About Me

A bit about me:

I have worked in the Tourism Industry for 40+ years and devoted my studies to this area. My own Hero’s Journey has taken me to more than 44 of the continental United States, Germany, and I have lived in Scotland for six and half years.

I have done most jobs in that industry. I have worked in hotels, conference centers, and resorts. I accomplished numerous jobs from cleaning toilets to Assistant to the GM. I have worked in every department, even facilities, but wouldn’t know how to fix the AC. But I know how to fix a television without throwing it out the window. My expertise is in tourism, computers, technology, customer service, sales, and marketing, especially social media. My favorite jobs in the industry include sales and marketing, event planning, front office, and reservations. I loved working in sales and digitized a whole sales office when the personal computer boom was in its infancy.

I have witnessed the evolution of technology in this industry and am amazed every day by how it changes. Good and bad. For instance, I took all the traditional analog processes of the sales office and organized it for one of the first personal computers. I guess I had that sustainability and green idea for a long time, well before it was vogue. If you examine what is out there, what I accomplished in this project (and acquired a promotion too!), is sort of what SalesForce.com does today. Thus, CRM and eCRM, social media, eTourism, Marketing, experience management, and value are my research interests.

1. Scotland
2. Germany
3. England
4. Ireland
5. 44 different US States

Stout's Clock Tower

I am currently an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin Stout, located in the School of Management and the Department of Hospitality and Technology Innovation. Teaching Interests: I believe that learning, education is about gaining insight into past/present knowledge but, also, about gaining confidence to use information in your own daily lives to achieve professional/personal goals and aims. I believe we seek understanding to develop a particular lifestyle that benefits ourselves as well as others. I believe that anything is an achievement, even a degree or complete failure. We must, as individuals, see the good in any situation and capitalize on the knowledge. Research Interests: My research interests are focused in the field of tourism, technology and relationship management. They include marketing, branding, e-Marketing, e-Branding, e-Tourism, value chain management, experience management, and consumer behavior. These interests extend to Internet/WWW development for hospitality/service sectors, especially small firms, and entrepreneurs; Social marketing and media; database management and profit analysis, industry and consumer relationship building, cultural power promotion, training and development through e-Learning, virtual environment development and reflective practice.

Challenge life, don’t let life challenge you