HTM Advisory Board

Overview

The HTM Advisory Board consists of senior industry executives from all over the US. The Board meets on campus twice a year and engage in consultation with administrators, faculty, and students. Members provide advice to administrators about curriculum, share the latest trends with faculty, and mentor students about career potential. A highlight of each meeting is the Advisory Board Dinner, which is planned, hosted, and implemented by HTM students.

Specific functions of the Advisory Board are to:

Help develop and review departmental strategic plans and curricula
Serve as a sounding board to assist the Department Head with policy decisions
Assist in the dissemination of information throughout the hospitality industry concerning the Virginia Tech HTM Department and programs,
Serve as an advocate of the Department with the University administration
Assist in articulating departmental priorities and needs to the Pamplin College of Business
Assist in maximizing job placement opportunities and internships
Assist in the Department’s fund-raising and public relations efforts

Officers

General Item

Bob McDonald
Managing Director
Murphy Asset Management, LLC

Salisbury, MD

Chair
General Item

Robert Hayes
Director, Global Accounts
ConferenceDirect

Salem, VA

Co-Chair
General Item

Kiersten Pearce
SVP, Executive & Strategic Initiativies
American Hotel & Lodging Association

Washington, DC

Co-Chair

Members

General Item

Errol Alexander
Director of Human Resources
Connecticut Convention Center

Hartford, CT
General Item

Sarah Bartlett
SVP of Revenue and Distribution
hotelAVE

Providence, RI
General Item

Chris Bennett
Partner
Dentons

Washington, DC
General Item

Catherine Bolling
Founder and CEO
Sterling Celebrations

Lowry, VA
General Item

Ty Breland
EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer
Marriott International

Bethesda, MD
General Item

Paul Carolan
Principal
Paul Carolan Consulting, LLC

Fort Worth, TX
General Item

Miles Clark
Director, Guest Port Operations & Destination Services
Carnival Corporation & PLC

Miami, FL
General Item

Alex Cone
VP of Human Resources
Jason's Deli

Atlanta, GA
General Item

Paul Cooper
President, Chief Executive Officer
Retro Hospitality

Richmond, VA
General Item

Paul Daly
Senior Vice President, Global Franchise Operations and Owner Relations
Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Chicago, IL
General Item

Carrie Davenport
Lead Event Manager
Altria
General Item

Kendley Davenport
CEO
Leadership4Success

Leesburg, VA
General Item

Edward Denton
Chief Development Officer
Commonwealth Commercial Partners, LLC

Virginia Beach, VA
General Item

Tim Dick
Executive Vice President
CBRE Hotels Advisory

Atlanta, GA
General Item

Madison Eades
General Manager
The Bee Hotel & The Holbrook Hotel

Danville, VA
General Item

John Emery
CEO
Alpine-X Inc

Fairfax, VA
General Item

Catherine Fox
Senior Tourism and Destination Development Advisory
Eddy Alexander

Roanoke, VA
General Item

Cindy Frick
Vice President of Consumer Products
Marriott International

Germantown, MD
General Item

Greg Furlong
VP of Sales & Event Services
The Greenbrier

White Sulphur Springs, WV
General Item

Caroline Gardner, CMP
Director of Mid-Atlantic Sales
Visit San Antonio

San Antonio, TX
General Item

Josh Greenberg
Culture Captain/President & CEO
Avmedia Inc.

Orlando, FL
General Item

Sandi Hall
Vice President
American Bankers Association

Washington, DC
General Item

Charles Hill
General Manager
Hilton Crystal City

Arlington, VA
General Item

Steve Hood
Senior VP of Research
STR

Hendersonville, TN
General Item

Adam Jackson
President
Blue Ridge Bread, Inc. dba Panera Bread

Charlottesville, VA
General Item

Starlette Johnson
Founder/President
SBJ Advisory Group

Dallas, TX
General Item

Eric Johnston
Director of Federal Government Affairs
Marriott International
General Item

Greg Kanode
Restaurateur
Angelle's and Angelle's Diner

Richmond, VA
General Item

Kurt Krause
President & CEO
VisitNorfolk

Norfolk, VA
General Item

Mark H. Maloney
President, Eastern Division
Eurest

Parsippany, NJ
General Item

Kimberly Miles, CAE, CMP
Executive Director
Vacation Rental Management Association
General Item

Melissa Milione
Corporate Director of Events
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

Chicago, IL
General Item

Christine Misleh
Principal
CapTech Consulting

Reston, VA
General Item

David Mumford
President
Mumford Company, Inc.

Newport News, VA
General Item

Birju Patel
President
BPR Properties

Newport News, VA
General Item

Mayur Patel
CEO and President
KM Hotels

Richmond, VA
General Item

Nick Patel
Owner, President
Kalyan Hospitality

Glen Allen, VA
General Item

Vinay Patel
President and CEO
Fairbrook Hotels

Chantilly, VA
General Item

TJ Pierri
General Manager
Pelican Grand Beach Resort

Fort Lauderdale, FL
General Item

Sam Reynolds
President/Co-Founder
MainStreit, Inc.

Richmond, VA
General Item

Joseph Ricci
President & CEO
Textile Rental Services Association of America

Alexandria, VA
General Item

Melissa Riley
Senior Vice President, Convention Sales and Services
Destination DC (DDC)

Washington, DC
General Item

Jason Smith
Vice President Marketing Communications
Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International

McLean, VA
General Item

Michaela Smith
Assistant HR Manager
The Grand Hyatt Washington

Washington, DC
General Item

Caroline Steele
Corporate Director of Events, Systems Enablement
Hyatt

Scottsdale, AZ
General Item

Keith Stephens
Owner/Chairman
Guests, Inc.

Strasburg, VA
General Item

Melissa Stirling
Sr. Director, Pathway Programs
Hilton

McLean, VA
General Item

Damon Strickland
General Manager
Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA
General Item

Eric Terry
President
Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association

Richmond, VA
General Item

Juliana Thomas
Regional Vice President
Bozzuto Management Company

Washington, DC Metro
General Item

Peter Veltri
Area Assistant Director of Finance
Hilton McLean

McLean, VA
General Item

Brian Wells
General Manager
Hotel Roanoke

Roanoke, VA