Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series

Elie Maalouf has been Chief Executive Officer of IHG Hotels & Resorts since July 2023. Elie joined IHG as Americas CEO in February 2015. Under his leadership, the region’s estate has grown from approximately 3,700 hotels to more than 4,350. Elie led the delivery of record profits, oversaw the launch of new brands and formats, […]

Born in Toronto, Canada, Jordan Andino began his foray into the culinary world at the young age of 9 learning under his father. After moving to Manhattan Beach, CA, he traded in his surfboard to work in fine dining kitchens and attended the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration to grow his business acumen. Andino […]

David Kong is the Founder and Principal of DEI Advisors, an Arizona non-profit organization. David retired as President and CEO of BWH Hotels at the end of 2021. He led the company to unprecedented growth, transforming it and expanding its portfolio from one brand to 18 distinct brands in every chain scale segment and achieving […]

Sean Hehir is a Principal and Managing Partner of Trinity Investments. He is also the President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Investments and Trinity Fund Advisors LLC. Sean oversees the firms’ investment activities, including sourcing and executing investment opportunities, formulating investment strategies, and structuring acquisitions and dispositions. Prior to joining Trinity, Sean worked for […]

Chris Kirby is a trained chef and the founder and CEO of Ithaca Hummus. In 2013 Chris left his restaurant career and opened a stand at the Ithaca Farmers Market selling fresh lemon garlic hummus made with nothing but the highest quality, freshest ingredients. Over the last ten years under Chris’ leadership, Ithaca Hummus has grown […]

“You can speak anything into existence.“ Creative serial entrepreneur Ron Simpson [36] discovered this life philosophy at quite a young age and never ever looked back. After setting up and selling a few startups varying from marketing to music and events to fashion, his latest adventure with co-founder Julien Zaal “The Avocado Show” is a […]

Jeanelle Johnson is a Principal, Lead Client Partner and Travel, Transportation and Hospitality (TTH) sector Co-Leader at PwC, focused on client service, industry perspective and research for the firm’s leading TTH clients. With nearly 25 years of experience at leading investment banking and consulting firms, Jeanelle’s passion is to help clients with strategic planning around […]

Dana Beninati is a James Beard award-winning producer, educator and writer. After years teaching celebrity chefs how to cook on camera, she has turned her kitchen into a classroom for Food Network. Now Dine with Dana can be seen in Bon Appetit, Wine Enthusiast and Food & Wine Magazine. Her culinary style is inspired by life as a first-generation […]

Travel is in Sean’s DNA and he has been with the World Travel Holdings’ family his entire career. As the Vice President of Land Strategy and Network Performance, Sean is responsible for the growth of Dream Vacations’ land vacation sales and bookings. He is bringing increased focus to building stronger relationships with land suppliers; expanding […]

Jennifer Chaplin Tolkin is Vice President, Family-Owned Brands and East Region Trade Development Director for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol. In this role, Jennifer oversees supplier strategy and performance on a national and regional level for the many family-owned brands in Southern Glazer’s portfolio. Her responsibilities include strategic […]