Leonard Gooz

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LEONARD GOOZ

“Every experience in life influences you,” says Leonard Gooz (‘02). “Your family, your community, the friends you surround yourself with.”

Gooz can point to many experiences over the years that have led him to his current position as vice president for customer experience and innovation at Hilton, where he works with brands like DoubleTree and Embassy Suites.

His life today in McLean, Virginia, is quite different from that of his childhood. Gooz grew up in Slovakia—formerly Czechoslovakia—in a Christian household. His father was a Christian Reformed Church pastor, so faith was always part of his identity. Eventually his father became the general secretary of the church of Slovakia and ran a publishing company called the Bible Society. Gooz’s mother worked as a controller at a national bank in Slovakia.

“It was an interesting childhood because, until I was about 12 years old, I grew up under the influence of Soviet communist regimes,” he says. “It was a unique privilege to see how a society turns from a socialist to a market capitalist society— to see the market forces and trends that come into place.”

Visit Slovakia today, and you might not see much difference from United States in terms of quality of life, says Gooz. But back when Gooz was 18 years old, his family had a combined household income of $5,000 a year—not nearly enough to pay for college tuition in the United States.

"My team at Hilton is responsible for making sure we have the best products from a service, product design, and delivery perspective," says Leonard Gooz.

Gooz first considered going to the United States for college because of Mike Hollander. A successful hotel owner and developer from Lynden, Washington, Hollander was also passionate about helping orphanages around the world through a non-profit organization. While in Slovakia, Hollander connected with Gooz’s father about sponsoring orphanages in Romania. The two men became friends; eventually, Hollander invited young Leonard, who was in high school, to spend the summer at his home in Lynden. “One day, we were out walking and Mike said, ‘Leonard, you should consider studying in the U.S.,’” he recalls. “It had never crossed my mind. But as I figured out what it would take—a combination of standardized testing, good grades, and a baseline understanding of the English language—I decided to try.”

Gooz worked hard academically and applied for scholarships to be able to afford a college education in the United States. After applying to several Christian universities, Gooz picked Dordt. He arrived in Sioux Center sight unseen

and was surprised to find it was nestled within cornfields and cow pastures. Having experienced cities like Los Angeles and Seattle, he had originally pictured studying in a vibrant, urban setting. As he adjusted to college life, he grew to appreciate the people and the academic environment Dordt provided.

JAMIN VER VELDE ( ’ 99 )

“What I loved the most about Dordt were the connections and opportunities studying here afforded me,” he says. “Through Dordt, I was able to study in the Middle East for six months and in Washington, D.C., for six months. Those learning experiences set me up well for graduate-level education down the line.”

He also loved connecting with fellow students.

“At 18 or 20, you think you have all the answers to the world’s problems,” he chuckles. “At 18, we’re ambitious, idealistic, and want to change the world. If you throw together students from different backgrounds into one dorm building, everyone comes in with their own personal beliefs shaped by their parents or the communities they live in.” “At Hilton, we wake up in the morning and obsess about making sure our brands are attractive to consumers and are delivering on the experience consumers are looking for," says Gooz.

He recalls sitting in a dorm room with friends from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Sioux Center, just telling stories. “When you hear people’s personal stories come to life, you realize you don’t have everything figured out,” says Gooz. “Here we are with our own personal beliefs and biases, and we can challenge one another. Those were some of the great moments I had in college.” He also grew in other ways. “Dordt gave me a very strong faith-based foundation. You learn how to use faith as a filter through which you start making decisions and through which you challenge yourself and your own biases to make decisions in accordance with how the biblical teachings are guiding us to do,” he says. Throughout college, Gooz thought he wanted to become a lawyer. He studied political science and history; he worked for a Sioux County prosecutor. He planned to attend law school, but during his senior year something changed. “I realized I liked the dynamic, fasterpaced environment of business. I liked working in teams. I liked traveling and having an impact internationally,” he says. So, after graduation, he worked his way from sales to a managerial role at Automatic Data Processing (ADP), which provides human resources management software and services. He learned how to build and lead a team—how to motivate and inspire people—and what it was like to work in a corporate environment. He self-funded his graduate level education, enrolling At 18 or 20, you think you have all the answers to the world’s problems…when you hear people’s personal stories come to life, you realize you don’t have everything figured out. — Leonard Gooz, alumnus in American University’s MBA program. After he graduated, Gallup knocked on his door.

“They use science to help organizations better design customer experiences or build thriving workplace environments. I admired Gallup, so I was thrilled to join their team.”

He worked as a consultant for Gallup for six years.

“I probably learned more in my consulting days than I ever had before, because I had different clients, challenges, and industries I needed to balance.”

From there, he moved to Ernst and Young. Although he enjoyed the work, he quickly figured out that the position wasn’t what he was looking for. He recalled his summers spent at Hollander’s hotel, where he worked nearly every job available at a hotel— folding sheets, driving the limo, helping with maintenance needs, and more—and missed the hospitality industry.

“I remember power-washing during the day and then running the front desk in the evening,” he says. “I really fell in love with the hotel business during my college years. Then, when I worked

in consulting, I learned the branding strategy side of business.” Three years ago, when Hilton approached Gooz about a position as vice president for customer experience and innovation, he took it. “It’s been the best opportunity for me. I am able to merge my interest in operations with branding to build a successful, consumerfocused brand,” he says. “We have an incredible team and brand, and we’re making a true difference in the world.” location or trip occasion, and first choice for our owners, so they can continue to build our brands and invest in the communities they serve." Looking back, Gooz is thankful for the ways his Dordt experience shaped his life. Had it not been for Dordt, I would have floundered a lot more in terms of decisions later in life.

With 6,000 hotels across 125 countries, Hilton is comprised of 18 brands, including Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, and Hampton. Gooz leads a team of 25 people. A complex, fast-moving global organization, Hilton has many fierce competitors, which makes Gooz’s role in customer experience and innovation very important. “It takes a lot of vigilance, research, and quick deployment,” says Gooz. “Every single day, Hilton opens 1.5 hotels globally. So, my team obsesses about how we get our brands to be first choice for our guests, no matter what “Had it not been for Dordt, I would have floundered a lot more in terms of decisions later in life,” he says. “And, look, everyone goes through their ups and downs—there’s no such thing as a perpetual upward line. But I think having that faith-based foundation allows you to endure some of the ups and downs, to endure some of the mistakes you’ve made, and to keep you focused on areas that matter most.” SARAH MOSS (’10) — Leonard Gooz, alumnus

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE INNOVATIVE? Gooz is always thinking about being innovative—it’s in his job title as vice president for customer experience and innovation.

“Hilton’s definition of innovation is, anything that produces value— value for the customer or for the community you serve. It’s as simple as that,” he says.

Innovations might be big or small, but they always center on unmet needs.

“If you look at some of the greatest companies, you can usually pinpoint a need no one else identified,” he says. “Nearly every successful company is grounded in a set of attempts to get it right and having the perseverance to work through problems in a creative way. They also have to be smart about operationalizing the concept and deploying it in a way that produces commercial value and benefit.”

In May 2019, Zach Van Engen (’16) graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology’s Kent College of Law magna cum laude with a juris doctor. He now works as a patent attorney with Fitch, Even, Tabin, and Flannery, LLP, an intellectual property law firm in Chicago.

Cora Okkema (‘16) won the top spot at Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2019 Young Farmer Discussion Meet in Grand Rapids. The contest tests young farmers ages 18 to 35 in a unique public speaking challenge. Participants are rewarded for their knowledge of agricultural issues, their cooperative demeanor, and the tact and civility of their delivery.

While in college, Paul Hoogendoorn (’06), Jeff Zomer (’06), Chris Van Huis (’06), and Ross Van Der Bill (’08) roomed together in East Campus F8—they sometimes referred to themselves as the F8 Heartbreakers. Years after graduating from Dordt, they, their wives, and their children try to get together every other year to catch up. This past summer, some of them went on a guys’ fishing trip.

“These men and their families are like family to one another, and we have Dordt to thank for that,” says Van Der Bill.

Sarah Wolthuizen (‘05) was honored as Village Northwest Unlimited’s Outstanding Staff of the Year. This award is considered the highest honor awarded to a staff member of Village Northwest Unlimited, as the recipients are nominated by their peers.

Mike (’94) and Kim (Vander Weide, ‘94) Adams were nominated for the Angels in Adoption Award by South Dakota senator John Thune as part of National Adoption Month in November. The Adams formed the Adams Thermal Foundation, which supports more than 1,000 students in two schools in Ethiopia. In addition to having five biological children, the Adams have adopted three children from Ethiopia and one child from Uganda.

Paul Dalen (‘92) was named the Senior Modeling Analyst for USAA’s chief financial office. “I manage a portfolio of statistical and actuarial models used to determine the bank’s risk profile,” explains Dalen.

In May 2019, Dr. Laura Apol (‘85) was named poetlaureate for the Lansing, Michigan, area. Apol is an associate professor of literacy and curriculum at Michigan State University and is the author of several prize-winning collections of poetry, including Falling from Grace and Requiem, Rwanda. To read some of her poetry, visit lauraapol.com.

DEFENDERS FOREVER

In 1955, shortly after Dordt was founded, an idea was born—to create an organization of individuals interested in giving special financial support to the general operation of the college.

At the time, many colleges were supported by large industrialists. Dordt neither had nor expected to have support from such sources. What Dordt did have, however, were hundreds of supporters who had a vital interest in the college—men and women dedicated to its success and the promotion of reformed, Christ-centered education.

Thus began the Special Subscribers fund. To qualify for membership, Special Subscribers committed to making an annual contribution of $25 or more; they also were dedicated to seeking new members. Over the years, the program expanded. At its height, Special Subscribers boasted 760 members—Dordt alumni, faculty, friends, and fans, committed to making gifts year after year.

To date, the program has raised over $7 million through gifts and investment growth, helping fulfill its goal of giving “greater financial stability to the college and its operational and developmental programs with a view to securing the academic quality and prestige of the institution.”

The need for financial stability is just as important in 2020 as it was in 1955. Today, a new generation of supporters are contributing as Defenders Forever.

Defenders Forever is a community of young alumni, parents, friends, and fans of Dordt University who have chosen to make a recurring gift of $100 a year, or $10 a month. Defenders Forever are Defenders from every generation and corner of the globe, united by their ongoing commitment to helping future Defenders develop their talents to glorify God and serve others.

As we begin this new decade, we are reminded of the faithfulness of those who have gone before us and of how grateful we are for their small, faithful acts of generosity. By God’s grace and through his provision, may we humbly follow their lead.

Defenders Forever: a lasting promise with a lasting impact. For more information on how you can become a Defender Forever, visit dordt.edu/forever.

KAREN VAN SCHOUWEN ('01) DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING