A Recommendation from Philip G. Smith
I am proud to recommend David McGowan as he launches SCORE, his hospitality consulting practice.
Having worked with him as our General Manager, I saw firsthand his ability to do more than manage a restaurant—he knows how to lead a business.
He combines operational expertise, financial discipline, strong team leadership, and a genuine commitment to the guest experience.
What sets David apart is his practical, hands-on approach. He understands the realities of hospitality, quickly identifies opportunities, and develops solutions that create meaningful results. Just as importantly, he knows how to build trust, develop people, and bring teams along with him.
I would confidently recommend him to any owner or hospitality organization looking to strengthen operations, develop leadership, improve the guest experience, or drive greater profitability.
He doesn’t simply understand hospitality—he knows how to make it work.
Philip G. Smith
President, Mama Zuti LLC
Lieutenant Colonel, US Army (Retired)
Read Philip’s full recommendation
I am proud to offer my strongest recommendation for David McGowan as he launches SCORE, his hospitality consulting practice.
His combination of operational expertise, business judgment, leadership experience, and people skills makes him particularly well suited for consulting. He brings something many consultants cannot: firsthand experience dealing with the realities of hospitality every single day.
I had the opportunity to work with David during his tenure as our General Manager, and what impressed me most was not simply his ability to manage a restaurant—it was his ability to lead a business.
David understands that exceptional hospitality is the result of disciplined operations, strong leadership, engaged employees, financial accountability, and an unwavering commitment to the guest experience. He possesses the uncommon ability to see all of those pieces simultaneously and understand how they influence one another.
What sets him apart is that his knowledge of the business isn’t theoretical—it comes from years of being in the trenches. He understands the pressures that owners, operators, managers, and employees face every day. He knows how to build strong teams, improve operations, control costs, raise service standards, and, most importantly, create an environment where both employees and guests feel valued.
If I were an owner or executive looking to improve an operation, strengthen a management team, elevate the guest experience, improve profitability, or simply gain an experienced and trusted outside perspective, David would be someone I would want in the room. He has an inherent ability to walk into a challenging situation, assess what is really happening, and develop practical solutions that actually work.
I am confident that any organization he advises will quickly recognize what I had the opportunity to see firsthand: he doesn’t simply talk about hospitality—he understands how to make it work.
SCORE for the win.
Philip G. Smith
President, Mama Zuti LLC
Lieutenant Colonel, US Army (Retired)