Bruce White's legacy is more than the company he founded in 1985, according to a new book that details his career and philosophy.
“Hospitalitarian: Bruce White’s Legacy,” by Kathi Ann Brown, shares accounts from friends and family and those who benefited from his style of leadership. White died in 2023 from cancer. He was 70 years old.
“There are only a select few in any generation that have the combination of intelligence, street smarts and firmly held values that Bruce had,” said Mitch Daniels, former Indiana governor and president emeritus of Purdue University, in a press release.
White built White Lodging, which recently invested millions into corporate headquarters in Merrillville, into a national company.
J.W. Marriott wrote the book’s foreword.
“You couldn’t be a Marriott franchisee without knowing and benefiting from the knowledge, insights, and friendship of Bruce White,” Marriott said. “He wanted us all to win: Marriott, White Lodging and hundreds of his franchisee peers. If that meant rattling our cages or pushing us to reconsider our policies, so be it. His heart was in the right place, and his integrity was unquestioned.”
After White's passing, his family, including three children, took up the mantle of the company that had only ever known his leadership.
They also promoted Jean-Luc Barone to CEO in 2022. Barone joined White Lodging in 2016 as the vice president of food and beverage, and served as COO since 2018. Bruce's wife, Beth, became board chair, and eldest son, Conner White, was named chief investment officer in January.
The idea for the book started when White Lodging's leadership wanted to be sure to share Bruce White's passion for life and learning.
“We began documenting the company’s history and Bruce’s entrepreneurial journey to help ensure that every associate at the company – now and in the future – knew about White Lodging’s founder and his expectation for the company and our people, including our culture and the relentless pursuit of excellence for each other, our guests and our owners,” Beth White said. “As Kathi researched and assembled the manuscript, we saw that the stories and lessons could appeal to a much broader audience, so we decided to pull it all together into a book.”
The White family's foundation has long helped the Region's community, including projects at Purdue University, Aquinas Catholic Community School in Merrillville, regional YMCAs and community centers.
“His relentless pursuit of excellence across every aspect of his life – personal, professional, and philanthropic – is something we hope to instill in every student at Purdue University,” Daniels said. “And thanks to the generosity of the White Family, we are well on our way.”
The book will be turned into a film, which will be narrated by television host Mike Rowe. It's release is scheduled for later this summer.
“Hospitalitarian,” which was published by Spectrum Creative, is widely available, including Amazon. Proceeds from the sale of the book or documentary will be matched with donations to initiatives in education through the White Family foudations.
