GSU Emerging Leaders Development

MSU Executive Development

Quality Coffee Certification

Route Driver Certification

Technician Training

Food Safety Course

GSU Emerging Leaders Development

sponsored by

2008 NAMA/Georgia State University Emerging Leader Program

May 2009 (TBD)
Atlanta, Georgia

NAMA has partnered with J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality at Georgia State University to deliver this 5-day program focusing on skills designed to help managers grow into tomorrow’s leaders.

Businesses must develop strong leadership throughout. Manufacturing, retailing and service businesses alike win by delivering outstanding customer value. Learn how to implement strategies that really connect with customers and work through key issues your organization faces. Individuals will take home a specific, measurable personal action plan to help improve business results.

Make the commitment to education and invest in the growth and success of your company and employees.

• Identify strategies that positively impact business performance
• Expand cross-functional capabilities to implement the latest strategies, practices and concepts
• Learn skills to become a more dynamic leader
• Strengthen ability to use information in decision-making
• Network and brainstorm with other business leaders through daily team discussions

Below is a list of our faculty members that are involved with Education/Emerging Leader Program

Diana Barber, JD
is on the faculty of the School of Hospitality, Georgia State University and is a practicing lawyer specializing in hospitality legal issues. Barber has over 16 years experience as the Vice President and Associate General Counsel of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. She is a national speaker on the prevention of legal liabilities to groups such as the annual Hospitality Law Conference and Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association.

Ira Blumenthal
President of CO-OPPORTUNITIES, Inc., an Atlanta-based consulting company, has counseled world class clients such as Coca-Cola, Nestle, McDonald's, Harrah's, Disney, Marriott and more. He is the author of Ready, Blame, Fire! which focuses on the myths and misses in marketing. Blumenthal is the inaugural Executive-in-Residence for Georgia State University's School of Hospitality.

James Boles
Marketing Professor of the J.Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. James primary research examines sales force performance& turnover, as well as customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Debby Cannon, Ph.D.
Director of the School of Hospitality, Georgia State University, has over 25 years of hospitality experience. An international speaker on human resource topics with groups such as the Club Managers Association of America, National Restaurant Association's HR Executive Group and the 2006 National NAMA Expo, she is co-author of Training in the Hospitality Industry a comprehensive text on employee development.

Richard M. Geerdes, NCE
is the President & CEO for the National Automatic Merchandising Association and has vast vending/foodservice management experience. He also serves as an Officer and Director on the Board of the Worldwide Vending Association.

Rob George
is the Director of Guest Services for the Atlanta Braves, has a hospitality background of over 11 years. As Corporate Director of Training and Organizational Effectiveness, created The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, oversaw service and quality for over 60 hotels worldwide and consulted with over 500 companies on how to implement a Ritz-Carlton type culture. George is an adjunct faculty member with Georgia State University.

Misty Johanson, Ph.D.
is the Assistant Professor in the School of Hospitality at Georgia State, has industry experience in resort operations in the U.S., Hawaii and the Caribbean. She has served as a consultant and advisor to international hospitality companies including Starwood, Marriott and Hilton Hotels. Her area of expertise is human resource management including communication and conflict resolution.

Michael Kasavana, Ph.D., CHTP, NCE
is the National Automatic Merchandising Association Endowed Professor in The School of Hospitality Business and holds the CHTP (Certified Hospitality Technology Professional) certification. He continues research into the current and near future developments of electronic commerce and transaction processing technology.

Dan Mathews, NCE
is the Executive Vice President and COO for the National Automatic Merchandising Association. Dan is a problem-solver and business improvement specialist recognized for the ability to develop people and dedicated to helping organizations and individuals achieve more of their goals more often. He has been a featured speaker for a variety of business, education and association groups.

Geoff Paul
is the President of Excelso Coffee Company, a private label coffee roaster/manufacturer with distribution into 35 states based in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also president of Atlanta Coffee Time and Atlanta Vending and sits on the Board of Vend Marketing Institute.

Carole Proebstle, Psy.D.
is a licensed clinical psychologist consultant in the areas of learning preferences and teaching styles. She has taught leadership development and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment. Carole consults in the improvement of interpersonal effectiveness through communication, conflict management, relationship building and personal leadership training programs utilizing the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument.

Jim Proebstle
is the President/Founder of Prodyne, Inc. uses his consulting and operational expertise in leading successful sales and cross-functional management effectiveness projects including; the alignment of the sales process with the strategic business plan, the design and delivery of custom management and sales training to support organizational change, and the utilization of technology as a tool in the selling process.

Deborah Robbe
is on the faculty of Georgia State's School of Hospitality, is the author of Expositions and Trade Shows. She has vast industry experience in logistics for tradeshow management including truck transportation, loading and delegation. She is a two-time Allie Award winner for event management. With all events and shows involving strict deadlines, time management skills have been critical to her success.