Michael A. Leven
Chief Executive Officer

As CEO of Georgia Aquarium, Mike Leven oversees all operations within Georgia Aquarium. Leven is also the Vice Chairman of the Atlanta-based Marcus Foundation, where he has been a trustee and a member of the board of The Marcus Institute and Georgia Aquarium since 2003.

Leven is a native of Boston, Mass., and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University and Master of Science from Boston University.

Leven was formerly President and CEO of US Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS), the company he founded in 1995 which franchises the Microtel Inns & Suites and Hawthorn Suites hotel brands. Prior to that, he was president and COO of Holiday Inn Worldwide. From 1985 to 1990, he was president of Days Inn of America, where he led initiatives to hire older workers, people with disabilities and the homeless, and was recognized by AARP as Outstanding Employer. He also served as president of Americana Hotels.

In addition to being a hotel industry icon and one of franchising’s most innovative leaders, Leven has served many industry organizations throughout his 45-year career, and has been active in numerous civic organizations. He was a member of the National Board of Governors of the American Red Cross, its Executive Committee, and chairman of its Biomedical Services Board. Locally, he was vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta; chair of the marketing and public affairs committee for United Jewish Communities (UJC), and general chairman of the Atlanta State of Israel Bonds Committee. He is director of The Chief Executive Leadership Institute and a board member of the Davis Academy.

He co-founded the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) with 12 members in 1989, and growing to some 9,000 members today. He is former international president of the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and a member of HSMAI’s Hall of Fame. He chaired the Millennium Occupancy & Revenue Effort (MORE) task force of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the AH&LA Government Affairs Committee, and currently serves on the AH&LA CEO Council. Previously, Leven served on the board of Starwood Hotels, and is currently on the boards of the Las Vegas Sands Corp. (The Venetian) and Hersha Hospitality Trust.

Leven’s most recent recognitions include: American Association of Franchisees and Dealers, Total Quality Franchising Lifetime Achievement Award; Hospitality Industry Hall of Honor, University of Houston C.N. Hilton Hotel & College; First occupant, William R. Tiefel Distinguished Speakers Chair for the Hospitality College at Johnson & Wales University, and HSMAI Hot List of 25 Most Extraordinary Sales & Marketing Minds in Hospitality & Travel. He also received the American Jewish Committee Selig Distinguished Service Award; UJA Federation of New York Hotel & Hospitality Award, and Georgia Hospitality & Travel Association Spirit of Hospitality Award. Leven has two honorary degrees, one from Johnson & Wales University (Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration in Hospitality Management), and the second from The College of Hospitality and Tourism Management of Niagara University (Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science).

He and his wife, Andrea, reside in Atlanta. They have three sons and five grandchildren.

• Bernard Marcus - Benefactor and Chairman of the Board
• Michael A. Leven - Chief Executive Officer
• Anthony Godfrey - Senior Vice President of Finance, COO and CFO
• Dr. Greg Bossart - Chief Veterinary Officer & Senior Vice President, Veterinary Services
• Billy Hurley - Chief Animal Officer & Senior Vice President, Husbandry
• Carey Rountree - Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing
• Beach M. Clark, Jr - Vice President, Information Technology
• Joe Handy - Vice President, Education and Guest Services
• Dr. Bruce A. Carlson - Science Officer