The Central Florida Hospitality Hall of Fame was established in 2007 by 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College to honor outstanding leaders for their contributions to local hospitality industry and service to the community.

鈥淚 am honored to welcome David Siegel and Richard Maladecki into the Central Florida Hospitality Hall of Fame,鈥� said Dr. Abraham Pizam, dean of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College. 鈥淭hese two distinguished executives have not only had a tremendous impact on the industry and community, but also serve as an example to our students, as they both demonstrate the college鈥檚 core values of professionalism, leadership, and service.鈥�

Both Siegel and Maladecki will officially be inducted into this prestigious group of local hospitality leaders on Nov. 16, 2013 at The Peabody Orlando during the college鈥檚 annual Grand Tour Gala, produced by the National Association聽for Catering and Events (NACE) Orlando chapter. As Hall of Fame inductees, Siegel and Maladecki will each be presented with a limited-edition Steuben crystal pineapple award, the symbol of the hospitality industry. Additionally, the inductees will be pictured with plaques on the Hall of Fame wall, located at the 麻豆原创 Rosen College campus.

As a pioneer in the tourism industry, Siegel has spent the past 30 years shaping his company into the largest privately owned business in Central Florida. His empire includes timeshare, real estate, construction, hotel and apartment management, travel services, telecommunications, citrus, insurance, transportation, retail, and much more. Siegel struck success in the 1970s, when he purchased a prime piece of real estate that later developed into the largest single-site vacation ownership resort in the world – Westgate Vacation Villas.

Siegel has been honored as the “Entrepreneur of the Year” for construction and real estate in Central Florida and finished second in the “Entrepreneur of the Year” national competition. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Florida A&M University for his work in community service, as well as the National Community Service Award from ARDA, the national timeshare association. Siegel also contributes to the Westgate Resorts Foundation, which supports charitable activities in areas where his employees live and work

As president & CEO of the world鈥檚 largest regional lodging association, Maladecki is responsible for overseeing a multi-million dollar budget and managing a 45-member Board of Directors, consisting of hotel General Managers and tourism industry executives. He also serves as a Board Member for Visit Orlando, is the current president of the Orange County Library Board of Trustees, and sits on the Central Florida Boy Scouts Council, as well as the Valencia Foundation Board of Directors. Maladecki has also served on the Blue Ribbon Task Force and the Orange County Sheriff鈥檚 Transitional Team.

Maladecki is a Boy Scouts of Central Florida 鈥淕olden Eagle鈥� awardee and has also been named one of Orlando Magazine鈥檚 鈥�50 Most Powerful People鈥� for six consecutive years.

Siegel and Maladecki will join the following executives as members of the Central Florida Hospitality Hall of Fame: Albert Covelli, Covelli Enterprises, largest franchisee of Panera Bread; Gary C. Sain, Visit Orlando; Alan C. Villaverde, The Peabody Orlando (2012); Al Weiss, Walt Disney Company, and Thomas L. Williams, Universal Parks & Resorts (2011); Carolyn Fennell, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, and Mark McHugh, Gatorland, (2010); Jim D. Atchison, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, and Harris Rosen, Rosen Hotels & Resorts (2009); Patricia J. Engfer, Hyatt Orlando, and Richard A. Nunis, Walt Disney Attractions (2008); and Richard J. Walsh, Darden Restaurants, and William C. Peeper, Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau (2007).

The CFHLA Hotel Meet & Greet, which will be held 13 times throughout the Spring 2013 semester, will feature a different executive each week from some of Central Florida鈥檚 busiest hotels. While this event isn鈥檛 an interview opportunity, students will still be able to network with some of Central Florida鈥檚 leading hospitality executives, gain valuable career advice, and discuss industry trends, tips and strategies.

鈥淭his opportunity is another CFHLA commitment to hospitality education,鈥� said CFHLA President and CEO Richard Maladecki. 鈥淟odging executives and members of their management team will be available weekly to discuss 鈥榬eal life鈥� hospitality experiences. Importantly, 麻豆原创 Hospitality students should take advantage of this networking vehicle, to maximize their career options.鈥�

The CFHLA Hotel Meet & Greet will be held every Tuesday afternoon, beginning on Jan. 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the CFHLA Student Lounge (room 202), located on the 麻豆原创 Rosen College campus, near the heart of Orlando鈥檚 tourism district, International Drive.

The Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association has provided educational opportunities and financial support for the 麻豆原创鈥檚 Hospitality Management program for decades, including a $100K donation in 2012 鈥� the largest gift ever awarded by the CFHLA.

鈥淚 sincerely thank the CFHLA for their continued support of our programs and students,鈥� said Dr. Abraham Pizam, dean of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College. 鈥淚t is because of their generosity, leadership, and dedication that 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College remains a leader in hospitality management education.鈥�

Spring 2013 CFHLA Hotel Meet & Greet Schedule

January 15 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Nickelodeon Suites Resort

January 22 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Grande Lakes Marriott

January 29 | 11:00am – 1:00pm 聽| World Center Marriott

February 05 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Loews Portofino Bay

February 12 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Hilton Orlando

February 19 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Crowne Plaza Universal

February 26 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Sheraton Orlando North

March 05 | Spring Break | Spring Break – Closed

March 12 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Disney Coronado Springs

March 19 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Caribe Royale

March 26 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport

April 02 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Crowne Plaza Orlando Downtown

April 09 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Loews Hotel Portofino Bay

April 16 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | Florida Hotel

Just this week, the international news service Reuters published a story describing how Central Florida is 鈥渂enefiting from above average jobs growth鈥� and 鈥渁 booming health sciences complex.鈥�

Many 麻豆原创 graduates remain in the Metro Orlando area, and they will enter the job market with less debt than most of their peers around the country.

Reuters noted that Metro Orlando has added 23,000 jobs in the 12-month period ending in February. That鈥檚 nearly half of the total number of jobs added in Florida during that time.

Commencement Details

More than 7,100 麻豆原创 students anticipate graduating this spring. They include 5,950 who intend to receive bachelor鈥檚 degrees and 1,075 who expect master鈥檚 degrees. The graduates also include 60 students who plan to earn Ph.Ds.

Ceremonies will be held at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7, at the 麻豆原创 Arena. The procession of graduates will begin 20 minutes before the start of each ceremony.

The 9 a.m. ceremony on May 6 will feature graduates of the College of Business Administration, College of Engineering & Computer Science and College of Optics and Photonics. The speaker will be Seminole County Commission Chairman Brenda Carey.

The 2 p.m. ceremony on May 6 will include graduates of the College of Arts & Humanities, College of Health & Public Affairs and College of Nursing. The speaker will be Ava Parker, chair of the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state鈥檚 11 public universities.

On May 7, the 9 a.m. ceremony will feature graduates of the College of Education, College of Graduate Studies, Office of Undergraduate Studies and Rosen College of Hospitality Management. The speaker will be Richard Maladecki, president of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association.

The final ceremony, at 2 p.m. May 7, will include graduates of the College of Medicine and College of Sciences. The speaker will be Waymon Armstrong, president and founder of Engineering and Computer Simulations Inc. and the 2010 National Small Business Person of the Year.

Guests must have tickets to attend the ceremonies. Guests without tickets are welcome to view live closed-circuit telecasts of the ceremonies from the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center across from the 麻豆原创 Arena. Broadcasts also will be posted after the ceremonies at .

Following the four ceremonies, 麻豆原创 will have awarded more than 218,000 degrees since classes began in 1968.

For more information, go to the .