Maureen Gittelman - Incoming Vice President
Maureen Peters Gittelman is an assistant professor in the Department of Business, Aviation & Construction Professions at Dutchess Community College and program chair for the Hospitality & Tourism Management program. Her courses include Foundations of Business, Principles of Marketing, Business Organization & Management, Introduction to Hospitality & Tourism, Essentials of Customer Service, and Introduction to Nonprofit Management. She recently created a Cannabis Retail Management microcredential that launched in Fall 2023.
Maureen is currently serving as secretary of the NENA Federation and in Summer 2023 was honored with ICHRIE’s innaugural Emerging Leader Award.
At DCC, Maureen also serves as the co-chair of DCC’s President’s Advisory Committee, as a member of the Instructional Staff Committee, and on the executive board of the DCC Pantry. She was recently appointed to the board of Dutchess Tourism, Inc., the officially designated destination marketing organization of Dutchess County, New York.
Prior to her academic career, Maureen served in a variety of roles that encompassed marketing and social media, strategic planning, leadership development, workshop facilitation, fundraising, sponsorship, board engagement, and staff development. In addition to a successful consulting practice, her professional experience includes serving as Deputy Director of the Eleanor Roosevelt Center, executive-level fundraising and management positions at the Westchester Medical Center, NLN Foundation for Nursing Education, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Maureen received her undergraduate degree from Hofstra University and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business. Additionally, she received a Certificate in Personal Leadership from the Institute for Personal Leadership and the Columbia Business School.
PLATFORM STATEMENT:
It is an honor to be nominated for the role of NENA Federation vice president. Over the past three years, I have had the privilege of serving as the Secretary, and I am eager to bring my passion, dedication, and vision to the role of Vice President – and to the subsequent roles of president and immediate past president.
As secretary, I led a revision of the NENA bylaws, created a new federation website, and contributed to our social media presence, while also ensuring the community college voice remains an integral part of board and federation discussions.
If elected as Vice President, I aspire to leverage my multifaceted experience to work collaboratively with fellow board members to lead our organization with integrity, innovation, and inclusivity. I am committed to developing and showcasing the best practices we collectively possess as an organization and supporting the ICHRIE mission and strategic goals through our work. Building on this year’s conference theme, “Attract, Engage, Retain,” I am also dedicated to actively recruiting new members, ensuring that our community continues to grow and thrive. As Vice President, I will champion innovative conference, research, networking, and professional development opportunities that contribute to advancing hospitality education and the hospitality and tourism industry.
Christine Cleaver - Incoming Treasurer
I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for the position of NENA Chapter Treasurer. With a
proven track record in financial management and an unwavering commitment to the NENA
mission, I am eager to contribute to the success of our chapter.
Financial Expertise: Bringing a wealth of experience in financial management, I am dedicated to
ensuring the fiscal health of our chapter. My background includes owning a large events
company before transitioning into an academic career. I oversaw the financial management of
the company and my client’s projects. I then used this expertise to create coursework for us
related to budgeting, strategic planning, sponsorship, fundraising, and ancillary incomes.
Loyalty and Commitment: I would be a treasurer and a loyal advocate for the NENA cause. My
commitment extends beyond mere responsibilities, as I am driven to safeguard and enhance
the financial well-being of our chapter.
Innovative Thinking: In today's dynamic landscape, innovation is key to sustainability. As your treasurer, I pledge to infuse innovative thinking into our financial strategies, ensuring we stay
ahead of the curve and adapt to emerging challenges.
Collaboration and Collegiality: Success is a team effort. I am committed to fostering a collaborative and collegial environment within our chapter. Open communication and teamwork will be at the forefront of my approach.
Transparency and Accountability: I believe in transparent financial practices and accountability to our members. I will work diligently to provide regular updates on the chapter's financial status, fostering trust and confidence among our community.
I look forward to this opportunity within the NENA chapter.
Jennifer Forney - Incoming Director of Conferences & Events
OBJECTIVE
To be the Director of Conferences and Events for the NENA Federation where an exceptional ability to communicate, engage, be creative, and be collaborative is required.
My name is Jennifer Forney and I have been a member of ICHRIE and the NENA Federation for the past ten years and it has been a significant part of my career as an instructor, a program director at the University of Pittsburgh and in my current role as Assistant Professor at SUNY Jamestown Community College. As an active member of NENA, I can make connections, network with colleagues, and form partnerships that may never exist if I was not a member of this organization. Leadership in the NENA Federation is something that I take very seriously and something I want to continue being a part of.
QUALIFICATIONS
I have had the pleasure of serving as Secretary from 2015-2017. Then from 2019-2021 I served as Vice President, President, and Immediate Past President for NENA, and am the current Director of Conference and Events. During my tenure, I led a task force that redesigned the roles and responsibilities of the Executive Board and Director positions and updated the federation bylaws. These changes were made to better align with CHRIE and to ensure efficiency so we could better serve our members. Another goal during my tenure was to ensure our members recognized the value of their membership. This initiative continued with the new leadership team.
As the current Director of Conferences and Events in collaboration with the conference planning committee, we executed a successful regional conference in West Virginia in the Spring of 2023. We had 55+ attendees, and the conference was full of research and instructional workshops focused on innovation. Leading and being a part of the planning process of our regional conferences gives me a sense of pride that I can collaborate with the host university and its team to plan an engaging and relevant agenda for all our NENA colleagues. The goal of a successful conference is organization, effective communication and promotion, a clear mission/purpose, knowing your audience and how to effectively engage them, but most importantly, creating a memorable experience, in other words, “make them want more.” This is something I keep close to throughout the planning process, and I make every effort to share that passion with the planning committee.
In addition to serving on the conference planning committee for NENA, I volunteer for various events in the community. I currently serve as Festival Chair for our Basilica. This is a major fundraiser event for church operations. In my role as chair over the past two years, the event had revenue of $130,000 with profits of $48,000 (2023) and $62,000 (2022).
WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU
Continuing in my leadership role in NENA will allow me to forge a path to be more involved and impactful at the federation level, as well as serve as a liaison for the NENA members and CHRIE. As Director of Conferences and Events, I will continue to work with members to plan, coordinate, and execute a conference that meets our member's needs, provides an opportunity for members to engage, network, collaborate, educate, learn, and leave them “wanting more”, eager to engage in the next conference.
If elected as Director of Conferences and Events, it is my goal to give 110% to the role and be organized, efficient, and supportive of the other board members. In addition, I will creatively communicate and engage with our members regularly to ensure they are updated, motivated, and excited about what is happening within the NENA Federation and CHRIE.
Forest Ma - Incoming Director of Education
Forest Ma is an assistant professor in the Tourism and Hospitality program at the University of Southern Maine. She has previously served as an instructor at the University of South Carolina and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Before joining academia, she held several managerial positions in international hotels and non-profit/private event organizations. Bringing her industry experience, she has taught a wide range of hospitality management courses, including restaurant management, beverage operations, human resource management, event planning, and more. She also enjoys guiding students to engage and serve underprivileged communities through study abroad courses.
Her research focuses on food and beverage operations, looking at practical approaches to create memorable experiences for both employees and customers. She has published in top-tier hospitality and tourism journals, including International Journal of Hospitality Management, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, and International Journal of Tourism Research.
PLATFORM STATEMENT:
My commitment to education is to foster an environment that encourages and celebrates learning. With a diverse industry background and global teaching experience, my vision is to cultivate a culture of inclusivity, equity, and excellence to serve all ICHRIE NENA members. I am dedicated to collaborating with academics and industry professionals to share knowledge and expertise and to creating connections and opportunities for future success for our members and their schools.