Faculty and Staff Bios
Liz Hundley, CMP
Professor – Hospitality Management and Meeting & Event Planning
Education:
B.A., University of Houston, Hilton School for Hotel and Restaurant Management
Intern, Starwood Hotels
Masters, Augusta State University, Business Administration
Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), 2008
Professional Experience:
Marriott Hotels
Manager, Food and Beverage Operations, University of Texas
Manager, Food and Beverage Operations, Augusta State University
Conferences Project Manager, Texas Association of Counties
Email: stacy.hundley@austincc.edu
Phone: 512.223.5181

Aliya Amanzholova
While receiving her degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Houston, Aliya worked for luxury boutique hotels in Houston, TX. After graduation, she continued her career in sales and marketing at focused service Hilton properties.
Aliya also owns Opera Café, which she opened alongside her spouse in 2014. Being involved in animal welfare for years, in 2022 Aliya joined The Humane League as a Training & Event Specialist, Open Wing Alliance where she combines her passion for helping animals, hospitality experience and love for teaching while being a part of an organization that works to improve animal welfare standards globally.
Education:
A.A.S., Hotel & Restaurant Management, Houston Community College
B.S. with Honors, Hotel & Restaurant Management, University of Houston
Professional Experience:
AAJ Hospitality LLC– Co-Founder. Opera Café ownership
Training & Event Specialist – The Humane League
Director of Sales- Baywood Hotels. Hilton Southwest Region portfolio
Task Force Sales – Hotel Granduca
Director of Sales – Moody National Companies. Homewood Suites & Hampton Inn by Hilton
Association Sales – DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Austin
Director of Sales & Marketing – Allied Hospitality Inc.
Hotel Operations – Hilton Garden Inn Houston Galleria, Hotel Granduca, The Lancaster Hotel
Email: aliya.amanzholova@austincc.edu
Christie Bednar
Education:
BA, Political Science and Psychology, The University of Wisconsin- Madison
MTA, Tourism Administration, The George Washington University School of Business
Professional Experience:
Texas Team Coordinator – Protravel International
Team Leader and Quality Mentor – American Express Travel and Lifestyle Services
Manager – On-site travel agency for Delloite Inc.
VIP International Agent – Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Owner – Get Outta Town Travel
Email: leslie.bednar@austincc.edu
Jessica Biggs
Adjunct Professor -Hospitality Management
– – Henry Ford
New to Austin, Jessica moved from Kansas City in 2017, where she graduated from Johnson County Community College with a degree in Hotel Management. She has more than 14 years experience in hotels and almost 10 years working in Housekeeping Operations.
Jessica grew up in the hospitality industry: her family in Toluca, Mexico operated a banquet hall, where she learned every position in the back and front of the house. At the age of 18 she embarked on a new chapter of her life, moving from Mexico to the United States. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys cheering for the Kansas City Royals and exploring new places in Austin with her husband John and dog Phoebe.
Education:
Associates Degree in Hotel Management – Johnson Country Community College
Professional Experience:
Assistant Manger, Rooms Operations – Overland Park Marriott
Operations Manager – Courtyard Overland Park
Director of Housekeeping – Aloft Leawood – Overland Park
Assistant Director of Services – JW Marriott Austin
Email: maria.villanueva1@austincc.edu

Michelle Costanzo, CHT
Education:
MHM, Executive Masters of Hospitality, University of Houston
B.A., Hotel and Restaurant Institutional Management, Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA
Internship with Schiller International University, Engelberg, Switzerland
Professional Experience:
Manager, Fairfield Inn by Marriott Frederick, MD
Manager, Courtyard by Marriott Frederick, MD
Faculty, Prince George’s Community College
Leadership & Training Manager at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, MD
Austin Community College- Hospitality Department Chair
Austin Community College- Assistant Dean of Faculty Development
Email: michelle.costanzo@austincc.edu

Bryan Gardner, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Education:
B.S. with Honors, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Hotel Administration
B.A., University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Spanish
Professional Experience:
Director of People & Culture, Four Seasons Hotel, Austin Texas
Internship (Training and Development), MGM Grand Hotel, Casino, & Theme Park, Las Vegas, Nevada
Employment Specialist, MGM Grand Hotel, Casino, & Theme Park, Las Vegas, Nevada
Housekeeping Supervisor, MGM Grand Hotel, Casino, & the Park, Las Vegas, Nevada
Assistant Housekeeping Manager, Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Santa Barbara, California
Assistant Director of Human Resources, Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Santa Barbara, California
Assistant Director of Human Resources, Four Seasons Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
Director of Human Resources, Four Seasons Hotel, Austin Texas
Member, Society for Human Resources Management
Email: bgardner@austincc.edu

Nichole Golden
Education:
BS, East Carolina University, Hospitality Management with a minor in Business Management
Professional Experience:
Sales Coordinator – Courtyard by Marriott – Gaithersburg, MD
Event Manager, Courtyard by Marriott – Gaithersburg, MD
Sales Manager, Courtyard by Marriott – Gaithersburg, MD
Assistant General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott – Gaithersburg, MD
Assistant General Manager, Fairfield Inn by Marriott – Frederick, MD
Assistant General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott – Gettysburg, PA
General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott- Gettysburg, PA
Hospitality & Culinary Departments Event Coordinator, Austin Community College -Austin, TX
Email: ngolden@austincc.edu
Phone: 512.223.5274
Greg Gotham
Howard Schultz, Starbucks
Greg left the restaurant industry in 2000 to work at Dell Inc. for nearly 14 years, as a Director of Global Operations. His core responsibilities were to improve customer-facing technology and transformation of business processes to enable revenue growth of over $4 Billion during his tenure. He also served as one of Dell’s premier six-sigma Black Belts and was chosen to solution Dell’s new multi-tiered supply chain. Greg brought his experience in the hospitality industry to Dell, Inc. to oversee the Customer Experience department for the Americas. After leaving Dell, Inc., Greg served as Vice President for two different tech start-ups.
Education:
BA, The School of Hospitality at Michigan State University
MBA, St. Edward’s University
Professional Experience:
Proprietor – Carrabba’s – Ashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, Ashville,
Knoxville, Nashville
General Manager – Grady’s American Grill – Atlanta, Detroit,
Tampa
Manager – Chequer’s Bar & Grill – Atlanta
Manager – Houston’s – Kansas City
Email:gregory.gotham@austincc.edu
Stacey Hoyt, CMP, CSEP
Education:
B.F.A., University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana
Certificate in Meeting & Event Planning, Austin Community College
Certified Meeting Planner (CMP)
Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP)
Professional Experience:
Director of Events, KMFA studios
Manager of Special Events, Blanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas at Austin
Event Project Manager, George P. Johnson Event Marketing Agency
Independent Event Producer
Event Manager, United Way Capital Area
Email: stacey.hoyt@austincc.edu
Franklin Marciales Cardenas
AFA Eastview Campus Representative
Education:
MBA in Sustainable Tourism. University of Salamanca. Salamanca, Spain
Bachelor’s in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Purdue University Calumet.
Hammond,
Indiana
Associate’s Degree in Airlines Services Management. Politecnico Grancolombiano.
Bogota, Colombia
Associate’s Degree in Hospitality Management. Houston Community College. Houston,
Texas
Professional Experience:
Front Desk Supervisor. Hyatt Place Austin Airport
Travel Agent. Valencia Venezuela
Assistant Manager. Plenomar Hotel, Santa Marta Colombia
Email: franklin.marciales@austincc.edu
Antonio Pace
Education:
Associates Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management, Algonquin College, Ottawa, Canada
Professional Experience:
Outlets Manager, Turks & Caicos Islands, Club Med Resorts
Outlets Manager/Banquet Assistant Manager, The Westin Ottawa
Banquet Manager/Food and Beverage Manger, The Albert at Bay Suite Hotel/Best Western Victoria Park Suits, Ottawa,
Canada
Front Office Manager, The Albert at Bay Suite Hotel, Ottawa, Canada
Food & Beverage Manager, The Marriott Horseshoe Bay Resorts, Horseshoe Bay, Texas
Banquet Manger, Food & Beverage Director, InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Austin, TX
Director Of Food And Beverage at Campus On Lake Austin
Email: antonio.pace@austincc.edu
Stephen Taylor
Adjunct Professor -Hospitality Management
Education:
B.S. in Service Management, Minor in Business Administration, University of Tennessee – Knoxville.
Professional Experience:
Disney College Program, Walt Disney Company – Orlando, FL
Operations Manager, Marriott International – Nashville, TN
Assistant General Manager, Hooters of America – Nashville, TN
Assistant General Manager, Homewood Suites by Hilton – Brentwood, TN
General Manager, Hampton Inn by Hilton – Columbia, MD
General Manager, Residence Inn by Marriott – Gaithersburg, MD
Area General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott & Residence Inn by Marriott – Austin, TX
General Manager, Hyatt Place Austin Airport – Austin, TX
Area General Manager, National Hospitality Services – Fargo, ND
Email: stephen.taylor@austincc.edu