Anhut, James F.

Jim Anhut is the senior vice president of brand development for InterContinental Hotels Group.  Jim is responsible for directing the growth of the brand and implementing the strategies to ensure its success.  Jim is a third general hotelier with over 25 years of practical industry experience, including more than 14 years in senior management positions with several national lodging franchisers and extended stay hotel brands.  He is a certified hotel administrator, received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Emory University and masters degrees in finance and hospitality management from Michigan State University.  Jim is a member of the AH&LA Extended Stay Lodging Counsel; serves as an Appointed Board Member for The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University; and is a member of the Atlanta College of Art Board of Directors.  <www.ichotelsgroup.com>

Aznavorian, Kathleen

Kathleen Aznavorian is President and co-owner of Fox Hills, a 63-hole golf and banquet center in the western suburbs of Metro Detroit.  Fox Hills has been owned and managed by the family for 30 years.  It has been voted National and Michigan Course of the Year in 2003.  Kathleen is a CPA and has been President of the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association and currently serves on the Board of Directors.  <www.foxhills.com> 

Berg, Peggy

Peggy Berg, ISHC, CPA, CHA is one of the hotel industry’s leading experts on hotel franchising, market analysis, financial performance and feasibility. She has been a specialist in this area for 25 years and is the founder of the Highland Group, Hotel Investment Advisors, Inc., a national consulting firm. Highland Group clients include many US hotel and franchising companies. She has taught and written extensively on market and financial analysis for hotel projects and is consulted extensively about new hotel development and the feasibility of hotel acquisitions.  Peggy is one of the founders of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) and is Chairman Emeritus of the organization. With the ISHC, she produced papers on Impact, CapEx: A Study of Capital Expenditures in the Hotel Industry, Obsolete Hotels, Workouts and Troubled Properties, and Managing Change and Changing Management. Magazines including Hotel & Motel Management, Lodging Hospitality and Lodging publish her articles; and she recently contributed to a textbook on the hotel industry for the Educational Institute of the AH&LA. Peggy is a graduate of The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University and served on the Alumni Association Board.  <www.highland-group.net>

Boyer, Kenneth D.

Kenneth D. Boyer is Professor of Economics at Michigan State University.  He is past president of the Transportation and Public Utilities Group of the American Economic Association, and is the author of the nation's leading textbook in transportation economics.  He has chaired or been a member of numerous National Academies of Sciences committees concerning transportation economics.  <www.msu.edu/user/ec/>

Burba, James E.

Jim Burba is President of Horwath Hospitality Investment Advisors, a leading hotel brokerage and advisory firm with U.S. offices located in New York, Atlanta, West Palm Beach, Miami, Birmingham, Dallas, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Combined with its international network, Horwath is one of the world’s largest hospitality practices with over 40 offices and 150 professionals dedicated to the hospitality industry.  Jim oversees the marketing, business development and research functions and the real estate consulting practice at Horwath.  He has specialized in real estate investment in the hospitality industry since 1978, with experience including market and financial analysis, deal structuring, transactions and finance.  Prior to joining Horwath, he oversaw business development and the global consulting practice for Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG). Before joining WATG, he headed the business development, strategic planning and research functions at Insignia/ESG Hotel Partners.  Prior, he had his own consulting firm and was a principal at PKF in California.  In addition to his Horwath role, Jim is President of BHN.  BHN organizes prominent hospitality investment conferences including ALIS, the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (Los Angeles), the International Hotel Investment Forum (Berlin), Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (Hong Kong) and the annual Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference.   <www.horwathhospitality.com>

Byma, Henry L.

Henry L. Byma, ASLA, Vice President, JJR, has over 16 years experience in landscape architecture design, planning and implementation with a focus on mixed use-property development and resort planning.  As JJR’s Property Development and Resort Market Segment Leader, his philosophy emphasizes the importance of relationships between creative concepts, their context and maintaining environmental sensitivity and sustain-ability.  His project work includes the master plan and design guidelines for the creation of a mixed-use resort community on Boblo Island, a 200-acre island in the Detroit River; planning, design and implementation of the 1,200-acre Bay Harbor Resort Community on Lake Michigan in Petoskey, which includes a marina, waterfront homes, beach and large private yacht club and a 27-hole golf club; and long-range master planning for the expansion of the four-season ski/golf resort of Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs and Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls.  <www.smithgroup.com> 

Cichy, Ronald F. Cichy

Dr. Ronald F. Cichy is the director and a professor in The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University, a position in which he has served at his alma mater since 1988. Ron is a frequent speaker at annual conferences, meetings and institutes for businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to the hospitality industry. His topics are both educational and entertaining. His insights come from decades of industry experience and working with top global service leaders. Ron’s work on four continents has developed managers and leaders, team builders and trainers, and helped businesses become high performance organizations.  His most recent book is Food & Beverage Service, co-authored with Paul Wise, and was published in 1999. His sixth book on the topic of Managing & Improving Quality is co-authored with John King and will be published in 2003. Ron is recognized as a pioneer researcher on leadership qualities, keys, and secrets of hospitality leaders, both in the US and Japan. His research has led to his identification as one of the top 50 most influential scholars in hospitality management.  Ron serves on the boards of several hospitality industry institutes, foundations, and associations. In 1999, the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association honored him as the Outstanding Hospitality Educator with the Lamp of Knowledge Award. In 2001, he was inducted into The School of Hospitality Business Alumni Association’s Wall of Fame Class of Contri-butors. The School’s Alumni Association honored him as a Distinguished 75th Anniversary Year Alumnus in 2002. <www.bus.msu.edu/shb >

Cleland, Joan L.

Joan Cleland joined the firm in 1986, after serving on both the acquisition and management teams of a leading real estate investment and property management firm.  Joan is extensively experienced in developing major real estate projects, managing and financing large real estate investments, and dealing with complex technical, financial and legal issues as relates to all aspects of investment grade real estate.  Over the course of her career, Joan has served as senior asset and portfolio manager and is currently responsible for major client accounts and business development.  Joan heads up the firm's development division, Acquest Development Company.  She is responsible for new real estate projects designed and constructed on behalf of Acquest's clients.  In this capacity, Joan directs major construction firms, architectural design and engineering firms and operators in the construction, development and management process.  Joan is an honors graduate of Hillsdale College, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.  She is also a graduate of Oakland University's Legal Assistant program.  She is a licensed real estate agent in the State of Michigan, and a member of the Urban Land Institute, Women's Economic Club of Detroit, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), and the Associated General Contractors of America. <www.acquestrealty.com> 

Coburn, Jim

Jim Coburn is the Senior Vice President-National Accounts Manager with National City Bank, Recreation Finance Division.  Jim has 28 years of commercial banking experience – managing most areas in consumer finance including:  indirect (dealer) lending, direct lending, floor planning, residential mortgage, credit card, merchant services, easing and compliance.  He has written articles for Soundings – Trade Only and Marine Business Journal.  He also serves as an instructor for NMBA Annual Marine Lender’s Workshop as well as a guest instructor for MSU Recreational Boating (through the Department of Natural Resources).  Jim also participates with many professional associations such as:  Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation; National Marine Bankers Association, Recreational Vehicle Industries Association, Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association; Michigan Boating Industries Association; Lake Erie Marine Trades Association; Marine Industries Association of South Florida and the Florida RV Trade Association. <www.nationalcity.com> 

Corgel, John (Jack)

Jack Corgel is a full professor at the Cornell Hotel School faculty and served as the first Director of the Center for Hospitality Research from 1992-1994. After receiving undergraduate and Ph.D. (1979) Degrees from the University of Georgia in real estate and corporate finance, he taught at the University of Florida, Georgia State University, and the University of Connecticut. During the academic year 1985-1986, he was a visiting scholar at the Federal Home Loan Bank Board in Washington, DC.  He is a Fellow of the Homer Hoyt Institute. Jack also maintains a principle position with the Hospitality Research Group (HRG) of PKF Consulting where he is developing new products for the hotel industry based on property-level financial performance information.  Jack has published over 60 articles in academic and professional journals, mainly on the subjects of real estate finance, investment, valuation, and hospitality real estate.  His textbook, Real Estate Perspectives (with Smith and Ling) is in its fourth edition and is used throughout the nation for introductory real estate courses.  His current academic research includes a study of real estate cycles and a paper on how hotel markets recover to their natural occupancy rates.  <www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/> 

Crary, Joan P.

Joan P. Crary is an assistant research scientist at the University of Michigan's Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics, where she is a principal co-author of econometric models of the national and Michigan economies.  She is a specialist in economic forecasting, focusing on the economy and finances of the State of Michigan.  <rsqe.econ.lsa.umich.edu/> 

Daniele, Daniel W.

Dan Daniele is the President of Baymont Franchises International, LLC, responsible for the Baymont Franchise System expansion, support services, and administration of this 180-unit chain.  A senior lodging executive with broad experience in franchising, development, acquisitions, strategic planning and market analysis.  His expertise includes due diligence procedures, transaction structuring in connection with portfolio acquisitions, asset management, brand management, and franchise administration and development.  Team player with proven leadership ability and results oriented.  He received from Michigan State University a B.A. in Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management in 1977 and from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, a Masters of Business Administration in 1981.  <www.baymontinns.com> 

Dechart, John

John Dechart, with Marriott International, is the Market Director of Sales for the Detroit Market, a territory that includes operations in Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky. The vast majority of his time is spent in Southeastern Michigan we he works with over forty Marriott lodging properties comprised of seven brands. His efforts include working with sales resources both at individual properties and off-property, coordinating how these teams work with one another and leveraging the Marriott 'brand' portfolio.  <www.marriott.com> 

Douglass, Nelson

Nelson Douglass is a Vice President, Commercial Lending, with Sky Bank in Adrian, Michigan.  Sky Bank is a full service regional bank with over 250 financial centers in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.  Nelson has over 30 years experience in commercial banking.  The last 15 years have primarily been focused in commercial lending activities such as residential development loans, financing of commercial office buildings, apartment buildings, and industrial complexes as well as construction financing.  Nelson is a graduate of California State University, Northridge with a BS degree in finance.  <www.skyfi.com>

Elzinga, Clarissa

Clarissa joined CNL Hospitality Corp. as vice president of portfolio management in December 2000. In this capacity, she is primarily responsible for overseeing underwriting and asset management for CNL’s hotel portfolio. Prior to joining CNL, Clarissa served as director of asset management for Bass Hotels & Resorts, a global hospitality company consisting of the Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Staybridge and Inter-Continental brands. Her responsibilities included asset management procedures, contract negotiation, long-term strategy planning and evaluation for the company’s 40-hotel portfolio in the Americas.  Clarissa's more than 15 years of hospitality experience also included roles as manager of strategic development planning for Homestead Village, Inc., an affiliate of Security Capital Group Incorporated, and as president of HBC Lodging Associates, Inc., a hospitality consulting company providing investment advisory services throughout the Southeast. Her experiences with Westinghouse Realty Advisors, Inc., Prudential Realty Group, American General Hospitality, and the Holiday Corporation have also contributed to her portfolio management expertise.  Clarissa is a member of the Atlanta Hospitality Connection and the Hospitality Asset Management Association. She holds a MBA degree from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of the Philippines.  <www.cnlonline.com/hospitality> 

Etkin, Douglas M.

Doug is the Principal of Etkin Equities.  As a graduate of the University of Michigan Business School and the Wayne State University Law School, Doug has been actively involved in real estate development since 1977. His accomplishments while at the helm of Etkin Equities have resulted in an extensive portfolio, including some of the region's most significant developments. While actively involved in his profession, Doug also devotes time to support several major community projects and charities in a variety of leadership roles.  <www.etkinllc.com> 

Fisher, Ronald C.

Ronald C. Fisher is Professor in the Department of Economics and the Department of Accounting at Michigan State University, where he also serves as Director of the Honors College.  Professor Fisher specializes in the study of government finance and taxation, particularly regarding state and local governments.  He has authored the leading textbook in the field, State and Local Public Finance, and has written more than 75 professional articles, research reports, and books on public finance topics.   He also has served as Deputy Treasurer for the State of Michigan, as research economist for the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, as Visiting Fellow at the Federalism Research Centre at the Australian National University, and as a consultant to a number of states and several federal government agencies.  <www.msu.edu/user/ec/> 

Hamp, Steven K.

Steven K. Hamp is the president of The Henry Ford.  In his twenty-five year career at this multi-venue museum complex, Steve has been involved in the development and implementation of every aspect of the institution’s educational program and business agenda, including conceptualizing, planning, coordinating, and implementing many of the museum’s major exhibitions, presentations, and visitor amenities.  He has also overseen a fundamental revision of the museum’s operating structure, successfully concluded the largest capital campaign in the museum’s history, and restored and expanded institution’s the physical plant and infrastructure, including the twelve-acre Henry Ford Museum building and the entire eighty-acre campus of Greenfield Village.  In addition, he and his team launched the Henry Ford Academy, a four-year public high school, initiated a new generation of user experiences and services, opened the Ford Rouge Factory Tour in collaboration with Ford Motor Company, introduced the IMAX^® theatre to the museum’s campus, and built the Benson Ford Research Center.  He is deeply involved in the regional and state community and serves on many boards.  In 1999, the Detroit News recognized Steve as a Michiganian of the Year.  In 2000, the Michigan Environmental Council honored him as the first recipient of the Helen and William Milliken Distinguished Service Award.  In 2002, Steve was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Michigan and the Civic Leader Award from the Governor’s Arts Awards.  In 2003, Steve received the Special Recognition Award from the Mayor of Dearborn’s Arts Awards.  Steve’s educational background includes a B.A. in American History from Butler University, an M.A. in Folklore/Folklife from Indiana University, an M.M.P. (Master of Museum Practice) from the University of Michigan, and additional graduate work in the Program in American Culture from the University of Michigan.   <www.thehenryford.org> 

Hawkey, L. W. ‘Biff’

L. W. “Biff” Hawkey in his role as Senior Vice President of Development for Hostmark Hospitality Group provides a broad based background in hotel development and feasibility.  In addition to serving as a member of the Development team in analyzing hotels to be acquired for management by Hostmark, Biff is an adjunct professor at the Manfred Steinfeld School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Roosevelt University in Chicago.  In that role he shares with the Master’s degree candidates every aspect of hotel development, including Franchise Analysis, Competitive factors in segment selection, Underwriting criteria, Demand generation, Amenities selection criteria, Forecasting revenues, Demographic analysis, Management structure and operational guidelines, as well as Valuation of Hospitality assets.  Biff joined Hostmark in 1989, after having served as the President and CEO of Training Consultants, Inc., a hospitality training company focused on teaching techniques for implementing operational systems and motivational techniques to mid-level supervisory personnel.  In his role as General Counsel and Development team member he has utilized his wealth of knowledge in real estate, law, and tax to provide support and assistance of hundreds of hotel owners.  His valuable insights have earned him notoriety with the Hospitality Industry.  He is a popular speaker at major hospitality conferences including the New York University Investment conference, the UCLA Investment conference and the Georgia State University Investment conference, as well as the Georgetown University CLE conference in Washington, DC.  During his career with Hostmark, Biff has been called upon to be the lead executive in the analysis and evaluation of portfolio sales involving hundred of millions of dollars of hospitality assets, with over 300 such assets being evaluated during the early 1990’s.  He has also been called upon to serve as an expert witness in over a dozen lawsuits involving hospitality valuations and feasibility for success in both receivership and Chapter 11 proceedings.  Biff received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wyoming as well as a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wyoming.  He has authored two books on hospitality operational techniques and the text for Hotel Feasibility classes that he presently teaches.  <www.hostmark.com>         

Hiser, Joel W.

Joel Hiser is the Chief Executive Officer for Horwath Hospitality Investment Advisors, a national, full-service real estate firm specializing in the hospitality industry. The Company is a member of Horwath International, which has a network of over 400 offices worldwide, offering its clients a variety of real estate services including hotel investment sales, mortgage brokerage, consulting, development management, asset management, and tax structuring.  Joel has an expertise in hospitality-related real estate investment and finance. For over thirty years, he has specialized in developing, acquiring, selling, and financing hotel assets. Hiser has held senior management positions with such companies as Hong Kong based Regal Hotels International/Richfield Hospitality; Metric Partners, a wholly owned subsidiary of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; and Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. He was also partner in charge of consulting with Pannell Kerr Forster-San Francisco, Executive Managing Director for PKF Consulting’s Capital Market Group, and President/CEO of a national hotel development and management company.  Joel is a graduate of The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University and is an executive committee member for The School’s Alumni Association. He has an MBA degree from California State University at Hayward, is a certified public accountant and holds real estate brokerage licenses in several states.  <www.horwathhospitality.com> 

Holecek, Donald

Don has been a faculty member at Michigan State University since 1972 where he established the Michigan Travel, Tourism and Recreation Resource Center in 1985 and the World Travel & Tourism Tax Policy Center in 1993. He has conducted travel and tourism research projects for over 30 years and is a leading expert on Michigan's tourism industry. During his tenure at Michigan State University, he led the development of MSU's Michigan Travel Activity Tracking and Forecasting System (since 1985), the annual Michigan Travel Outlook Conference (since 1985), and the regional Michigan Travel Market Survey (since 1996). The results from these programs are widely used by government agencies, destination marketing organizations, individual tourism businesses and media. He has also conducted dozens of other survey research projects, building on his special expertise in marketing and economics.  Don has a special interest in acquiring data from multiple resources and incorporating them into information dissemination systems to support informed decision-making. This has been the central mission of the two Centers he initiated, and it is core objective of his new project on Climate Impact on Recreation and Tourism funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.  <www.tourismcenter.msu.edu> 

Infante, Tony

Tony Infante is a principal in the golf marketing division of Eidos Group Inc. a Farmington Hills based full service Advertising Agency.  Tony has worked in the golf industry for over twenty years and served in positions as Assistant Golf Professional (Grand Hotel, 1992), Golf Instructor and Facility Manager, Golf Services Inc., Kalamazoo, MI. 1993-1996 and General Manager Miles of Golf Ypsilanti 1997-2000. Tony received his BS degree in American Government from Western Michigan University.  <www.ideabiz.com> 

Knudson, Bill

Bill Knudson is the marketing economist with the Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University.  His primary responsibility is to conduct marketing research on topics that affect Michigan’s agri-food and natural resource industries.  Prior to his position at MSU, Bill was the agriculture, higher education and appropriations policy advisor for the Michigan Senate Majority Policy Office and the statistician for the Michigan Supreme Court.  <www.aec.msu.edu/product/> 

Laukitis, Sally

Sally Laukitis has served as the Executive Director of the Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau since 1994.  Her hospitality background includes two years as Sales Director for the Tulip Time Festival and eight years with Eastern Air Lines.  Laukitis currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Tulip Time Festival and the Tulipanes Latino Art and Film Festival. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Michigan Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus and President of the Ottawa County Tourism Council.  A native of Holland, MI, Laukitis is a graduate of DePauw University.  <www.holland.org> 

Lowrey, Bruce C.

Bruce joined the Hospitality Industry Division of GMACCM in March 1996 as part of the acquisition of Lexington Mortgage.  Since that time GMACCM-HID has closed and funded over $4.5 billion of mortgage financing for the lodging marketplace.  Bruce is the primary contact for origination of new hotel mortgage loans and manages the hotel loan desk of GMACCM-HID.  He is responsible for creating acceptable deal structures on permanent, interim, mezzanine, construction, and re-development loans.  He has established relationships with major hotel owners and operators both in and out of the U.S.  Bruce is also a regular speaker at hospitality industry events.  He is a graduate from Denison University with a degree in economics.  <www.gmacmortgage.com> 

Mark, Suzanne

Suzanne Mark is the vice president of education, professional development and training at the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions.  She is the owner and principle of MARK of Excellence, free lance services of consulting, training, marketing/sales and related activities in the leisure and hospitality industry, speaking and consulting nationwide as well as Canada, Japan and Europe.  Suzanne received from the University of Maryland both undergraduate and Ph.D. in Recreation Administration, minoring in Earth Sciences.  She received her M.S. in Recreation from the University of Northern Colorado.  She is actively involved in many professional and community activities including:  National Recreation  & Park Association, President, Commercial Recreation & Tourism Section; Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Association as Professional Representative to the NRPA Mid Atlantic Council; Council Training Chairman, a frequent presenter at recreation related state, regional, national and international meetings and conventions; CPO (Certified Park Operator) presenter at state and national campground owner conventions including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey.  She is also a seminar presenter at many RV and travel shows across the country.  <www.iaapa.org> 

Marvin, Timothy A.

Timothy Marvin is Senior Vice President, Lodging Development for Marriott International, Inc. He is responsible for development of Marriott and Renaissance Hotels throughout the central and southeast regions of the United States.  Mr. Marvin joined Marriott in 1987 as Manager of Development Planning and Feasibility.  He was promoted to Vice President Development in 1993. Prior to joining Marriott, he was Senior Consultant for Laventhol & Horwath in Dallas, Texas.  Mr. Marvin attended Johnson and Wales School of Culinary Arts and received a BS degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management from Michigan State University.  <www.marriott.com> 

MacInnes, Christina

Chris is a Benzie County native who, with her husband Jim, moved from Southern California in 1985 to join their family-owned business, Crystal Mountain.  She is president of the resort’s development company, Crystal Properties, Inc., a senior vice president of the resort’s operating company, Crystal Enterprises, Inc. and its corporate secretary. Chris has served as chairperson of the Michigan State Chamber, the Traverse City Area Chamber, and Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital. Currently she is a Commissioner on the Michigan Travel Commission, a member of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, a director on the Munson Healthcare Board, and chair of the Benzie County Economic Development Corporation.  Last year she was appointed to the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council and is a strong advocate for thoughtful land use. As a member of Rotary International she was named a Paul Harris Fellow, and is also an associate member of the Urban Land Institute. In 2000 she received the Athena Award, primarily recognizing her mentoring relationships.  Chris is a graduate of St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y with a BA in German. She studied at the University of Vienna, in Austria, skied on the varsity ski team, and has pursued graduate studies in business management at Lake Superior State University.  <www.crystalmountain.com>

Miller, Marianne

Marianne Miller is the Regional Account Manager for Eastern Michigan for CIT Small Business Lending, the Nation's #1 SBA lender since 2000.  CIT Small Business Lending Corporation is a division of The CIT Group, a leading consumer and commercial finance company with nearly $50 billion in assets.  Founded in 1908, CIT has offices worldwide with over 6,000 employees.  Marianne has an expertise in SBA financing, including both the 504 and 7a Programs.  She has specialized in business development, marketing, underwriting, portfolio management and recovery for various SBA lenders for the past 12 years.  She began her career in 1993 with the Michigan Certified Development Corporation, the Statewide CDC for 504 loans.  She has also held the position of Vice-President of SBA Lending for Bank of America in Michigan and St. Louis, MO and Union Planters in St. Louis, MO.  Bank of America named Marianne as their 1998 Rookie of the Year for her success in the Michigan market.  Ms. Miller joined CIT in 2001.  Marianne is a graduate of Lansing Community College and Northwood University.  She holds degrees in business and paralegal studies from LCC and a BBA in Management from Northwood.  <www.cit.com> 

Mossburg, Rob

Rob Mossburg owns The Cottage Company of Harbor Springs, LLC a real estate development, construction and investment company based in beautiful downtown Harbor Springs, Michigan.  In its first three years, the company has developed over $25 million of luxury residential resort properties, from quaint lakeside cottages to grand shingle-style estates and mixed-use commercial projects.  Regardless of the endeavor, the company maintains unwavering commitments to period architecture, smart land use, environmentally sensitive building practices and outstanding customer service.  In its relatively short history, the company has earned numerous architectural, interior design and civic awards and been featured in national design publications.  Its “Bay Street Cottages” project in downtown Harbor Springs is receiving regional and national commendation for its application of new urbanism and smart growth principles.  Prior to forming The Cottage Company, Rob co-founded Summerfield Hotel Corporation in Wichita, Kansas and held the title of Executive Vice President, Finance and Development.  He was a key partner responsible for raising over $500 million in capital from Wall Street, foreign and domestic institutions and wealthy individuals and oversaw a national expansion program that resulted in the development of 50 new all suite hotels.  He was also President and Founder of Sierra Suites Hotels, a division of Summerfield that contains twenty suite hotels.  According to the J.D. Power Organization, Summerfield lead its industry sector in both employee and guest satisfaction.  In 1988, Rob and his partners sold their enterprise to Patriot American Hospitality/Wyndham International, a real estate investment trust and paired-shared operating company with 450 hotels and Rob was named Executive Vice President of its all suite division.  

Musser, R.D. (Dan), III

R.D. (Dan) Musser, III, is president of Grand Hotel, a historic 385-room hotel built in 1887 on Michigan's Mackinac Island, where no motorized vehicles are permitted.  Along with his sister Mimi, Dan represents the third generation of Musser family ownership and operation of Grand Hotel, the world's largest summer resort.  Dan is responsible for all day-to-day operations of Grand Hotel, which include overseeing the front desk, convention services, food and beverage, sales and marketing, housekeeping, maintenance and recreation.  Active in the hotel industry, Dan is the former Chairman of the Michigan Hotel, Motel and Resort Association, and a member of the Resort Committee of the American Hotel and Motel Association.  Dan was appointed to the Michigan Travel Commission in 1988 and was reappointed by Governor John Engler in 1998.  He is a former Alderman for the City of Mackinac Island, serves on the Board of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau, is President of the Mackinac Island Community Foundation, Treasurer of the Mackinac Island Housing Corporation, Trustee on the Michigan Colleges Foundation Board, member of the Michigan’s Children Board of Directors, and past Chairman of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.  Dan received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Albion College in Albion, Michigan in 1986. <www.grandhotel.com>  

Peterson, H. Christopher

Dr. H. Christopher (Chris) Peterson is the Homer Nowlin Chair of Consumer-Responsive Agriculture and professor of Agricultural Economics at Michigan State University.  Dr. Peterson's mission as the Nowlin Chair is to provide leadership to university and industry efforts focused on the development and marketing of differentiated, consumer‑oriented products based on agricultural goods.  In early 2003, he was named Director of the newly created MSU Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources.  The Center will focus on assisting agricultural, food, and natural resource firms in the development of new markets, products, and associated supply chain relationships.  Since coming to Michigan State University in 1991, Dr. Peterson has been involved in strategic management projects for over 50 agribusinesses, food processing firms, and commodity associations.  His research work has spanned the areas of strategic management, value-added ventures and differentiated product development, cooperative theory and financial practices, vertical coordination strategy, and supply chain management.  Dr. Peterson has his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University and his MBA from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business. <www.aec.msu.edu/product/> 

Preble, Walter

Walter Preble traveled seemingly unrelated paths to end up in the camping (tourism) industry.  His pre-campground professional career was spent in the hi-tech industry, working for companies like Planning Research Corporation and ITT Courier.  Capitalizing on his technical expertise, Walter launched his own consulting business, providing technical consulting predominantly to real estate-related industries for a number of years.  In the early '90s a friend came along and proposed that Walter and his wife become partners in a campground.  Having grown tired of the travel and constant ups and downs of the computer industry, the Prebles quit their high-tech jobs and purchased the Buckeye Lake KOA campground in Ohio in 1991.   Walter stepped up to the challenges of owning hospitality and tourism related business, taking an old, tired, and substandard overnight KOA and turning it into a "destination" type campground and more than doubling its business in 10 years.  The Prebles were also named KOA's Franchisees of the Year in 2000 - the smallest KOA ever to receive that award.  In 2001, the then-new President and CEO of KOA, Jim Rogers, drafted Walter back into the corporate world, as KOA's special franchisee consultant.  For the past 2 years, Walter has again been traveling the country, visiting campgrounds, consulting, and speaking to a variety of state and national associations.  His 13+ years of campground industry experience have provided him with considerable opportunity to be involved in local and national tourism and hospitality issues.  <www.koakampgrounds.com> 

Sands, Gary

Gary Sands, AICP, is Associate Professor in the Graduate Urban Planning Program at Wayne State University.  Sands received a Master of Urban Planning degree from Wayne and a doctorate in Housing and Public Policy from Cornell University.  He is a member of the Executive Advisory Committee of the Victor Institute for Responsible Land Development and Use.  <www.culma.wayne.edu/gup/> 

Sheffer, William G.

Bill Sheffer is the Director of the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds, a division of the Michigan Manufactured Housing, RV & Campground Association. Founded in September of 1941, this organization has over 1,300 members. The association office is located in Okemos, a suburb of Lansing.  A 1973 graduate of Michigan State University, this Spartan spent four years in restaurant management working for several companies, including the Machus Corporation in Birmingham and the Silverdome in Pontiac. In 1977, he took the position of Vice President of Operations for Richfield Trailer Supply in Flint. He helped increase the size of the business by opening branches in Traverse City and Grand Rapids. In 1995, he assumed his current position with the association.  In 2002, Bill earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation by passing the CAE examination and meeting the education and job experience criteria established by the American Society of Association Executives.  Bill has served as President of the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan and is currently treasurer of the International Association for Exhibition Management-Michigan Chapter.  <www.marvac.org> 

Simon, Lou Anna K.

Lou Anna K. Simon has provided academic leadership for Michigan State University as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs since 1993. She has been a Full Professor in the Department of Educational Administration since 1984. Earlier administrative appointments at the University include Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (1992-1993), Associate Provost (1987-1992), and Assistant Provost for General Academic Administration (1981-1987). Additionally, Dr. Simon held the position of Assistant to the President (1978-1981 and summers of 1984 and 1985) during which she developed and managed multiple aspects of the University's affirmative action program. Provost Simon also served in the Office of Institutional Research as an Assistant Professor (1974-1978) and Assistant Director (1977-1978).  Dr. Simon earned a B.A. in Mathematics from Indiana State University in 1969, an M.S. from the Department of Student Personnel and Counseling at Indiana State University in 1970, and a Ph.D. from the Department of Administration and Higher Education at Michigan State University in 1974. Her thesis was entitled "Instructional Service in Academic Departments: An Exploratory Study."   < www.msu.edu/unit/provost/> 

Skelton, Charles A. (Chuck)

Charles Skelton is the President of Hospitality Advisors - Consulting Group.  Hospitality Advisors specializes in consulting for the hospitality and real estate industry, nationwide.  Chuck was the former Senior Principal in charge of Leisure Time and Real Estate Advisory Services consulting practices in Laventhol & Horwath's Michigan office.  Mr. Skelton headed this group from 1983 to 1990 and during that time conducted feasibility and market analyses on projects ranging from hotels, resorts and conference centers to multi-use commercial developments.  Chuck has been particularly involved in numerous hotel and conference center development projects and has conducted seminars on the topic.  He publishes an annual publication on the state of Michigan’s hospitality industry widely recognized by hoteliers and hospitality professionals.  Mr. Skelton is a past chairman of the Ann Arbor Convention Visitors bureau as well a past member of the board of directors of the Michigan Hotel Association and board of Michigan Certified Development Corporation.  <www.hotelexperts.com> 

Spencer, Wanda

Wanda Spencer, President of Spencer Group, is a nationally recognized consultant with over twenty years of experience in the Michigan market and over 25 years in the hospitality industry.  Prior to forming the Spencer Group in 1991, she was a Senior Manager at BDO Seidman and Pannell Kerr Forster, where she headed up the Hospitality Consulting Practice.  Over the last 13 years she has been active with asset management services as well as performing numerous market feasibility analysis for hotels (primarily in Michigan), as well as impact analysis and hotel valuation services. 

Tebo, Art

A native of Northern Michigan, Art is a graduate of Ferris State University.  He served in the Viet Nam war including a tour of duty in Washington D.C. as a counter intelligence agent for the United States Army.  In 1970, Art returned to northern Michigan and at the age of 25 and became General Manager of Boyne Highlands Resort (Harbor Springs) and in 1984 moved to his current position as C.O.O. and secretary/treasurer of Boyne USA Resorts.  He was recently appointed to an eight-year term as Trustee of Ferris State University located in Big Rapids, Michigan.  Past 16 years, chairman/member of the Michigan Ski Safety Tram Board and active host and reference/resource person for the Michigan Tech University in the fall. <www.boyne.com> 

Vinson, Duane

Duane Vinson is the Director of Sales & Marketing with Smith Travel Research, the leading authority on current trends in occupancy, room rate and supply/demand data for the lodging industry.  Duane joined STR in 1997 and serves as primary STR contact for numerous leading hotel companies.  He is often quoted in trade publications and the media, to include HOTELS, Hotel & Motel Management, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal.  Additionally, Mr. Vinson often represents STR at industry conferences and seminars.  Prior to joining STR, Duane was with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts where he served in various levels of property operations.  Duane has a BSBA in marketing degree from the University of Louisville.  <www.smithtravelresearch.com> 

Waddell, David D.

David D. Waddell is a shareholder and member of the Board of Directors of Fraser Trebilcock Davis & Dunlap, P.C., and the Chair of the firm's Gaming Practice Group. He practices in the areas of gaming law, business, tax, and municipal law. Mr. Waddell is the co-publisher and co-author of The Michigan Gaming Law Newsletter. Mr. Waddell is on the Editorial Board for the Gaming Law Review, and writes a weekly gaming business column for The Detroit News. Mr. Waddell is an adjunct professor of Gaming Law at Thomas M. Cooley Law School and the coauthor of a treatise on gaming law.  In addition to his practice, Mr. Waddell has spoken on gaming issues and coordinated panel discussions at the Global Gaming Expo, the American Gaming Lodging and Leisure Summit, the International Gaming Business Exposition, and World Gaming Congress and Expo (all held in Las Vegas, Nevada), and the Southern Gaming Summit (held in Biloxi, Mississippi). He also co-produced the 1999 and 2000 Northern Gaming Summits (in Detroit, Michigan) with Casino Journal Publishing Group.   He currently serves on the Editorial Board of Global Gaming Business magazine.  <www.fraserlawfirm.com> 

Walsh, Edward P.

Edward Walsh joined Milestone Realty Services in 2002 as Senior Investment Advisor, specializing in the acquisition, disposition and financing of real estate throughout the United States, with his primary focus being hospitality related properties.  Mr. Walsh joined Milestone following seven years with Hospitality Advisors, a boutique hospitality consulting, real estate, and asset management company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. During his tenure with Hospitality Advisors, Mr. Walsh’s responsibilities included feasibility analysis, real estate appraisal, and transaction services for hotels and related real estate throughout the United States.  As Senior Vice President of Hospitality Advisors, Mr. Walsh was instrumental in managing the company’s consulting practice, performing and overseeing consulting assignments for local, regional, and national lending institutions, developers, public companies, institutional investors, and hotel companies.  Throughout his career, he has performed more than 200 consulting and real estate assignments in 20 states covering most types of lodging properties.  Mr. Walsh’s experience includes providing services regarding all phases of development, from site selection and acquisition to feasibility analysis and appraisal, and from mortgage financing to construction cost analysis. He also has experience in the analysis of public-private partnership developments, public events facilities, golf resorts, ski resorts, country clubs, and vacation ownership real estate.  Mr. Walsh holds an MBA in Finance from the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management at Michigan State University where he graduated in 1993. He also holds an undergraduate degree in Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management from Purdue University. Mr. Walsh is a licensed real estate salesperson in the State of Michigan. <www.milestonerealtyservices.com> 

Warbach, John D.

Dr. Warbach is a Principal with Planning & Zoning Center, Inc., a private consulting firm in Lansing, Michigan that provides planning, zoning, training and research services to public entities such as local, state and federal government and nonprofits. He has an Adjunct Faculty appointment with the Michigan State University Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation, and Resources Studies. He consults on a range of topics, including land use trends, open space preservation, watershed management planning, natural resources preservation, design guidelines for communities, futuring and strategic community planning. He has a Ph.D. in Urban Forestry from Michigan State University with a minor in Environmental Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of California-Berkeley and a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from MSU. He has been with Planning & Zoning Center, Inc. for over fourteen years, following fifteen years of university teaching. He is currently working with the Tourism Resource Center on a Kellogg Foundation People and Land grant funded project on overcoming impediments to smart growth.  <www.pzcenter.com> 

Yencich, Steve

A Certified Association Executive, Steve has served as President/CEO for MHMRA since the fall of 2000.  He came to the association after 15 years of service to the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents. During that time he served in a variety of capacities including Membership Director and Executive Vice President of Governmental Affairs.  In the nearly four years since his arrival, Steve has worked with staff and volunteers to redesign MHMRA’s newsletter and website; build attendance at conventions and seminars, and develop new, and strengthen existing, benefits programs for all members.  This year, Steve also serves as President of the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan, TICOM. The goal of TICOM is to strengthen the voice of the Tourism Industry in legislative affairs and to make greater impact on issues of importance to that industry.  Last September, Governor Granholm presented Steve with an award for “Outstanding Achievement in Michigan Tourism” for his legislative efforts on behalf of our industry. <www.michiganhotels.com> 

Zazo, Carol

Carol Zazo is a Detroit native and 20-year marketing veteran who has served as the Director of Marketing & Sales for The Henry Ford for the past 4 years.  She was responsible for overseeing the institution’s recent rebranding efforts and current responsibilities include directing all creative and marketing strategies for The Henry Ford and all of its attractions including Greenfield Village, Henry Ford Museum, Benson Ford Research Center, the Henry Ford IMAX Theatre and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour.  Additionally, Carol oversees all institutional research, Sponsorship Marketing, Group & Event Sales, and Membership (which has more than doubled under her direction to 48,000 member households). Previous to her work at The Henry Ford, Carol served five years as a Vice President of Marketing for Fifth Third Bank.  <www.thehenryford.org> 

Zehnder, William A. (Bill)

Bill is the president of Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn & Frankenmuth River Place.  He has worked at the family-owned and operated Bavarian Inn for 20 years as General Manager, now President.  Has been key in developing Frankenmuth River Place from concept through development & construction, and now with the continuing operation of the “festival marketplace” facility.  Bill is involved with the National Restaurant Association, American Management Association, Urban Land Institute, International Council of Shopping Centers, Rotary Club member & past president, Chamber of Commerce member & past president, MSU The School of Hospitality Alumni Association member & past president.  Along with other members of his family, he is a hands-on, day-to-day, 24/7 manager and owner of the business. <www.bavarianinn.com> 

Zimmermann, George

George Zimmermann became Travel Michigan’s Vice President in October 2001.  He brought with him a wealth of tourism, technology, marketing and media experience.  In addition to his Travel Michigan responsibilities, George now oversees all of MEDC’s business development marketing.  From 1998 to 2001, George was the Senior VP for Sales and Marketing at CallTech Communications, LLC, an advanced-technology call center company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.  His clients at CallTech included Universal Studios, Colonial Williamsburg and Iomega.  Prior to joining CallTech, George served as Ohio’s Tourism Director from 1991 to 1998.  The National Council of State Tourism Directors named him “State Tourism Director of the Year” in 1997.  Before his work in tourism, George spent more than a decade in all phases of broadcasting in Texas, California, and Ohio.  He is the author of three travel-related books and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.  Travel Michigan is the State of Michigan's official agency for the promotion of tourism. Housed within the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Travel Michigan collaborates with the state's Destination Marketing Organizations (Convention & Visitors' Bureaus, other regional marketing entities, and tourism-related state associations) and Michigan tourism-related businesses to market the state and provide comprehensive visitor information services-with the overall goal to create and retain jobs in our state.  <travel.michigan.org>