MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2019
 
General Session  Straight Talk on the Industry
   
Dr. Lynea LaVoy, CHE, Program Director & Instructor, Madison College

Dr. LaVoy is the Program Director and full-time instructor for the Hospitality Management program at Madison College and a doctoral liaison with Edgewood College. She also leads the Hospitality Service Champions and Leadership Academies through Madison Colege and through her work has taught over 300 incumbent workers. 
 
   
Skip Harless, General Manager, Hilton Madison Monona Terrace

Skip Harless is the General Manager of the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace.  Skip joined Marcus Hotels in May 2014 as the resident manager of the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa after more than 24 years with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. In his current position, he has implemented numerous retention and recognition programs which have received recognition on the local and state level. 

Brandon McConnell, Vice President of Human Resources and Legal for IDM Hospitality 

Brandon McConnell is the VP of Human Resources and Legal for IDM Hospitality. His experience with both branded and independent properties has afforded a unique perspective of the operational challenges faced on a daily basis to an array of business models. His accomplishments include Hotel Magazine's 30 under 30, publication in national industry magazines, and service on leadership and development boards. 



 
General Session  Wisconsin Employment Law Update
   
Andria Lure Ryan, Partner, Fisher & Phillips LLP 

Andria Lure Ryan is a partner in the Atlanta office of Fisher & Phillips LLP and serves as the chair of the firm’s Hospitality Industry Practice Group. Andria's expertise range from representing employers in virtually every area of employment, labor law, and representing employees throughout the United States in defending employment discrimination and harassment cases. She also handles traditional labor matters such as unfair labor practices and union campaigns.
 
   
   
Luncheon Keynote Leadership in a Changing World™
   
Robert Ian, CEO at Change Management International

Robert is CEO of Change Management International, a research, consulting, and marketing firm that monitors business, economic, and world changes to help clients align and redirect the forces of rapid change into solution-based outcomes. He helps individuals, teams and organizational leaders embrace, conquer and lead change. He has served as a trusted partner at over 3000 successful meetings worldwide and has entertained international celebrities, political leaders and Olympic athletes. Robert’s client list covers a wide range of industries over 25 years and includes many Fortune 500 companies. 
   
   
General Session Legislative Advocacy: Lessons with the Experts
   
Travis Cutler, Senior Manager, State Government Affair at Marriott International

Travis Cutler is a Government relations professional with nine years of experience representing Fortune 500 companies before government officials, industry,  and community leaders. Currently, Travis serves as Senior Manager of State Government Affairs for Marriott International. In this role, he advocates for critical corporate interests through legislative and regulatory engagement, strategic planning and communications, and coordinated grassroots efforts.

Troy Flanagan, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs & Industry Relations at American Hotel & Lodging Association
 
Troy Flanagan serves as Vice President of Government affairs and industry relations for the American Hotel & Lodging Association. He brings over 15 years of experience to the role as a policy advocate who works closely with AHLA’s partner state associations and industry allies on issues critical to the hotel industry, such as workforce issues, ongoing technology and distribution concerns, and emerging issues such as ensuring a level playing field with short-term online rental companies.
Kathi Kilgore, WH&LA Lobbyist & President at Swandby/Kilgore Associates

Kathi Kilgore has worked as the contract lobbyist for the WH&LA since 2002. She has worked on key issues including room tax reform, school start date protection, protecting the Tourism Budget, short term rental compliance, and more. Prior to joining Coenen/Swandby Associates, Inc., now Swandby/Kigore Associaties, Inc., Kathi worked as an in-house lobbyist for the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.  Currently, Kathi also works as the CEO of the Outdoor Advertising Association.
 
Scott Nowak, Senior Manager, State & Local Government Affairs at Hilton

Scott Nowak is Senior Manager of State and Local Government Affairs for Hilton. Since joining the company in 2017, Scott has managed Hilton’s corporate legislative and regulatory advocacy priorities, as well as government and industry relations efforts, at the state and local level throughout the United States. His issue portfolio is broad in scope, encompassing topics ranging from taxation, labor, operations, corporate responsibility initiatives, and an array of policy efforts to ensure an overall business environment that sets Hilton’s industry-leading portfolio up for success. 
 

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019
 
   
General Session Wisconsin Department of Tourism Update
   
Secretary-Designee Sara Meany, Wisconsin Department of Tourism

Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary-designee Sara Meaney built her marketing and leadership expertise through a wide variety of industries and global experiences. In 2019, Meaney was appointed as Secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism where she combines her love for Wisconsin and her tourism and destination marketing expertise to lead the promotion of the state as a top travel destination in the Midwest.
 
   
   
Breakout Session Superior Hotel Customer Experience (CX) 
   
Paul Cardis, Founder of The Cardis Group
 
Paul Cardis is an author and Founder of CX Thought Leader and The Cardis Group. Since it's inception, Avid has helped thousands of companies improve their customers' experience. Paul's work has been highlighted in a variety of places including Time, MSN, Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, Yahoo, and more. 
   
Breakout Session Active Shooter Training 
John E. Busch, Protective Security Advisor, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
 
John Busch currently serves the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Protective Security Advisor (PSA) for the State of Wisconsin. Prior to this appointment, he served for 3 years as the PSA for Northern Illinois and the City of Chicago. He is dedicated to supporting the nation’s efforts to ensure a safe and resilient America.
   
   
Closing Session Breaking the Hierarchy: Building a Culture of Team & Collaboration
   
Dan Ritter, Director of People Analytics at Illumyx

Dan is the Director of People Analytics at illumyx. He uses data to bring people together, understands how teams get work done, and optimize workplace culture. Dan is a former logistics manager who led operations from last place rankings to top of class. He attributes this success to an approach that combines the head and the heart.
 
Stephen Utech, CEO & Founder of Illumyx 

Steve’s background in the hard sciences and family dynamics inspired him to combine data and people as he entered the field of culture development 10 years ago.  An entrepreneur at heart, he has spent the past 5 years developing illumyx, giving companies means to objectively measure and improve their culture.
 
   
   
Women in Lodging  Secrets of Our Success
   
Shawn Boeldt, Resident Manager of the American Club, Carriage House & Inn on Woodlake for the Kohler Company

Shawn Bolt is the hotel manager at Inn on Woodlake and the American Club for Kohler Resorts. She has been vital in numerous remodels and expansion projects. Previously, she served as the Manager of Reservations and Telecommunications at the American Club.
 
Erin Levzow, Vice President of Marketing & eCommerce at Marcus Hotels & Resorts 

Erin is responsible for providing executive leadership and management of divisional strategies to include marketing, e-Commerce, customer insight, loyalty, and PR. Erin was honored with the 2015 Top 25 Women to Watch in Mobil Marketing Award.
 
Brooke Turner, Regional Digital Sales Manager at North Central Group 

Brooke started as an intern with North Central Group in May 2014 and worked her way up to her current leadership position. As the Regional Digital Sales Manager, she assists hotels with achieving and exceeding budgeted top line room revenue.
 
Peggy Williams-Smith, Senior Vice President SafeHouse Restaurants at Marcus Hotel & Resorts

Peggy Williams-Smith is Senior Vice President of SafeHouse Restaurants.Williams-Smith joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in 1997 as a Catering Manager with the Hilton Milwaukee. During her career with the company, she served in a variety of positions, and most recently, Corporate Vice President of Food & Beverage.