Conti Professorship

The Conti Professorship Program was established by alumni and friends of the Penn State School of Hospitality Management in 1987 to honor Walter J. Conti for his contributions to the School, to Penn State, and to the hospitality profession.

Those who are named Conti Professors—themselves recognized leaders within the hospitality industry—visit the school on a regular basis to interact with students and faculty, present guest lectures in hospitality and foodservice management, and speak at graduate and undergraduate colloquia.

Conti Professors

Ms. Marjorie Beasley
Director, Food, Nutrition, and Environmental Services
Bloomington Hospital

Ms. Thelma Becker
Food Service Consultant
TV Journal, Inc.

Ms. Debi Benedetti
Principal Owner
Beyond the Possible

Ms. Marilyn A. Benson
Principal
Twelve Palms, L.L.C.

Mr. Michael Berry
President
Michael P. Berry Consulting and Investments

Mr. Edward R. Book (retired)
Hershey Resorts

Mr. Norman Brinker (deceased)

Mr. James Broadhurst
Chairman and CEO
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group

Mr. Stanley Bromley
Retired
Four Seasons

Mr. Richard Brown (deceased)

Mr. Herman Cain
President and CEO
T.H.E. New Voice, Inc.

Mr. Robert Cannard
Organic Farmer

Mr. Richard Cattani
President
Restaurant Associates

Ms. Leslie Christon
Vice President Foodservice
Flying J Inc.

Mr. Walter Conti (Retired)
Conti Cross Keys Inn

Mr. Ralph Cryder (retired)
City of Long Beach, California

Mr. Michael DeLuca
Vice President Sales and Integrated Marketing
Meister Media Worldwide

Dr. Fred J. DeMicco, Ph.D
Professor and ARAMARK Chair
Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management

Mr. Bob Dickinson (retired)
Carnival Cruise Lines

Mr. Wallace B. Doolin
Chairman and Founder
Black Box Intelligence

Van Eure
Owner
The Angus Barn, Ltd.

Mr. James P. Evans
Owner
Ardent Hotel Advisors

Mr. Ralph Evans (retired)
Evans Farm Inn

Mr. John Farquharson
President
International Food Safety Council

Mr. Joseph Fassler
Consultant
Viad Corp

Dr. William Fisher
Professor and Darden Eminent Scholar in Restaurant Management
University of Central Florida

Ms. Julie Flik
Co-Founder
Flik International

Ms. Denise Fugo
CEO
Sammy’s Restaurant

Mr. Rob Grimes
Chairman and CEO
Accuvia

Mr. Joe Guzzo (retired)
Marriott International

Mr. Dieter Hannig
Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage
Disney Theme Parks

Mr. Franco Harris
President
Super Bakery, Inc.

Dr. Bjorn Hanson
Professor
New York University

Mr. Bob Honson (retired)
Portland Public Schools

Mr. Michael Hurst (deceased)

Dr. Raphael R. Kavanaugh, Ed.D. (deceased)

Mr. Michael Kay (retired)
Magnatrax Corporation

Mr. Graham Kerr
President
Kerr Corporation

Dr. Lendal Kotschevar (deceased)

Mr. Ronald Magruder
President and Chief Executive Officer
Imvescor

Mr. John W. Marriott III
Chief Executive Officer
JWM Family Enterprises, L.P.

Dr. Anthony Marshall (deceased)

Mr. Thomas McGlinchy (retired)
The School District of Philadelphia

Mr. George W. McKerrow Jr.
President and CEO
Ted’s Montana Grill

Mr. Ferdinand Metz
President Emeritus
Culinary Institute of America

Mr. Stephen Michaelides
Owner
Words Ink

Mr. W. W. “Biff” Naylor
Co-Owner and Chairman
Naylor Establishment

Dr. Michael Olsen
Professor
Virginia Tech and Shenandoah University

Mr. Lawrence A. Pande, Jr.
President
Professional Food Service Management

Mr. Georges Perrier
Owner
Le Bec Fin

Mr. Hasmukh P. Rama
Chairman and CEO
JHM Hotels

Mr. Neil S. Reyer (retired)
JPMorgan Chase

Mr. Robert E. Rich, Jr.
President
Rich Products Corporation

Mr. Richard Rivera
President and CEO
Rubicon Enterprises, L.L.C.

Mr. Timothy Ryan
President
Cullinary Institute of America

Mr. Raymond E. Schultz
Chairman
RES Investments, L.L.C.

Mr. Allan Schuman
Chairman Emeritus
Ecolab

Mr. Fred Shaner (retired)
Shaner Hotel Group

Mr. Lance Shaner
Chairman and CEO
Shaner Hotel Group

Mr. William Shaw
Vice Chairman and Director
Marriott International

Dr. Donald Smith
Professor
Washington State University

Mr. Rodney Stoner
Owner
Rod Stoner, L.L.C.

Mr. James Sullivan
CEO
Sullivision, Inc.

Mr. Louis Szathmary (deceased)

Ms. Jackie Trujillo
Director
Yum Brands, Inc.

Mr. Jack Vaughn, CHA (retired)
Gaylord Entertainment Company

Mr. Regynald Washington
Vice President and General Manager
Disney Regional Entertainment

Ms. Shirley R. Watkins, FCSI
President and Founder
SR Watkins & Associates, L.L.C.

Mr. John Woodhouse (retired)
SYSCO Corporation

Mr. Richard Ysmael
President
Food Works Division of Compass North America