Jim Leva
Meet FDU Alumnus Robert "Bobby" Stern, BS'08
Bobby Stern is the President of Riviera Hospitality Group, a premier on- and off-premise food service company. Bobby and his team are dedicated to provide healthy, nutritious and culturally sensitive food to all walks of life regardless of age, infirmity, economic status, social standing, or workplace environment.
Since the start of Riviera Hospitality Group in 2012, Bobby has managed the sales, marketing, and production of 4000+ immersive events. His culinary experiences have garnered the attention of Fortune 500 companies and luxury brands, including Nike, Google, Disney, PepsiCo, Forbes, and Univision, and won him many accolades including BizBash’s Caterer of the Year award, Top 500 and 1000 Most Influential Event Planners in the country, and Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 2016 nomination.
Bobby’s key to success is that he adapts his business model to meet the needs of the surrounding community. When the Covid-19 pandemic began in March of 2020, he worked with the Department for the Aging and Department of Sanitation in New York City, to safely deliver 650,000 meals a week to homebound seniors. In August 2021, the US Military tasked Bobby and his team to provide 13,000 Afghan refugees with 24/7 food services at a NJ military base. Currently Bobby and his team are providing meals to the homeless and migrants in New York City. Since 2020, Riviera Hospitality Group has served over 36 million meals and counting.
As a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson’s Silberman College of Business, Bobby strives to give back to the institution that laid his foundation as a young entrepreneur. He has invested in the next generation of FDU students with generous contributions made towards endowments and scholarships including Uncle Billy Stern Believe and Achieve Scholarship, Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship, and the Stern Professional Development Program Student Fund.
In addition to generous donations, Bobby lends his professional expertise to FDU events and committees. In positions including Chair of Council of Alumni Engagement, Charter Day 2022 and 2023 Gala Planning Committee Member, and 2022 Hall of Fame Gala Planning Committee Member, Bobby continually uses his passion for event planning to create positive alumni experiences. He helped bring from concept to reality, a bi-annual alumni event “Cars on the Lawn”. This curated car show of exquisite automobiles takes place on the lawn of Hennessy Hall “The Mansion” to raise money for the Silberman College of Business. Regarding his favorite place at FDU, the Silberman College of Business, he has presented in classes, been named one of the 50 Under 50 Alumni Business Leaders, sits on the current Executive Board of Advisors, and most recently was inducted into the Hall of Fame as the youngest alumni to receive this accolade.
Whether it is a luxury client, unprecedented emergency, or an FDU event, Bobby continues to be at the forefront of innovation in the catering and event industry.