Kemmons Wilson (January 5, 1913 - February 12, 2003) was the founder of the Holiday Inn chain of hotels. He was born Charles Kemmons Wilson in Osceola, Arkansas, a son of Kemmons and Ruby "Doll" Wilson. His father was an insurance salesman who died when Kemmons was nine months old. Shortly thereafter, his mother, Doll, moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she raised him. He opened the first Holiday Inn motel in Memphis in 1952, …

Maria Chevalier Vice President Business Intelligence, Advito Ms. Maria Chevalier Maria Chevalier is vice president of business intelligence for Advito, the consulting division of BCD Travel. In that role, she leads a team of professionals who develop benchmarking and data strategies that enable clients to maximize their travel programs.

Jeff Weggeman , Vice President of Sales and Marketing As Vice President of Sales and Marketing for ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, Jeff Weggeman is responsible for developing and coordinating the company's overall sales and marketing strategies and their implementation, including direct sales, marketing, e-commerce and public relations.

Dr. Rae Davis , President congratulated all the Awardees for their contribution to the building of the University and the Community. The President told the gathering that “as we continue the pursuit of excellence together as a team, we will be faced with the reality of dwindling resources, rising costs and competition.”

Dr. Rock teaches both online and residence students "Organization Theory & Design" in the MBA in Hospitality & Tourism offered by the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Guelph. He has designed and taught the combined online/residence "EQ and the New Workplace" course and is a full professor in the Financial Services Applied Degree Program in the School of Business, Seneca College and Seneca@York.

Peter Luk , Ryerson University Peter Luk has been a professor at Ryerson University for 24 years, following a decade of sales and management experience in industry. His passion for the school is obvious and his dedication and service on its behalf considerable. Currently, Peter is the Director of Ryerson's School of Business Management , the largest of the 4 Schools in the Faculty of Business. He is also a former Director of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Michael Ottenbacher Dr. Michael Ottenbacher is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Hospitality, San Diego State University. Prior to joining San Diego State University, Michael was Assistant Professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Guelph, where he specialized in Marketing and Lodging Management. He has also lectured in Marketing at the University of Otago, New Zealand and Hospitality Management at the University of Surrey, UK.

Mary G. Trometter , Assistant Professor, Food & Hospitality Management/Culinary Arts Courses taught: Lead instructor for FHD108 Foundations of Food Preparation, FHD118 Sanitation, FHD406 Culinary Internship IV, School of Hospitality Lab Assistant and FHD 496 Culinary Senior Project. Committed to establishing strong fundamental culinary technical skills and standards of professionalism.

Robert Harrington Robert Harrington is Associate Professor in the School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at the University of Guelph. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the areas of leadership, strategy, and management. He received his MBA and Ph.D. in strategic management from Washington State University and his Baccalaureate from Boise State University.

Julia focuses on strategic human resource management, leadership, empowerment, recruitment, selection and organizational culture.

Jon McGaunn Managing Director Mr. McGaunn provides asset and operational management for resort and hotel properties. His previous experience in hospitality operations provides a better understanding of the customer and allows for great operational and customer orientation skills. Prior to joining Petters Real Estate Group, Mr. McGaunn served as President of Petters Hospitality and spent 10 years with the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in various locations and positions.

Frank van der Post BS MS '84, Senior Vice President, Americas Jumeirah, at the Jumeirah Essex House Hotel in New York City during the 91st International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show.Spring 2007 School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Career Fair. Alumni return to recruit.

Patricia McCaughey (Associate Professor) has been a member of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Adminiatration for over ten years. Her degrees include a B.S. in Business Administration from Suffolk University and a M.B.A. from New Hampshire College. Prior to coming to Endicott, she was employed by a major hotel chain in the areas of corporate accounting and front office management.

Jon McGaunn Managing Director Mr. McGaunn provides asset and operational management for resort and hotel properties. His previous experience in hospitality operations provides a better understanding of the customer and allows for great operational and customer orientation skills. Prior to joining Petters Real Estate Group, Mr. McGaunn served as President of Petters Hospitality and spent 10 years with the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in various locations and positions.

Mr. Quinn has been selected as a member of the elite Young Presidents' Organization and in 2001 Patrick received the prestigious Ernest and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Louisiana and Mississippi. He is an active board member of the New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association. He has served as President of the organization and has served on the board of numerous other hospitality organizations.

Dr. Jinlin Zhao , Associate Professor of Management and Director of Graduate Programs for FIU School of Hospitality, has been named "Olympic Project Training Manager" for ARAMARK Corporation's 2008 Beijing Olympic Project

Frank Steed is President & CEO of The Steed Consultancy, established to help chain operators in a variety of industries develop outsourced domestic and international franchising programs. Prior to forming his consultancy, Frank amassed 35 years experience in the restaurant and franchise industries, most recently as President & CEO of Tony Roma’s.

Guy Falkson completed his high school in the U.K., after having lived in Israel and South Africa. He graduated from the Swiss Hotel Management School of Les Roches Marbella in Spain. Guy speaks four languages and has worked in South Africa for Leading hotels of the World, as well as in properties in Germany, Spain and the U.K. He has also been awarded Junior Master Chef and Most Creative Young Chef Status of the South-UK.

Susan Salazar , Executive Vice President, Human Resources, LXR Resorts Friday, November 2 As one of the hospitality industry's leading human resource senior executives, Susan Salazar worked for Hilton Hotels Corporation before joining LXR, a leading owner and operator of luxury resorts. Ms. Salazar continues to recruit FIU School of Hospitality graduates and, assisting as they enter their careers in hotel/resort management.

Joy has kept true to her generous philanthropic philosophy since her company’s inception over 19 years ago. A graduate of the School of Hospitality at Florida International University, and a former Brownie and Girl Scout, she saw this as an opportunity to be a positive influence on young women in our community. “I was delighted to be able to donate our food, time and facility to the Girl Scouts. I hope be a good example of a successful business woman to these girls,” Joy said.

Professor Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality and Tourism Leaders Lecture Series

Jill initially joined Women on Campus to network with other AUT women and three years later says she still finds her work on the committee rewarding. "I like to have a sense of involvement in my place of work, and working on the WOC committee helps provide that. I also believe women's issues can more readily be solved and contributed to by women," she says. Jill joined AUT in 1999 and is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Hospitality, having previously worked at Massey University.

HUMBERTO “BURT” CABAÑAS ’76 , School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Benchmark Hospitality International, The Woodlands, Texas - Under the leadership of Humberto “Burt” Cabañas, Benchmark Hospitality International has grown to 23 owned or managed properties in 14 states and Japan. The company provides management and marketing services for resorts, executive conference centers, conference hotels and golf clubs.

Ryan Pennie, VP Canada, UBF Foodsolutions will be this semester's executive-in- residence in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) from November 1 - 3, 2004. Mr. Pennie graduated from the University of Guelph in 1991 with a BASc. During his four years at school Ryan owned and operated a hot air balloon company, Cloud Busters Inc., which promoted and marketed, among others, a fast food restaurant chain. In 1991 Ryan sold his business to an American operator.

Caroline S. Bell is Executive Vice President of Cloud 9 Living, an experiential incentive company that provides an alternative to traditional methods of awards or incentives. Through the use of unique and memorable experiences, Cloud 9 offers an alternative solution that provides longer lasting impact on employees and creates greater value and return on investment for the organization.

Kristy Adams, the President and Chief Operating Officer of Howard Johnson Franchise Canada Inc. is this semester's executive-in-residence in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM).

William Blue School of Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Management is conducting a revision seminar of core units for HSC students.