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