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
Rob DeMore
President/Executive Vice President
Troon Privé
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
Rodrigo "Rod" Jimenez
Co-founder & CEO
Sceptre Hospitality Resources, LLC (SHR)
Larry Konecny
CCO
Maggiano's Little Italy
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.
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 (’95)
Vice President of Communications & CSR
The Venetian Resort
Melanie Smalley (Hon. ’24)
President
Spectrum Catering, Concessions & Events
Sharmagne Taylor, CMP (’86)
President
On-Site Partners
Robert Thrailkill (’82)
Vice President, Hotel Development and Operations
Zachry Hospitality, LLC
Donna Vallone
Owner
Tony's Restaurant and Catering
Dianna Vaughan
Senior Vice President
Brand Management,
Americas Hilton Worldwide
Gina Grenyo (’25)
Chair
Dean's Undergraduate Student Advisory Council
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Charles D. Dorn, CCM (’80)
Managing Director
The Dorn Group, Ltd.
BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS
Robert D. "Bob" Planck (’71)
(1948-2022)
President & CEO
Interconnect Enterprises, Inc.
BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS
Tony Vallone
(1945-2020)
President & CEO
Vallone Restaurant Group