A native of Virginia Beach, I have been immersed in the hospitality field since my first job as a dishwasher. My diverse experiences in the field have included various back and front-of-the-house F&B jobs, a summer ranch hand on a Wyoming dude ranch, as well a decade in sales and marketing for Marriott, Starwood and IHG branded select service, extended-stay, full-service and conference center hotels in the mid-Atlantic. I am a proud Hokie, and have served on various boards including the City of Chesapeake Tourism Advisory Board, the Norfolk Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Virginia Association of Hospitality Sales & Meeting Professionals. I am also an adjunct faculty member in the hospitality management program at Tidewater Community College.