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Dean's Advisory Board

CHAIRMAN 
Doug Brooks ('75)
Retired President, CEO & Chairman of the Board
Brinker International 

Thomas Atzenhofer, CPA
Deputy CEO
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals

Charles D. Dorn, CCM ('80)
Managing Director
The Dorn Group, Ltd.

Falayn Ferrell
Managing Partner – Operations
Black Restaurant Week, LLC 

Jeffrey "Jeff" Heaney (’92)
President
Mikasa Hospitality

Patrick Henry
Chairman & CEO
Patrick Henry Creative Promotions, Inc.

Ron E. Jackson
President & CEO
Meadowbrook Golf Group

Pennie Landon
Vice President 
Colorado Quality Building Services

Warren Luckett
Managing Partner – Founder 
Black Restaurant Week, LLC 

Nick Massad Jr. ('73)
President & CEO
American Liberty Hospitality

Randy McCaslin, CRE (Hon. '07)
Founder & CEO
McCaslin Hotel Consulting, LLC

Dorothy T. Nicholson, CHA, CHSE (’77)
President
Nicholson Interests, LLC

Chris Pappas (Hon. '94)
CEO & Executive Vice President
Pappas Restaurants, Inc.

Robert D. "Bob" Planck ('71)
President & CEO
Interconnect Enterprises, Inc.

Gregory W. "Gregg" Rockett ('86)
Hospitality Industry Thought Leader & Award-winning Academic Instructor

John Rydman (Hon. '08)
President & Owner
Spec's Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods

Anna Schmid
Vice President/Arena Partnerships
The Venetian Resort

Melanie Smalley
President
Spectrum Catering, Concessions & Events

Sharmagne Taylor, CMP ('86)
President
On-Site Partners

Robert Thrailkill ('82)
Vice President of Operations, Zachry Hospitality, LLC; General Manager of Hilton Palacio Del Rio; Asset Manager of Staybridge Suites and Convention Center, Embassy Suites by Hilton San Antonio Airport and Embassy Suites by Hilton San Antonio Landmark

Donna Vallone
Owner
Tony's Restaurant and Catering

Dianna Vaughan
Senior Vice President Brand Management, Americas
Hilton Worldwide

Patrick McCaslin ('10)
President
Hilton College Alumni Board

Marcus Gray ('24)
Chair
Dean's Undergraduate Student Advisory Council

CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Charles D. Dorn
,
CCM ('80)
Managing Director
The Dorn Group, Ltd.

BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS
Tony Vallone (1945-2020)
President & CEO
Vallone Restaurant Group