N.C. A&T Office of Alumni Relations Remembers Mohammad “Mo” Milani
For more than 40 years, Mohammad “Mo” Milani ‘76 led the hospitality division for the Koury Convention Center and Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons. To many, he was known for being larger than life. For others he was a great mentor, philanthropist, leader and business guru.
Affectionately known as “Mo,” Milani came to the United States in 1972 to study electrical engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. In 1980, he joined Koury Corp. under the guidance of Joseph Koury, whom he considered a second father. He moved up the ranks from part-time worker at Joseph’s Restaurant in the Holiday Inn Four Seasons to executive vice president for hospitality, overseeing all hotel operations and managing 1,000 employees.
He is credited for the strategic partnership that made Sheraton Greensboro Hotel the hotel partner of more than 40 years for North Carolina A&T’s “Greatest Homecoming on Earth.”
One of Milani’s longtime employees, reservation manager Mary Smith, worked with him throughout his career that spanned four decades and has personal memories of his legacy.
“Mo exuded confidence in everything he did, and I can remember when he first started out at the Koury Convention Center as a young man, he was always confident. He truly cherished his family, and he took care of the Koury Convention Center with great care because Mr. Joseph Koury trusted him,” said Smith. “Most importantly, he instilled confidence in his staff. If he said it was going to happen, it happened. If he said we were going to do it, we did it.”
In the Greensboro, North Carolina, business community, Milani is known as a champion of the Triad’s hospitality, tourism and sports business sectors. He was a member of the Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, Greensboro Sports Foundation, Greensboro Hotel Motel Association, Triad Youth Soccer Association, Greensboro Host Committee for numerous Atlantic Coast Conference and National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, and a member of the local organizing committee for United States Figure Skating in 2011, 2015 and 2020.
Milani even ran with the Olympic Torch for the 1996 Summer Olympics. He was instrumental in bringing the 2019 World Irish Dancing Championship to Greensboro and strategic in hosting international conventions including the annual High Point Furniture Market and Market America.
“Greensboro is known as a second-tier city, meaning you have to pull people here for tourism,” said Smith. “And Milani, an Aggie, was the voice in the room and sat at many tables making sure potential partnerships considered Greensboro as their first choice for business.”
On Feb. 20, 2021, Milani passed away unexpectedly leaving behind his wife, Tammy, and children.
“He will be missed, and his wisdom and love will live forever with his staff. He taught us how to remain united and to remember the legacy of Mr. Koury,” said Smith. “Through his confidence, he served the City of Greensboro with a job well done.”
