Tourism, Hospitality and Events Advisory Board

She completed her PhD with Penn State University, specializing in sustainable tourism and protected areas. She has authored books on sustainability, highlighting case studies that address environmental and societal issues, such as “Sustainable Tourism & the Millennium Development Goals: Effecting Positive Change,” and adventure education in “Adventure Programming and Travel for the 21st Century.”

She also holds the position of affiliated faculty with the Center for Asian Studies.

Her research interests include smart and strategic marketing in the tourism and hospitality industry; promotion of ethical production and consumption practices in tourism; building of social, cultural and economic equity or capital in local, regional, and global communities and authenticity and authentication process of heritage commodities in tourism.

Additionally, he oversees airport tours, events, sponsorships, volunteer program, the division budget, and contracts along with aviation speaking engagements. 

Before joining the Aviation Department, Jason worked for more than 20 years in the Parks and Recreation field, focusing on special events as well as youth and adult programs. 

Jason has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Tourism Management from Arizona State University West. He is also a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional from the National Parks and Recreation Association and a Certified Public Manager from Arizona State University.

She is currently lecturer and advisor for the master's degree in sustainable tourism with the School of Community Resources and Development at Arizona State University.

Goodman has nearly 10 years of experience in curriculum development in sustainability and tourism including the creation and implementation of study abroad programs in Switzerland, Mexico, Chile, Guatemala, and Australia and Fiji.

Previously, he was Director of Human Resources Operations at Sheraton Phoenix Downtown. Jose's Marriott career began in operational roles at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort in Scottsdale, while he was in high school and through college, before transitioning to Human Resources. 

In between all that, Jose also spent a few years at Scottsdale National Golf Club, an ultra-exclusive private golf club. 

Jose is an Arizona State University Alum and remains active in the community by mentoring hospitality students at Grand Canyon University and Arizona State University. He is passionate about education and previously served as Vice President for ASU’s Hispanic Business Alumni where they were able to extend over 60 full year scholarships during his time on the board.

Mike’s tenure of Hotel, Hospitality, Operations, Sales & Marketing, and Executive Leadership experience includes numerous corporate positions with some of the top hospitality companies in the country. CRR has been successful in building distinct and experiential brands and was proud to be awarded “Supplier Innovator of the Year” by OHI. Additionally, Mike has been recognized by OHI with the Outdoor Hospitality Leadership Award and also serves as instructor for Glamping University.

CRR’s experience in innovation, creating brands, tech-forward approach, revenue management and marketing continue to generate notoriety and excitement about their properties. With CRR’s breadth of experience in both owning Hospitality assets and 3rd Party Management, it is also uniquely positioned to manage, build and drive Glamping experiences, RV resorts, and Hotels.

Mike is a Board member for Arizona OHA and has participated as a presenter and speaker for numerous industry conferences and events including OHCE, AGA, State Associations and OHI Connect. He has served as an Advisory Board member and Guest Lecturer for the Hospitality Department at Arizona State University. In addition, Mike serves as a mentor for students in the Hospitality Management Department at UMass.

In his role, Holt is responsible for sourcing and placing hospitality-related investment property sales, debt placements, and secondary loan sales. He leverages his extensive experience and passion for building relationships to create client value.

Prior to joining Berkadia, Holt served as a Managing Director at Eastdil Secured for 20 years, where he completed over $35 billion in hospitality transactions, encompassing approximately 450 properties.

His notable transactions include many of the largest and most high-profile lodging deals in the Western U.S., establishing him as a trusted advisor in the industry.

Recognizing that youth sports exist within an ecological framework that includes coaches, parents, participants, volunteers, and management structures, Legg approaches this question through a variety of lenses including social-psychology, and management theories.

Further, Legg is a strong advocate for community applied research and seeks to work directly with parks and recreation and community sports providers to create sports experiences that maximize positive outcomes. His research has included both quantitative and qualitative approaches to topics such as sense of community, coaching behaviors and education, transformational leadership, grit, empathy, growth mindset, and collaboration between non-profit and government agencies in the delivery of youth sport programs.

Legg’s teaching and research is informed by his previous work experience in municipal parks and recreation, as well as his volunteer experience with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the founding of his own non-profit organization (Tennis on the Hill). He is also currently a national council chair for the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Growing up in Cave Creek, Arizona, she discovered her love for event design early, from organizing school dances to planning events in college. Kailey excels at turning client visions into reality, blending thoughtful design, precise logistics, and heartfelt service for unforgettable celebrations.

Known for her calm, dependable, and detail-oriented approach, she delights in connecting couples with the perfect vendor teams and crafting one-of-a-kind experiences.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and a master’s in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, and a PhD in Workplace Psychology from Grand Canyon University. Her research focuses on the psychological impact of negative customer behavior on frontline hospitality and tourism employees.

Before joining ASU full-time in 2015, Dr. McWilliams was a Career and Technical Education teacher at Fountain Hills High.

Trained in both natural and social sciences from three continents, his scholarship is truly interdisciplinary and international. He received his doctoral degree from Pennsylvania State University, master's degree from Lincoln University, New Zealand, and bachelor's degree from the Institute of Forestry, Nepal. He was an Erskine Fellow at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand in 2018, and has been a Visiting Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa since 2020.

His research interests lie in understanding human-environment interactions, particularly connecting communities and conservation through tourism. He has done research on various topics, including sustainable tourism, ecotourism, protected area management, public lands, natural resource management, community development, and Indigenous Peoples globally.

He served on the Board of Directors for the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) for three years. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Tourism Review International, an ESCI and SCOPUS indexed peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the advancement of scholarly and managerially oriented knowledge in tourism.

With a strong passion for travel, events, and bringing people together, she is dedicated to creating seamless, memorable stays for clients and guests alike.

Dana thrives in fast-paced environments where attention to detail and thoughtful execution make all the difference. She takes pride in building lasting relationships and crafting meaningful experiences for guests.

Erin teaches undergraduate courses in special event management, revenue generation for event management, food and beverage, sports tourism, recreation and sports marketing and leisure and the quality of life.

Erin works to build and enhance relationships with event organizations on a local, regional and national level.

Olya is committed to a strong work ethic, takes pride in her work, and is deeply committed to accountability.

Mark holds a Bachelor’s in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Farleigh Dickinson University.

Most recently, Mark was the Executive Director of Hotel Sales at MGM Borgata, a 2,800-room resort, leading a 12-person team of group sales, catering and convention services. Previously, as a VP of Group Sales at Atlantis Paradise Island, Mark managed a 15-person team and was instrumental in driving strategic sales initiatives, managing key accounts, and implementing policies that enhanced the resort’s performance in the luxury hospitality market.