Wilka Leadership Talks

Clarisa Jimenez serves as the President and CEO of the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association (PRHTA). In her role, she holds the responsibility for the operation of the 400 member association and collaborates with the board of directors to make decisions and implement objectives. Jimenez develops and executes annual strategic plans, ensuring the maximum effectiveness of the Association in variou...

Neyda Urias, a seasoned HR professional with 14 years of invaluable industry experience, embarked on a bold and inspiring journey as a newly minted entrepreneur. Leaving behind the confines of the corporate world, Neyda found her true calling in career coaching and HR consulting. With an unwavering passion for helping individuals reach their fullest potential and organizations optimize their human...

Aladin Glaoui General Manager Full Service Beach Resort.

Trica Jean-Baptiste is the Founder of Morgensheer Hospitality, Inc., a Consortium of Hospitality, Real Estate and Finance Consultants. Trica represents family offices, institutional investors and developers transacting in the hospitality, multi and single family, private membership and senior living sectors. In the twelve years since establishing Morgensheer Hospitality Inc., Trica has amassed an...

Prentice Pollard is a dynamic, results-driven business executive with a sustained track record of leading high-performing, efficient and profitable sales organizations. As a seasoned corporate sales leader, Prentice creates and implements effective business development strategies which deliver impactful customer experiences, increase capture, encourage cross-functional synergy and optimize financi...

Tiffany Townsend is the Executive Vice President, Global Communications at NYC & Company. She comes to NYC & Company from the Biden-Harris administration, where she served as a Senior Advisor with the U.S. Small Business Administration in the Office of Government Contracting & Business Development. She has formerly held positions at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the New York City Council, the New York W...

Femi D. Thomas

Osman Cuadros is a successful General Manager in the DMV area. He has over 25 years experience in the Hospitality Industry. Skilled in Associates and Guest Satisfaction. 

Simon Mendy is responsible for leading a diverse portfolio at Aimbridge Hospitality management. Mendy has over 23 years of highly successful hospitality management experience, distinguished by extensive background in hospitality operations and revenue management. Mendy received a Master of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Economics, Finance and Marketing) at...

Raul Moronta joined Remington in 2020 and has over 25 years of experience in operations and revenue management. Most recently, Raul was the Senior Vice President of Revenue Management for Crescent Hotels & Resorts. Prior to Crescent, Raul held several senior level positions at Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Hersha Hospitality Management. While at Starwood, Raul developed the first Centralized Reven...

With over 20 years of expertise spanning various facets of Hotel & Hospitality Management, Ousmane Diop excels in helping teams to improve the quality of the guest experience, maximize productivity & to create efficiency in processes while exceeding performance goals. Ousmane takes a client-focused outlook to develop strategies that increase company performance and profitability. Through this appr...

Dr. Erinn Tucker-Oluwole, CoFounder "Black Restaurant Week" promotes the knowledge and awareness of black-owned food and beverage businesses in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area.  Dr. Tucker-Aluwode is a thought leader, hospitality industry advocate, professor, speaker, and relationship cultivator, Dr. Tucker- Aluwode’s (she/her) political astuteness and decision making skill...

Randall Snell is currently the Assistant  Director of Employer Relations at Clayton State University responsible for developing and implementing recruitment strategies to enhance the current employer base for the University. 

Cherrie Woods is a communications veteran, who serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications for Baltimore Public Markets Corporation. A former nomad who has lived in three countries and six cities, she has called Baltimore home for over a decade. Woods has held staff and management communications positions at museums, arts organizations and government agencies. She also proudly wears the...

Heather Skipper Heather Skipper Naval Academy Business Services Division United States Naval Academy Hailing from Newport, Rhode Island, Heather Skipper is currently the Hospitality Sales Manager at the Naval Academy Business Services Division. Heather oversees the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center and Guide Services, manages the Naval Academy Club membership coordination, works with Approved Business...

Special guest Kemo Camara, Founder & CEO at OMEK

Halee Whiting is the President at Hospitality with Flair. Whiting is a Travel Writer, creative, outside of the box, seasoned hospitality professional that specializes in remote hotel sales. 

David President, Jr., known as the “Traveling Tailor”, is a self-taught fashion designer who specializes in custom-made suits. David has achieved personal success as a hospitality sales veteran, an avid investor, a financial literacy coach, a fashion designer, and a public speaker. He is also the Founder of iTrade Community, an online group that he created to educate and share best practices as it...

Thomas Penny, President of Donahue Hospitality Services, hospitality professional with multi-brand hotel experience, history of achieving above average results in the areas of employee satisfaction, market share and profitability.  Mr. Penny is a passionate community activist. Currently serving on the Board of Trustees and/or the Advisory Boards of the following organization: Hotel Association of...

Kevin is a travel & hospitality professional passionate about people and the world of travel. Regional Director of Sales for Kalyan Hospitality, Currently serves as an advisory board member for BLK RVA, a collaborative initiative that highlights African American tourism by illustrating the Richmond region as a multicultural hub.

Bruce is an outstanding Hotelier and on this episode he shares his views on BLACK EXCELLENCE in Hospitality. 

DeVanna, an Eastern Shore of Maryland native has 10+ years of hospitality and property management experience and firmly believes that a business is not business without people. She is a passionate and determined professional with a genuine care for establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with customers, associates, and ownership. DeVanna has demonstrated continuous success in o...

Monique Jones is a women leader in the Hospitality Industry in Washington DC. In this episode Monique shares her career journey in the industry , she is enchanting while sharing her real life story, sharing lessons learned, obstacles overcome and leadership style of serving and working together with others. She brings to the stage a lot of data driven influence into her teams across the 15 years i...

Belmond Copacabana Palace, a nearly century-old luxury hotel facing Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) which has welcomed countless worldwide celebrities over the years, is now led by Algarvean hotel manager Ulisses Marreiros. Inaugurated in 1923 and designed by French architect Joseph Gire, the Copacabana Palace is one of the world’s most famous luxury hotels. Some of the world’s most in...

David Aucoin says passion is the key to success in the hospitality industry. At only 19, Aucoin kick-started his career, allowing him to develop personally and professionally in a wide range of roles. He began working as a reservation agent at Sheraton Parkway and Best Western Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites. Three years later, he became sales co-ordinator. For most of his 20s, Aucoin assumed...