Bruce McAdams

Professor McAdams joined the faculty in January of 2009 after more than twenty years leadership experience in the Ontario hospitality industry. After starting his management career in operations and training with Darden Restaurants, McAdams joined Toronto based fine-dining company Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants. His most recent role was as the company’s Vice President of Operations which he held from 2005 until 2009.

McAdams has taught 'Leadership' to Food and Beverage Management students at George Brown College and received his introductory sommelier accreditation in 2001 from the internationally recognized Court of Master Sommeliers. In 2007, McAdams was inducted as a “Fellow” of the Ontario Hostelry Institute (OHI) for his work in creating and Chairing the OHI’s Top 30 under 30 program which recognizes Ontario’s most promising hospitality leaders. In 2011 McAdams founded the University of Guelph Sustainable Restaurant Project (UGSRP) and is currently its Executive Director. Through yearly symposia, research programs and other activities, UGSRP brings together students, researchers, and industry to discuss and study issues of sustainability in food-service. McAdams also serves as the Graduate Program Coordinator for the Master of Arts in Leadership.

McAdams research activities focus on leadership and sustainable employment models in food-service. In 2016 he was named "Educator of the Year" by the OHI, and in 2017 he received an "Excellence Award in Service" from the North American chapter for the Principles of Responsible Management Education (United Nations) for his work with the UGSRP. In 2018 he received a "Distinguished Professor" award for excellence in teaching from the University of Guelph Faculty Association and was recognized with a Research Impact Award from the College of Business and Economics. He considers himself an advocate for a stronger restaurant industry and is regularly asked to give his thoughts and opinions on restaurant issues to major media outlets including the Globe and Mail, CBC Radio, The National, and NPR.