While receiving her bachelor’s degree from the Hilton School for Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, Liz began working in the culinary intern program with Starwood Hotels, giving her a strong background for later work in catering sales, food and beverage operations and conference and event management. Texan born, Liz enjoys activities in the sun – rowing Lady Bird Lake, boating at Lake Travis, biking around town and growing peppers and tomatoes in the garden. Liz has been with ACC since 2004.
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

Award-winning hospitality professional with expertise in entrepreneurship, hotel operations, revenue management, business development, event planning, sales and marketing.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 has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Right out of college Christie worked on Capitol Hill. She realized almost immediately that it was not for her. She quit and went to travel school to be a travel agent and thinks it was a fantastic decision.  She completed her Masters degree in tourism administration from The George Washington University School of Business in Washington, DC . She believes that experiences are more important than possessions and that travel can change the world.
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

Introduced to the industry by her Chef father and working at their family owned Italian restaurant led Michelle to learn more about the industry. After years of education and working in the hospitality industry, Michelle discovered her passion for hotel operations and training. Michelle keeps busy with her two children, Lennon and Macklin, along with their high energy dog, Ginger. They enjoy traveling, spending time with family, hiking around Austin, watching live music and trying to keep up with the Austin foodie scene. Michelle has been with ACC since 2010.
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

Fortunately, “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”, didn’t hold true for Bryan Gardner. ACC has benefited from Bryan’s years of experience in the hotel industry in Vegas and other cities. Currently, Bryan is the Director of Human Resources at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas, where he has been since the summer of 2000.  He has been with ACC since 2002.
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 moved to Austin in 2011 from Maryland with her husband William, who was opening up at brewery. Nichole’s background includes over 10 years in the hospitality industry with a focus on hotel sales and operations. Nichole has worked for the programs of Hospitality, Meeting & Event Planning, and Travel & Tourism departments at Austin Community College since 2011.  When not working Nichole can be found spending time with her husband and 3 children, Ariston, Emerson and Sloane
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 has over 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He has open 7 casual dining restaurants and managed others in 7 different states.
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

Originally from Buffalo, New York, Stacey started her career working as a stage manager for dance companies including Ballet Austin, Atlanta Ballet, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.  She returned to Austin in 1999 and embarked on a new journey in meetings, events, and hospitality which began with enrolling in classes at ACC. Currently she is the Director of Events at the beautiful KMFA studios where she practices her event planning skills and manages the facility rental program.
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 is a native of Colombia, South America, where he began his career in the hospitality and travel industry.  He has traveled extensively throughout the world as well as throughout most of the United States; he has a substantial knowledge of global tourism and geography. Franklin move to Venezuela after he completed his Associate’s degree in Airlines Services Management and worked as a travel agent in the city of Valencia. He later moved to Houston, TX where he completed his Associate’s degree in Hospitality Management. He has also lived in Seattle, WA and Chicago, IL where he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. He recently completed his Master’s degree in Sustainable Tourism and developed his thesis on the behaviors of tourists towards sustainability in Austin.  In his free time Franklin loves to read, cook, travel and watch different television shows, especially those focused on geography, travel and tourism. He is married and has two “spoiled” cats.
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 is originally from Ottawa, Canada where he began his career in the hospitality industry. Antonio worked in multiple departments at a hotel in his hometown for a year after high school before going to Algonquin College for Hotel & Restaurant Management. During his college years he worked at the Westin Ottawa part time and was promoted to a Full Time Banquet Captain while still in school. After graduating with an associate’s degree, he stayed with the Westin for a year, than had the opportunity to work in Turks & Caicos Islands as an Outlets Manger with Club Med Resorts. Antonio went on and worked in multiple departments as a manger such as Front Office, Banquets, and Food & Beverage outlets for multiple hotel Chains. He is currently the Food & Beverage Director at the Stephen F’s Austin InterContinental Hotel in Austin, Texas, where he has been since the spring of 2011. Antonio lives with his wife Jaime and their 2 kids and enjoys keeping busy playing sports and hosting neighborhood gatherings with great food and cocktails.
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 has over 10 years of hospitality experience in various roles and has a passion for all things hospitality. Originally from Portland, Tennessee, Stephen graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Service Management from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Stephen worked in the hospitality industry throughout college, gaining experience in all operations at select service hotels and worked in the restaurant industry. He completed an internship with Homewood Suites by Hilton and completed the Disney College Program at Walt Disney Company in Orlando, FL. Stephen relocated to Austin, TX in 2016. Currently, Stephen is an Area General Manager for National Hospitality Services where he provides direct oversight of the Hyatt Place Austin Airport and regional support for three other hotels in Texas. When he is not working, Stephen enjoys spending time with his husband and three dogs.
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