Press Release
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012
The Hermes Expo International is honored to announce the participation of the following special guests, panelists and Academics in the 21st annual Hermes Expo to be held at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Atlantic City on March 31st and April 1st.
· CAROL BROOKS: Manager International Trade office, Philadelhia, PA.
In January 1993, Carol Brooks began her employment with the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce and is currently the Manager of International Trade and Diplomatic Liaison. Ms. Brooks assisted in forming the Philadelphia Trade Office and later helped structure the International Division. Additionally, Ms. Brooks assisted in helping to form the Greater Philadelphia Global Partners and was the co-chair of the International Conference committee. Presently with the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce, Ms. Brooks works to attract foreign investment in to Philadelphia, facilitates business relationships for firms seeking to expand into international markets, and helps identify local firms for international businesses seeking to do business in the United States. Ms. Brooks has represented and conducted a number of trade events for her Department on trade.
· PAUL COHEN: President, Partner Concepts
As President of Partner Concepts, Paul has built a team of travel marketing specialists around the world; all specializing in developing custom integrated marketing programs to promote international destinations in the U.S. market. Prior to co-founding Partner Concepts, Paul headed up the hospitality and tourism account activity as vice president of Enten & Associates, a global advertising agency based in suburban Washington, D.C. There, he led a team of five senior account executives representing multiple destinations, hotel companies and international airlines. Prior to that, Paul served as the director of marketing for the American Hotel & Motel Association, where he gained valuable insights and experiences at the heart of the U.S. travel industry, working closely with senior executives from all of the leading American hotel companies, as well as developing strategic partnerships with corporations such as Visa International, MasterCard International, American Express, and Coca-Cola, among others.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York, College at Brockport, concentrating in hospitality and recreation services. He is often a guest speaker at the George Washington University Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management and was recently awarded the 2007 Tourism Industry Achievement award from Niagara University College of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Mr. Cohen recently served as the Vice Chairman of the Corporate Council on Africa Tourism Committee, where his team of industry leaders delivered policy recommendations to the Obama Administration covering travel and tourism.
· ELIZABETH BARBER: Associate Dean, Temple University, School of Tourism
Dr. Elizabeth H. Barber is the associate dean of Temple University's School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM), the region's leading provider of management talent in tourism, hospitality, sport, and recreation. She is one of the area's foremost educators in the development of curricula for tourism, hospitality, sport, and recreation. Since the School's inception in 1998, she has lead the program to offer the best and most comprehensive industry-specific education in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral studies. Under her leadership the school has grown from six-faculty members and 120 students, to 20 faculty, 12 staff, 850 students, two internationally recognized research centers, and over one million dollars in externally funded grants and projects. STHM is expanding the curriculum to offer degree programs in Asia, as well as Europe. Dr. Barber is a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE).
· RICHARD RIDALL: Assistant Professor, Temple University, School of Tourism
Richard Ridall is joining the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management as an Assistant Professor in Sport and Recreation Management and as the Director for the Center for Student Professional Development. Mr. Ridall received his BS in criminal justice from Temple University and then later his Master of Education in sports and recreation management from Temple’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. He has served as an adjunct professor at Drexel University, and as a guest lecturer for graduate and undergraduate courses at Temple, Villanova, Drexel, Widener, and Neumann Universities in the areas of business and sports management. Mr. Ridall has over 20 years of professional experience in the field of sports management with Comcast-Spectator. He started his career as a penthouse suite concierge supervisor for the Philadelphia Eagles and assistant ticket manager for the Philadelphia Flyers. He was an assistant box office manager for the Wachovia Center & Spectrum, and has worked for Comcast-Spectator as their director of ticket operations, a regional sales manager & client service representative, the director of sales, and then national sales manager.
