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The School of Hospitality Business Boards

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Giving back to ensure continued excellence.

The School’s strong network of graduates is exemplified by the impressive representation of industry talent on our Alumni Association Executive and Appointed Boards. These board members demonstrate unwavering support for The School and its students, “giving back” through their time, energy and enthusiasm to ensure continued excellence. Our students benefit from this strong industry support and connectivity thanks to the dedication and loyalty of these hospitality executives.

Board Engagement

The Executive Board of Directors, consisting entirely of alumni, oversees the activities of the Alumni Association. The Appointed Board of Directors consists of graduates and non-graduates from all segments of leadership within the hospitality industry, who act as a group of advocates for The School and its mission. The Alumni Association Board fulfills its mission in a number of ways that benefit The School as well as sponsors several events:

  • Executive & Appointed Board of Directors meetings, held twice each year (spring and fall on campus)
  • Homecoming parade and after-parade tailgate, game day reception, and football game each fall
  • Annual Destination Auction (jointly hosted by the Alumni Association and Hospitality Association) each spring
  • May alumni reception during the National Restaurant Association trade show in Chicago
  • November alumni reception during the HX: Hotel Experience trade show in New York City

Each year, the Alumni Association also recognizes:

  • Inductees in its Hall of Fame
  • Industry Leader of the Year
  • Spartan Champion Award (not annually)
  • Alumnus/a of the Year
  • Emerging Alumnus/a Leader of the Year
  • Honorary Alumnus/a of the Year
  • Faculty/Staff Member of the Year
  • Lifetime Academic Achievement Award
  • Alumnus/a of the Quarter (formerly Alum of the Month)

The School's Alumni Association Executive Board of Directors

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Curtis Lease (BA ’91)
Regional Vice President | Dining Services | American Dining Creations

PRESIDENT

Gary Hernbroth (BA ’79)
Chief Motivating Officer, Training for Winners

VICE PRESIDENT

Rose Spickler (BA ’12)
Director of Statewide Engagement, West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and Adjunct Faculty Member, Baker College, Culinary Institute of Michigan

TREASURER

Paul Finstad (BA ’13)
Vice President of Hotel Acquisitions & Asset Management, Aparium Hotel Group

SECRETARY

David DuBois (BA ’78)
President & Chief Executive Officer, International Association of Exhibitions & Events

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Matthew D. Anderson (BA ’09)
Chief Executive Officer, Leadership Coaching for Results

James F. Anhut (MBA ’85)
Director, Real Estate Minor, The School of Hospitality Business

Carol L. Campbell (BA ’98)
Head of Consumer Experience, Ascension

Brian DeMeester (BA ’98)
Executive Housekeeper at FireKeepers Casino Hotel

Hans Desai (BA ’79)
Retired, Leisure Travel, Xanterra Parks & Resorts

Chris Durso (BA ’82)
Distinguished Alumnus

Gary Finnell (BA ’79)
Senior Director Development – SE Region, Hilton

Martha Zehnder Kaczynski (BA ’03)
Vice President, Bavarian Inn Lodge

Erik Liedholm (BA ’93)
Partner/Owner, John Howie Restaurants and Wildwood Spirits Company

Bob Pierce (BA ’83)
Retired, Marriott International

Grant Sabroff (BA ’84)
Senior Vice President, Business Development, Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company

Houston Striggow (BA ’75)
Chief Development Officer, SusieCakes Bakeries

EX-OFFICIO EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

Jeffrey D. Anderson (BA ’90)
Club Manager, The Chicago Club – Charlevioux

James E. Burba (BA ’77)
Retired, Burba Hotel Network

Bradley N. Cance (BA ’89)
General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Washington, DC

John Flood (BA ’80)
Founder & Managing Director, elevate

Jeremy J. Mourey (BA ’00)
Hospitality Executive

HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERS

Mark C. Auerbach (BA ’65)
President, Auerbach Hotel Associates

Neil F. Barnhart (BA ’64, MBA ’65)
Retired

John Belden (BA ’85)
President & Chief Executive Officer, Davidson Hospitality Group

Kevin J. Brown (BA ’77)
President & Chief Executive Officer, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc.

Ronald F. Cichy (BA ’72, MBA ’77)
Professor Emeritus, The School of Hospitality Business

HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERS, continued

Richard C. Conti (MBA ’76)
Senior Managing Director, The Plasencia Group

Jay Dee Cutting (BA ’61)
Retired

Philip J. Hickey, Jr. (BA ’77)
Chairman, Miller’s Ale House Restaurants

Kenneth D. Hill (BA ’56)
Retired

Jon Kennedy (BA ’73)
Senior Vice President, Grandstay Hospitality

John M. O’Donnell (BA ’69)
General Manager & Chief Operating Officer, St. Clair Golf Club

Zoe P. Slagle (BA ’59, MA ’64)
Retired

Lou Weckstein (BA ’58)
Retired

Peter J. Weien (BA ’81)
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Opryland Entertainment

Robert A. Wills (BA ’70)
Retired

Stu Wolff (BA ’82)
Business Coach, Wolff Leadership

CHAIR EMERITI

Dan E. Burdakin (BA ’81)
Retired

Chuck Day (BA ’91)
Regional Director, Revenue Services, InterContinental Hotels Group

Billy Downs (BA ’88)
Owner, Downs Management and Ford’s Garage Michigan

Richard Farrar (BA ’73)
Principal, The Farrar Consulting Group

Michael H. Getto (BA ’56)
Retired

Marc J. Gordon (MBA ’73)
Retired

John P. Hawes (BA ’73)
Senior Partner, LucasGroup

Allegra Johnson (BA ’91)
Managing Director, Club Management Association of America, Georgia Chapter

James Kauffman (BA ’75)
Retired

J. Bruce Lange (BA ’78)
Retired

Dan H. Mathews, Jr. (BA ’66)
Retired

Jerry A. McVety (BA ’67)
President, McVety & Associates, LLC

Michael W. Murray (BA ’81)
Chief Operating Officer, HHM

Mary Ann Ramsey (BA ’75)
Owner & President, Betty Maclean Travel, Inc.

Mike Rice (BA ’91)
Business Development Director, Hotel Contracting Services, Inc.

Susan K. Smith (BA ’59)
President, Food Technologies, Inc.

John Theuer (BA ’83, MBA ’83)
Chief Financial Officer, Eureka Restaurant Group

Ken Weber (BA ’77)
President, Weber’s Hotel & Restaurant

Terri Woodin (BA ’88)
Mountain Vacation Consultant, Rocky Mountain Getaways

William A. Zehnder (BA ’71)
President, Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Restaurant

The School's Alumni Association Appointed Board of Directors

STUDENT MEMBERS

Autumn Mellino (BA ’25)
Chief Executive Officer, Destination Auction

Tyler Dahms (BA ’24)
Chief Executive Officer, Hospitality Association

APPOINTED DIRECTORS

Andre Alexandre (BA ’00)
Vice President, Business Development, NEXDINE Hospitality

Ross D. Bartlett (BA ’10)
Regional General Manager, AHC Hospitality

Dan Briks (BA ’04)
General Manager, Martinique NY on Broadway

Richard A. Bruner (MLRHR ’77)
Professor of Practice, The School of Hospitality Business

Marc L. Cassier, Jr. (BA ’89)
Corporate Head of Catering & Events, HILTON – Americas Managed Hotels

RJ Cutting
Vice President, Fidelity National Title Company

Art Davis (BA ’88)
Director of Finance, The Drake Chicago

Jesse Eisenhuth (BA ’00)
Customer Development Specialist, Gordon Food Service

Jeffrey R. Gillett (BA ’86)
Executive Vice President, The Elliot Group

John C. Guy (BA ’80)
General Manager, Skokie Country Club

Jennifer Hajduk (BA ’98)
Complex Director of Catering & Events, Hilton (O’Hare & Rosemont)

Joel A. Halperin (BA ’07)
Director of Operations, Heirloom Hospitality Group

Lori Haughey (BA ’88)
Vice President of Operations, Intelligentsia Coffee

Jason Hilliard (BA ’95)
District Manager, Aramark Business Dining

Aaron Ide (BA ’98)
General Manager, The Thompson Hotel – Dallas

Lauren Johnson (BA ’19)
Travel Industry & Entertainment Sales Manager, Four Seasons Hotel – Boston

Lauren Jones (BA ’10)
Employee Experience Manager, Rush University Medical Center

Kevin S. Kennebeck (BA ’88)
General Manager, Ruth Lake Country Club

Andrew J. Kern
Senior Managing Director, Investments, Marcus & Millichap

Alyssa Kidd (BA ’13)
Vice President, Eastdil Secured

Nadia Kilgore (BA ’11)
Office Administrator, GGV Capital

Kevin Koons (BA ’05)
Senior Vice President, US Operations, Wingstop Restaurants, Inc.

Caitlyn Kuskowski (BA ’16)
Health & Hospitality Business Entrepreneur

Stephen E. LaHaie (MBA ’77)
Retired, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc.

Kurt Lefler (BA ’88)
District General Manager, Compass Group

Emily MacIntyre (BA ’10)
Director of Sales, Graduate Hotel – East Lansing

Shelley MacMillan (BA ’73)
Silver Maples of Chelsea

John G. Malone (BA ’82)
Area Director – Franchise Services, Choice Hotels International

Jackie Collens Mamorsky (BA ’07)
Director of Sales & Marketing, The St. Regis Hotel

Kevin Maul (BA ’96)
Regional Director – Revenue Strategy, Aimbridge Hospitality

James McHenry (BA ’14)
Director, Sales, Widgeteer, Inc.

Russ Melaragni (BA ’79)
President, The Melaragni Consulting Group, Inc.

Michael Moriarty (BA ’11)
Senior Vice President, Eastdil Secured

Jake Olsman (BA ’08)
Real Estate Services Solutions Company

Kit Pappas (BA ’82)
Tavistock

John W. Pharr (BA ’69)
President, Strand Development Company

Jason C. Rabidoux (BA ’04)
Vice President of Business Development, Davidson Hospitality Group

Nate Redner (BA ’12)
Divisional Sommelier, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc.

Andrea Rodriquez (BA ’04)
Event Logistics Manager, LinkedIn

Geoff Ryskamp (BA ’06)
Global Head of Hospitality, Medallia

Rob Sadoff (BA ’00)
Principal, Scarlett Hotel Group

Ben Schwartz (BA ’72)
President, Harper Associates

Keith H. Shopnick (BA ’98)
Vice President, Operations, Highgate Hotels

Joseph Shurmur (BA ’90)
Vice President of Operations, Greenwood Hospitality

Joshua Smith (BA ’00)
Senior Vice President, HREC Investment Advisors

Katie Smith (BA ’16)
Advocacy Programming Manager, Team Enterprises | Bacardi

Matthew A. Sparks (BA ’84)
Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer, Hilton Vacations

Scott Steilen (BA ’91)
President & Chief Executive Officer, The Sea Island Company

Kevin Swanquist (BA ’08)
Executive Recruiter, Harper Associates

Christopher Tatum (BA ’81)
General Manager, Westin/Aloft at San Francisco Airport

Steven B. Thompson (BA ’87)
Director of Catering, Waldorf Astoria Hotel – Chicago

Mike Tueros (BA ’97)
Director of Meeting & Event Management, Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

Ken Wasco (BA ’76)
Retired, Gordon Food Service

Blair Wills (BA ’02)
President & Chief Executive Officer, StepStone Hospitality

Mary Winslow (BA ’91)
Chief Marketing Officer, Luckie & Company

Kurt B. Wisniewski (BA ’94)
Senior Director, Business Development, SAMBAZON

Philip Zeller (BA ’96)
Owner & Chief Executive Officer, Dale Carnegie Training by Ralph Nichols Group, Inc.

Faculty/Staff Member of the Year Award

This award is presented each year at the Homecoming board meeting. The criteria are:

  • Recognize and honor faculty member(s) and/or staff member(s) who creatively deliver the educational experience inside and/or outside of the classroom, create new synergies through their work and/or research, and then apply it to their service and/or teaching
  • Open to all full-time and part-time faculty and support staff who have had a positive effect on positioning The School as the leader in hospitality business education by demonstrating integrity, ethics in the classroom and the workplace, and rigorous personal and professional standards
  • Efforts should have an industry-related focus
  • Solid relationship with students, alumni, faculty and staff
  • Involved in Hospitality Association and Alumni Association activities
  • Recognize faculty and/or staff members who help and collaborate with students, alumni and other faculty members
  • Can be given to an individual or team
  • Not a lifetime achievement award, but rather a reward to recognize The School’s faculty and staff for helping students, alumni and other faculty collaborate

2022 Staff Member of the Year
Allyson Griffith

2020 Faculty Member of the Year
Carl P. Borchgrevink

2019 Faculty/Staff Member of the Year
Not Awarded

2018 Staff Member of the Year
Jeff Yingling

2017 Faculty Member of the Year
Jeff Elsworth

2016 Staff Member of the Year
Chris Moening

2015 Faculty Member of the Year
Ronald F. Cichy

2014 Staff Member of the Year
James F. Rainey

2013 Faculty Member of the Year
Michael Kasavana

2012 Staff Member of the Year
Lois Schroeder

2011 Faculty Member of the Year
Bonnie Knutson

2010 Staff Member of the Year
Jamie Lyon

2009 Faculty Member of the Year
Raymond Schmidgall

2008 Staff Member of the Year
Lena Loeffler

2007 Faculty Member of the Year
A.J. Singh

2006 Staff Member of the Year
Authella Collins Hawks

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