Pillsbury Institute Welcomes New Advisory Board!

At the April Advisory Board meeting, the Pillsbury Institute welcomed a new Advisory Board of over 30 hospitality industry leaders. The Advisory Board members will help shape the entrepreneurship curriculum at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration and support entrepreneurial students through such programs as the Hospitality Business Plan Competition, Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, and internships.

Members of the Pillsbury Advisory Board include:

Jim Abrahamson, CEO, Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Moby Ahmed
Bob Alter ’73, Managing Member, Seaview Investors, LLC
Adam Berk ‘01
Kenny Blatt ’81, Principal, Caribbean Property Group
Roger Bloss, President & CEO, Vantage Hospitality Group
Tom Corcoran, Chairman of the Board, Felcor Lodging Trust
Keith Daub ’73, President & COO, WHI Hotels
Bob DeVries, Co-Head, Spencer Stuart, North America
Monica Digilio, Chief Human Resources Officer, Montage Hotels & Resorts
Diana Dobin, President & Chief Sustainability Officer, Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc.
Kevin Fitzpatrick ’76
John Griswold ’71, President & Founder, Harbor Hotel Investors
Larry Hall ’81, President & CEO, PAR Springer-Miller
Ken Hamlet ’66, Senior Advisor & Operating Partner, Crestview Partners
Chris Hemmeter ’86, Managing Director, Thayer Ventures
Tim Hentschel ’01, CEO, HotelPlanner.com
Christopher Hunsberger ’81, Executive Vice President, Product and Innovation, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Joe Lavin ’75, President, HarborStone Hospitality
Raul Leal, CEO, Virgin Hotels
Warren Leeds ’84, President, Dartcor Management Services
Bill McAleer ’73, Managing Director, Voyager Capital
John Metz ’77, Chairman & CEO, Hurricane Grill & Wings
Ruth Ormbsy ’80, Vice President, Development-Full Service, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
Lee Pillsbury ’69, Co-Chairman & CEO, Thayer Lodging Group
DJ Rama ’96, President, JHM Hotels
Stephen Rushmore ‘67, Founder and Chairman, HVS Global Hospitality Services
Michelle Russo ’87, President, hotelAVE
Ted Teng, ’79, President & CEO, The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.
Brad Tolkin ’80, Co-Chairman & CEO, World Travel Holdings, Inc.
Paul Whetsell, President & CEO, Loews Hotels & Resorts
Jacob Wright, Founder/Managing Partner, High Peaks Hospitality

In addition, Avero and IHG have joined the Advisory Board and are currently choosing representatives from within their companies to sit on the board.

“We strive to teach students about every aspect of entrepreneurship either in the classroom or through experiential learning opportunities. Our advisory board members give us the guidance and financial support to grow our program and also provide a professional network that students can call on as they set out in their careers,” said Neil Tarallo, senior lecturer and academic director of the Pillsbury Institute.

We look forward to the upcoming years with our new Advisory Board and truly appreciate all that they have done and continue to do to help the Pillsbury Institute grow and develop amazing entrepreneurial students in the hospitality industry!