VHH Career Connections Day Program

Welcome! We are thrilled to host students, educators, and hospitality & sports industry professionals for a day of meaningful discussion about the benefits of  Travel & Tourism careers. This page lists an overview of the day's agenda, speakers, and roundtable seating guide. Use the additional button navigation to find speaker bios plus contact and and job posting information for participating industry professionals.

AGENDA

10:00a – 12:30p | Student tours of area attractions  

10:30a | VHH Partner Registration Open 

11:00a – 12:15p | VHH Partner Education Session with Temple University School of STHM Faculty 

12:30p – 1:00p | Boxed Lunch – students will join at this time  

1:00p – 2:00p | Panel Discussion with Industry Professionals  

2:00p – 3:30p | Roundtable Discussions  


SPEAKERS & PANELISTS

Temple University Faculty Presentation to VHH Partners

Amanda Woit, Associate Director, Professional Development and Campus Engagement Center for Industry Engagement - School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Temple University 

Post-Lunch Welcome

Mary Smith, President & CEO, Visit Hershey & Harrisburg

George P. Hartwick III, Dauphin County Commissioner

Tourism Industry Panelists 

Jaime Berger, Owner & CEO, C&J Catering 

Gregg Cook, Executive Director, Hershey Harrisburg Sports & Events Authority 

Terri Elfner, Opening Manager, Springwood Hospitality 

John Longstreet, President & CEO, PA Restaurant & Lodging Association  

Joe Massaro, General Manager, Hilton Harrisburg 

Christine Cleaver, Assistant Professor & Program Director for Temple’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (moderator)  

Special Presentation: Dare to Dream

ROUNDTABLE GUIDE

Table 1
PA Restaurant & Lodging Association -- Lauren Brinjac 
Visit Hershey Harrisburg -- Jenny McConnell  

Table 2
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts -- David Gongora   
B.R.P Entertainment -- Lisa Stokes  

Table 3
Adventure Explorations -- Cody Meassick 
Cocoa Kayak Rentals of Hershey -- Ashley Adams 

Table 4
C&J Catering -- Jamie Berger   
Tröegs Brewing Company --  Sara Harvey 

Table 5
Hershey Harrisburg Sports & Events -- Gregg Cook   
Harrisburg Senators -- Randy Whitaker 

Table 6
Harrisburg International Airport -- Marie Byers  
La Quinta Harrisburg Airport -- Lee Lemelman  

Table 7
IHG Staybridge Suites Hershey Harrisburg -- Kyle Lennon   
Springwood Hospitality -- Terri Elfner  

Table 8
Hampton Inn & Suites Harrisburg Hershey -- Amy Anderson  
Holiday Inn Harrisburg Hershey -- Chase Malone 

Table 9
Harrisburg Senators -- Ashley Grotte   
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts -- Meghan Baldwin 

Table 10
Hershey's Chocolate World  --  Roger Sansoni
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts -- Reilly Fies 

Table 11
Adventure Explorations -- Julie Queen   
Cocoa Kayak Rentals of Hershey -- Mike Adams 

Table 12
Tröegs Brewing Company -- Jensine Ruscutio  
Appalachian Brewing Company -- Samantha Brenner 

Table 13
PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center -- Sharon Myers   
Lebanon Valley Exposition Center-- Lani Rooney 

Table 14
Adventure Explorations -- Chris Paradysz   
Adventure Sports in Hershey -- Alishia Landis  

Table 15
The Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey -- Lynn Day  
Dauphin County Parks & Recreation -- Nancy Gates 

Table 16
Best Western Premier – The Central Hotel -- Peter Chiccarine  
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts -- Neema Ndiba  

Table 17
Fairfield Inn & Suites HIA & Courtyard Hershey Chocolate Avenue -- Sandy Barscheski   
Harrisburg International Airport -- Heather Oliver 

Table 18
Springwood Hospitality -- Melissa Leonard  
Best Western Premier - The Central Hotel -- Chelsea Goshert

Special Thanks

Today's event was made possible through enthusiastic collaboration! Thank you to the following individuals who helped to develop and/or execute the Career Connection Program. 

VHH Career Connections Committee:  Amy Anderson – Hampton Inn & Suites Hershey Harrisburg; Melissa Leonard, Home2 Suites Harrisburg North; Sharon Meyers, PA Farm Show Complex; Kyle Lennon, Staybridge Suites Harrisburg Hershey

VHH Staff: Mary Smith, President & CEO; Sue Kunisky, VP of Operations; Audrey Bialas, Director of Sales; Jenny McConnell, Sales Manager; Allison Rohrbaugh, Director of Communications & Content; Jason Brown, Director of Marketing; Heather Novak, Manager Digital Marketing & Tech