Washington, D.C., April 1, 2014-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) has announced this year’s winners of its awards for leaders in hospitality training and education. The following people were honored at the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Legislative Action Summit in Washington, D.C., during the AH&LA Stars of the Industry Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, April 1.
Richard M. Kelleher, principal and founder, Pyramid Hotels Group, is the 2014 recipient of the Arthur Landstreet Award. Named after the Tennessee hotelier who founded the Educational Institute, the Arthur Landstreet award is presented to an individual who has made a lasting impact on the quality of education and training in the hospitality industry.
Robert M. O’Halloran, Ph.D., CHA, professor and director of the School of Hospitality Leadership at East Carolina University, is the 2014 recipient of the Anthony G. Marshall Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made significant long-term contributions to the hospitality industry in educating future leaders.
Joseph R. Kane Jr., CHA, retired group president of Wyndham Hotel Group and president/CEO of Days Inn Worldwide, and Steve Rushmore, CHA, founder of HVS, were honored with the title of CHA Emeritus. The Emeritus honor is presented to select individuals who hold the designation of Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA®) after a career of distinguished contributions.
EI presented four Lamp of Knowledge Awards this year. These awards are given to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to advancing the quality of professionalism and education in the hospitality industry. This year’s honorees are:
Outstanding Educator (International): Ahmad Shafiq, CEO, College of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Pakistan.
Outstanding Educator (U.S.): John Nagy, instructor, Pittsburgh Technical Institute, Pennsylvania.
Outstanding Educator (High School): Janelle Cambridge-Johnson, instructor, Anatol Rodgers High School, Nassau, Bahamas.
Outstanding Student (Distance Learning): Chef Martin Sperber, consultant and executive chef, Egypt.
In addition, the following high school instructors were recognized as Teachers of Excellence: Carl Schmidt, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California; Michelle Aldrich, Triumph High School, Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Patricia Novalis, Mid-Florida Tech, Orlando, Florida.