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For their hard work and dedication to
hospitality higher education and Hospitality Financial and
Technology Professionals, Agnes L. DeFranco, Ed.D., CHAE and
Stephen M. LeBruto, CPA, CHAE, Ed.D. are to be honored with the
2009 Paragon Award during HFTP's 2009 Annual Convention &
Tradeshow. Both will receive the award during the Opening Session
on September 17 at the Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas.
DeFranco is a professor and assistant vice
president of Undergraduate Studies at the Conrad N. Hilton
College, University of Houston. She is an HFTP Global past
president, and greatly influenced the growth of HFTP student
membership. She has been an advocate for HFTP’s participation in
industry research, and frequently contributes her own research
findings in industry
publications.
"There are few individuals in our industry
that have given so much of themselves for the success of others,"
said Lisa Funk, CHAE, HFTP Global secretary and college business
administrator for Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston.
"Dr. DeFranco's example of dedication and hard work is a model not
only for her hospitality students and colleagues at the University
of Houston, but for all of us who have the pleasure of working
side by side with her in HFTP."
Recently retired, LeBruto is a former
associate dean and HFTP-endowed professor at the
University of Central Florida's Rosen College of
Hospitality. He has had a great influence on the CHAE
certification by creating the designation’s review
course and frequently presenting the review at HFTP
events. His passion for the certification program led to
a campaign to assure his local chapter, the Mid-Florida
Chapter, had the highest concentration of CHAEs in the
association. He also helped form and lead the HFTP
University of Central Florida Chapter, which is now one
of the largest student chapters in the association.
"Dr. LeBruto has contributed
many years of service to HFTP, not only on a chapter level but
also on a global level," said Kristopher Shoemaker, assistant
business manager for the Orange County Convention Center and HFTP
Global director. "His dedication to continuing education and
certification for existing members and education of the students,
who will become members and the industry's future, will be a
benefit to HFTP for many years to come."
In 1999, HFTP
established the annual Paragon Award to recognize
individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution
to both HFTP and the hospitality industry. Paragon Award nominees
can be HFTP members; representatives of industry-related
associations, societies or trade publications; or leaders from
hospitality businesses, educational institutions and other related
disciplines. The recipient is selected by a panel of hospitality
industry experts.
Previous Paragon Award winners include
Alice Banks, CHAE (1999); Henry "Buddy" Weeks, CHAE (1999); Frank
Santos, CHAE, CHA (2000); Katherine Cavanagh, CHAE (2001); Raymond
Schmidgall, PH.D., CPA, CHAE (2002); Frank Wolfe, CAE (2002); Len
Bartello, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2003); John J. Cahill, CHA, CHTP
(2004); Wendy Zurstadt, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2005); Richard Braa, CHAE
(2006); Robert Patasnick, CPA (2007); and George Glazer (2008).
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