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
Ms. Debi Benedetti
Principal Owner
Kitchen Sync
Ms. Marilyn A. Benson
Executive Vice President of Established Sales
Diners Club International
Mr. Michael Berry
President and Chief Operating Officer
Back Bay Restaurant Group, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Book (retired)
Mr. Norman Brinker
Chairman Emeritus
Brinker International
Mr. James Broadhurst
Chairman and CEO
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group
Mr. Stanley Bromley
Vice President and General Manager
Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco
Mr. Richard Brown (deceased)
Managing Director
Cayuga Hospitality Advisors
Mr. Herman Cain
President and CEO
T.H.E., Inc.
Mr. Robert Cannard
Mr. Richard Cattani
President
Restaurant Associates
Ms. Leslie Christon
President
Shells Seafood Restaurants
Mr. Walter Conti
Mr. Ralph Cryder (retired)
Mr. Michael DeLuca
Managing Director, Public Affairs
Burson-Marsteller, Inc.
Dr. Fred J. DeMicco, Ph.D
Professor and ARAMARK Chair
Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management
Mr. Bob Dickinson
President
Carnival Cruise Lines
Mr. Wallace B. Doolin
President and CEO
La Madeleine
Ms. Van Eure
Owner
The Angus Barn, Ltd.
Mr. James P. Evans
Chief Executive Officer
Jenny Craig, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Evans (retired)
Mr. John Farquharson
President
International Food Safety Council
Mr. Joseph Fassler
Consultant
Viad Corp
Dr. William Fisher
Darden Eminent Scholar in Restaurant Management
University of Central Florida
Ms. Julie Flik
Co-Founder
Flik International
Ms. Denise Fugo
President
Sammy’s Restaurant
Mr. Rob Grimes
Chairman
Accuvia
Mr. Joe Guzzo
Mr. Dieter Hannig
Senior Vice President
Walt Disney World Food and Beverage
Dr. Bjorn Hanson
Global Hospitality Industry Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers
New York City, NY
Mr. Bob Honson (retired)
Director of Nutrition Services
Portland Public Schools
Mr. Michael Hurst (deceased)
15th Street Fisheries
Dr. Raphael R. Kavanaugh, Ed.D
Professor and Head
Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Mr. Michael Kay
Mr. Graham Kerr
President
Kerr Corporation
Dr. Lendal Kotschevar (retired)
Mr. Ronald Magruder
Mr. John W. Marriott III
Executive Vice President, Lodging
Marriott International
Mr. Thomas McGlinchy (retired)
Mr. George W. McKerrow, Jr.
President
Ted’s Montana Grill
Mr. Ferdinand Metz
President Emeritus
Culinary Institute of America
Mr. Stephen Michaelides
Words Ink
Mr. W. W. “Biff” Naylor
Co-Owner and Chairman
Naylor Establishment
Dr. Michael Olsen
Professor
VPI and SU
Mr. Lawrence A. Pande, Jr.
Chair Emeritus
Professional Food Service Management
Mr. Georges Perrier
Owner
Le Bec Fin
Mr. Hasmukh P. Rama
Chairman and CEO
JHM Hotels
Mr. Neil S. Reyer
Vice President
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, LLC
Mr. Allan Schuman
Chairman of the Board
Ecolab
Mr. Fred Shaner
President and COO
Shaner Hotel Group
Mr. Lance Shaner
Chairman and CEO
Shaner Hotel Group
Mr. William Shaw
President and COO
Marriott International
Dr. Donald Smith
Mr. Rodney Stoner
Vice President of Food and Beverage
The Greenbrier
Mr. James Sullivan
CEO
Sullivision, Inc.
Mrs. Sadako Szathmary
Ms. Jackie Trujillo
Chairwoman
Harman Management Corporation
Mr. Jack Vaughn, CHA (retired)
Mr. Regynald Washington
Vice President and General Manager
Disney Regional Entertainment
Ms. Shirley R. Watkins, FCSI
President and Founder
SR Watkins & Associates, LLC
Mr. John Woodhouse (retired)
Chairman
SYSCO Corporation
Mr. Richard Ysmael
President
Food Works Division of Compass North America