School of Hospitality Management Monthly Update: January 2008

This Monthly Update from the School of Hospitality Management at Penn State serves to keep you informed and interested in the news as it happens - for alumni, industry, faculty & students.

Send us your news....it's a great way to connect.

Paul Howard named Hospitality Industry Relations Director

Paul Howard (HRIM '96) was appointed to the position of director of Hospitality Industry Relations in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management, starting January 1, 2008.

Paul is a 1996 graduate of the program and a 2003 MBA graduate from the Smeal College of Business, where he specialized in Strategic Management and Marketing.

Paul was an instructor in the School from 1998 - 2003 and from 2005 until December, 2007. In his industry career he was general manager at the Diamond Run Golf Club in Sewickley, Pa., general manager with Red Lobster in Strongsville, Oh., and general manager of the State College Elks Country Club.

In his new position, Paul will be charged with growing the School's presence in the hospitality industry, coordinating the day-to-day activities of the Alumni Society and supervising events for both the School and the Society.

"I look forward to working with Paul on setting the strategic direction of our industry and alumni relations efforts," said Bert Van Hoof, director of the School of Hospitality Management.

Paul Howard can be contacted at paul.howard@psu.edu or (814) 865-6728.

Fall Fledge

Eighty-one undergraduates and three graduate students walked across the stage to complete the 2007 list of SHM graduates on December 23, 2007.

The Fall '07 Recognition Ceremony began with a breakfast in Café Laura. School of hospitality students and their families mingled with faculty and staff before a full day of activities that culminated in graduation. In between the College of Health and Human Development hosted lunch for the entire College

image of students at recognition ceremony

Faculty lined up to shake hands and congratulate those who now enter the realm of Penn State Hotel Restaurant Society alumni status. "We are always here for you and expect that you call on us in the future," said director Bert Van Hoof as he addressed the class gathered with family and friends.

Student speakers, Derrick Monte Carlo and Hillary Keptner, roused their colleagues with both humorous and sentimental words.

Winners of the Director's Strategy Award accepted accolades before a group of nearly 400 consisting of the graduates, their families and friends, faculty, and staff. Winners of this semester's award include:

Daniel Chan
Trisha Hammond
Danielle Lay
Daniel Lee
Anthony Schipani
Jennifer Zanella

“Leverage your Penn State Asset!” said Jim Purdum, guest speaker at the Recognition Ceremony, general manager of Penn State Hospitality Services, and former president of the Penn State Hotel, Restaurant Society (PSHRS). Mr. Purdum fondly recalled his early years in the industry and those who helped him to succeed in his career – namely Dick Benefield. “The relationships you have with your school, your college, your university will serve you in ways you can’t even imagine today,” he said. “My own career is a testament to that fact. Stay connected. Stay involved.”

Jeff Heim, instructor for Advanced Hotel Management (HRIM 480) and internship coordinator, was seen nodding his head as he listened to the various speeches. "The years fly by," he said afterward. “I'm forever grateful for the help I've had along the way. I hope these students know they can always call on us to help them connect."

Seniors well-served

Before the sheepskin is in hand, seniors are treated to two very special events in Mateer Building. The first is the Senior Dinner; the second is a Recognition Ceremony.

During the last week of school, faculty and staff cooked and served up a feast for the Senior Dinner. Steve Musco and his team of students (HRIM 330) spent a full day chopping, dicing, and slicing to prepare a menu design by Pete Yersin (a perennial success).

Graduating seniors enjoyed an evening of exchanged pleasantries (and some barbs) across the buffet line before heading down to Sharkey’s for one last game of pool.

“You fed us well,” said one student. “In fact, I felt well-fed my entire time here at Penn State. Thanks for everything!”

Spring Break Study Abroad Awards

The Hospitality Management International Travel Endowment will fund seven students with a $500 travel stipend for Spring Break Study Abroad in Italy and Greece.

Students receiving the award include: Annika Anand, Kathryn Catanese, Vanessa Conrad, Roxane Dahlgren, Andrew McCarthy, Curtis McClusick, Lucy Ruetiman, and Andrea Wight.

"My parents are thrilled," exclaimed Curt McClusick, upon learning of his win. Curt's father, George McClusick (HRIM 2000) is proud his son will have the opportunity to visit another country. This will be McClusick's first trip abroad, and he says he intends to study for a full semester in Hong Kong in Spring, 2009.

The Italy trip will be the first time abroad for Vanessa Conrad (sophomore), also. Conrad applied to the program while at Penn State's Altoona campus. She says that being involved with the Italy program will help her to meet people when she moves to University Park this semester.

“My parents loved the idea that I wanted to study abroad in Italy,” said Conrad. “My heritage is Italian and they fully support this first trip abroad.”

Two HRIM Undergraduates on National Championship Volleyball Team

Ann Naylor, senior, and Kelsey Ream, sophomore, are team members on the
National Championship women's volleyball team! Kudos!!

The No. 1 Penn State women's volleyball team captured the program's second NCAA Championship, winning a dramatic five-game final, 3-2, against No. 4 Stanford in Arco Arena.

For quote and pictures go to: live.psu.edu/story/27828?nw=4 or gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/psu-w-volley-body.html

Ann Naylor is in the bottom row, second from right;
Kelsey Ream is wearing the cap in the back row directly behind the trophy.

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions

Several guests filed through a student poster session held in Keller Auditorium during the last few days of Fall '07 to review the culmination of Hospitality Decision Making and Information Systems (HRIM 350).

Students lined up eagerly awaiting the opportunity to present their semester-long business proposals using project management tools and process improvement (Six Sigma) methodology.

"I feel professional and business-like," said one student dressed in a suit and bouncing on his heels. "I'm also excited because I'm still a junior."

In all, 31 project teams analyzed one of three processes: Reconfiguring the coffee station in Café Laura; revamping the check-out system in Cafe Laura; overhauling the food service production plan for the 2008 Dance Marathon.

Following the adage that one 'best way' to apply course concepts is through practice, the project broke down into 10 deliverables (reviewed throughout the semester), the poster session, and an oral sales pitch.

"The purpose (of the project) was to create an intensive student learning experience involving decision-making tools with non-accounting data" said instructor Lesley Scamacca. "This project allows students to act as consultants with the potential to implement their solutions."

It also allows them the opportunity to play consultant, to think on their feet, and to be creative.

Scamacca, who has been fine-tuning the project for just over a year, says the quality of the posters and final documents continues to improve each semester. "I couldn't be prouder of the transformation and professional development the students display by
semester's end," she says.

Scamacca has selected Nemacolin Woodlands Resort for a 2008 Case Study.

Congratulations to the winning team!

Innovative Project Management
Michelle Houseknecht
Lauren Jackson
Missy Kostovny
Zach Penrod
John Travaglini

Students were assisted by teaching assistants who had successfully completed a previous version of the course: Candace Abbott, Cory Bannon, Robert McKinnon, and Stephanie Newcomer.

Out and About

A diverse group of 42 students, ranging from freshmen to graduating seniors, traveled to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in western Pennsylvania with chaperones Rosemarie Hibbler, Jeff Heim, Dave Rachau, and Lesley Scamacca.

The purpose was to expose students to operations and to experience a Five Diamond (AAA) restaurant and a top-ranked resort.

Students were treated to their own beautiful room at the Chateau Lafayette, one of the two four-diamond (AAA) hotels at the resort, and a full day of events including a tour of the entire 3,200-acre property, several restaurants, three hotels, zoo, antique car museum, two golf courses, and spa.

Activities included a panel discussion with current PSU alums employed at Nemacolin. Two recent interns, Sonya Grebs & Stephanie Newcomer, were also part of the panel.

Lunch included a session on etiquette, with the last hour spent on a hilarious team building activity.

"Recruiters from Nemacolin will be visiting on February 5-6 and I know that there will be many students excited about an internship opportunity," said Rosemarie Hibbler, director of recruitment for the School of Hospitality Management at Penn State.

The best part? “We’re all invited back to do it all again!” said Heim.

Berks Expands

Based on an ongoing trend of rapid growth, including an additional 164 students this academic year, the Berks campus has identified a need for a new classroom building that will greatly increase available general classroom and departmental space.

Many School of Hospitality Management students begin their academic program in the Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management department at Berks campus under the tutelage of Jim Bardi. Jim is excited to teach in the new classrooms.

A 60,000-square-foot classroom building will be situated between Thun Library and Franco Building and will help to frame the central green space of the Berks campus. It also will house the programs of business, engineering, information science and technology and hotel, restaurant and institutional management.

Hip and Cool…and a viable career choice

Hospitality schools got a nice boost from a January 8th USA Today article by Gary Stoller entitled Hotel schools are in with inn crowd.

According to the article, about 200 schools now offer bachelor's degrees to students majoring in hospitality management, a five-fold increase over the past quarter century.

Several hospitality educators were interviewed for the article that points to a variety of factors driving the boom: a generation of students and recent graduates who are better traveled than their parents; a bigger, richer hospitality industry hungry for management talent and willing to pay for it; and broader curricula that train students not just for hotel work but for an array of business and management jobs.

The number of Penn State freshmen who declare hospitality management as their major "from Day 1" has doubled according to a quote from Bert Van Hoof, director of the School of Hospitality Management at Penn State. He says many more students today than in the past "see the industry … as a valid career from the moment they start thinking about going to college. Perceptions have changed from "you serve" to "you manage those who serve."

See the full story at USA Today.

Monthly Update Archive

Send us your news - we'll include it in the School of Hospitality Monthly Update. Contact Vivienne Wildes at vjw100@psu.edu

Penn State University

The College of Health and Human Development