ROSS WAGNER- HOTEL MANAGEMENT FACULTY
Hotel and Restaurant Management Instructor- Manhattan Campus
Ross graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and has been working in the restaurant, training, and hospitality industry for over 20 years. Most of his experience has been in the pizza industry, where he worked with several large international franchise organizations, as well as many other smaller companies. He worked as a general manager and supervisor of pizza restaurants in Vail Colorado, before taking a position as a franchise training consultant in Europe and the Middle East. While oversees, he assisted in the construction and opening of pizza stores in 12 countries over the course of three years.
Ross then returned to the U.S. where he became a two store franchisee with a national pizza chain. He owned and operated his stores very successfully for over six years. After selling his pizza stores, Ross worked as a ski instructor in Colorado and as a base manager for a helicopter touring company in Hawaii. He moved to New York in 2011 where he joined Star Career Academy. JOSEPH MEYER - HOTEL MANAGEMENT FACULTY
Hotel and Restaurant Management Instructor - Manhattan Campus
Joseph Meyer joins Star Career Academy of New York with 25 years as hospitality professional, with three degrees from Johnson and Wales University – B.S. in Hospitality Management, and two A.S. in Hotel & Restaurant and Travel & Tourism Management, which were received in 1986. Mr. Meyer has worked for Marriott, Hilton, and Holiday Inn. Mr. Meyer has had various management positions in both corporate chain hotels along with two independent upscale boutique hotels.
After spending almost 25 years in the field and being a General Manager with Holiday Inn for 7 years, Mr. Meyer became a Vocational Education Teacher for Hospitality Management in 2007 before joining Star Career Academy.
Mr. Meyer started his hotel career while in High School. He started as a dishwasher, housekeeping houseman. While attending Johnson & Wales University, Mr. Meyer worked as front desk agent, and restaurant server. Mr. Meyer owned and operated his own catering business for 10 years, while working in the Hotel industry.
Mr. Meyer has received many awards and has been involved as a corporate trainer for both Hilton and Holiday Inn during his hotel career. GWEN CAPERS-WILSON – HOTEL MANAGEMENT FACULTY
Hotel and Restaurant Management Instructor; Manhattan Campus
Gwendolyn Capers-Wilson is a seasoned hospitality professional, with three degrees from Johnson and Wales University – Associate’s Degrees in Science, Culinary Arts, and as a Dietetic Technician, which she received in 1979. Ms. Wilson has worked for Marriott Corporation in various management positions in Food and Beverage. Her professional career also includes management positions with Aramark and Sodexho. She also served as the Director of Fiscal Management for the New York City Department of Corrections, managing the procurement of food and bid specifications for a 25-million dollar food budget for the entire correctional system.
After spending almost 20 years in the field, Ms. Wilson returned to her Alma Mater and received her B.S. Degree in Food Service Management, making the Dean’s List almost every semester.
Upon graduation, Ms. Wilson was selected as the Director of Food Services for Phoenix Houses of New York, where she was responsible for 15 professionally staffed kitchens in residential treatment facilities. During her tenure at Phoenix House, she competed in two chef's cooking competitions that were sponsored by US Food Service. Before arriving at Star Career Academy, Ms. Wilson was the Retail Manager at NYU Langone Medical Center, where she oversaw a full service retail food outlet with two million dollars in annual sales.
Additionally, she has served in the United States Naval Reserve as a Mess Management Specialist.
Ms Wilson has received many awards and commendations during her career including ‘Manager of the Quarter’. DEBBIE LEWIS – HOTEL MANAGEMENT FACULTY
Hotel and Restaurant Management Program Chair; Manhattan Campus
Debbie joined Star Career Academy of New York as a part-time hospitality instructor in May 2006, going on to become full-time that September. She came to Star with 27 years of experience in the hotel business and many years spent in the food and beverage industry. That field interested her as a result of her first high school job as a dishwasher and prep cook in a restaurant, and she continued to work in restaurants throughout her college years.
Debbie graduated Boston College and also attended Johnson and Wales University, part-time. She began her hotel career as a management trainee at the Sheraton Universal Hotel and continued to work for the Sheraton Corporation for the next ten years. During this time, she worked as a front office manager, as well as in sales and marketing management.
Since leaving the Sheraton Corporation, Debbie has made New York City her home and has worked at various properties in the city, as both a director of sales and marketing and as a general manager. Presently, she has her own consulting company and teaches at Star Career Academy. FRANK R. LODICO – HOTEL MANAGEMENT FACULTY
Hotel & Restaurant Management; Long Island Campus
Frank Lodico began his extensive career in the hospitality industry at the Dutch Inn of Long Island in 1977 (currently the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma, and, as General Manager) supervised its renovation and conversion.
Opening new hotels and renovating existing properties are among his specialties. Some of his projects have included the Hampton Inn Islandia in 1988; The Fairfield Inn Syosset in 1994; the Courtyard by Marriott MacArthur Airport in 2002 and the La Quinta Inn & Suites, MacArthur Airport, in 2006. Along the way, he has also held hotel management positions at the Sheraton Smithtown.
Frank is also a natural teacher. In addition to being on staff at Star, his credentials include teaching in the Hotel Management programs at both Nassau and Suffolk Community Colleges.
Mr. Lodico serves on the Board of Directors for the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and has also served on the Board of Directors of the Long Island Hotel & Lodging Association. He is currently the General Manager at the La Quinta Inn & Suites Islip/ MacArthur Airport in Bohemia.
He graduated from the University of Kentucky, BA, Telecommunications, 1977.
Mr. Lodico believes in the power of one single word – passion. He says: “The hospitality business is all about passion...a passion to serve other people...a passion to take care of other people.... a passion to do whatever it takes to help people enjoy themselves. It’s a passion that once you find it, you'll never lose it.”
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