Hospitality Industry Veteran Joins Polsky Center as New Executive Director

Dan Sachs, a seasoned business executive and entrepreneur in the hospitality industry, has been named the new executive director of the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. His appointment is effective Sept. 1.

In this new role, Sachs will oversee the education and programming function for the Polsky Center. This will include leading a team of professionals focused on developing co-curricular programs and experiential learning opportunities for students, alumni, faculty, and community entrepreneurs. He will also be responsible for developing and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders across all UChicago divisions and professional schools, as well as within the local, national, and global business community.

“Dan’s appointment comes at an exciting time as we have outlined a bold strategy for the Polsky Center,” said Jay Schrankler, associate vice president and head of the Polsky Center. “At its core, Polsky is a service and educational organization with many key customers and stakeholders. Thus, we are looking forward to leveraging Dan’s far-reaching experience and applying it here at the Polsky Center.”

Most recently, Sachs served as president of Meerkat Advisory, an A-list hospitality and leadership development advisory group, and was a professor of management and entrepreneurship at DePaul University. Before that, he was the founder and owner of BIN 36 Restaurant Group and grew the company’s wine brand domestically as well as to international acclaim.

“The Polsky Center is a catalyst in the ecosystem and has created a dynamic environment that enables entrepreneurs and innovators to move from a great idea to realization,” said Sachs. “As someone who intimately knows the challenges of starting and growing a business, I am excited to share my experiences and help advance Polsky’s educational mission.”