot say enough good things about my experience and the education I am receiving at the university."

Vojnovic, who graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor's degree in hotel management, was part of a five-member team of Executive MBA students who won the statewide Intercollegiate Case Competition in 2011. The competition, which included teams from Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida State University, the University of Florida, and the University of Miami, required students to solve a real-life business case within 24 hours.