#WhoWeAreWednesday
Jennifer Schlabach
Title: Senior Sales Manager- Wyndham Garden Hotel Austin President 1. Where are you originally from? Born and raised in a small town in South Texas. Moved to Leander in High School and within a few months, fell in love with the “Big City”. 2. What is your favorite thing about being a part of HSMAI? In my short time with the organization so far, I’ve been amazed on how everyone pulls together to make things happen as a team. Each individual has been a resource of information and has expressed genuine care in their involvement with the organization. 3. How did you get started in the hospitality industry/HSMAI? In High School I was entertained by Johnson and Whales in Providence RI for college. My family and I traveled to Providence and toured the area and school. There was a strong emphasis on the culinary field and based on my severe lack of skills in the kitchen, I concluded that it was not the right move for me. After deciding to go to UT (hookem’) I met an HR Director at a downtown hotel who then offered me a job as an HR Intern. Sixteen years later I’m eating my own words (and not even cooking). I’m fortunate enough to have developed through the ranks of HR, Front Desk Management, Catering, Sales, Sr. Sales and DOS. I often attribute my love for the industry as a result of my diverse experience. 4. How long have you been working on the board for HSMAI/ or for your current employer? I’ve been at the Wyndham just since April 2015 and feel at home with the brand, management, and ownership. 5. One fun fact about you is? I believe anything is possible with passion. Even Unicorns. 6. Your perfect day in Austin would be? Dancing to Americana Live music anywhere with my daughter. 7. What’s one thing in Austin you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake. Or the Pub Crawler around downtown. Because exercising and drinking at the same time sounds like an adventure! 8. What is the best advice you can give a visitor to Austin? Keep your mind open and don’t let our weirdness faze you. 9. Life tip you live by? Don’t sweat the small stuff! This book by Richard Carlson was given to me by my very first hospitality mentor and I try to live by it every day. 10. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? This list is endless! So how about everywhere? 11. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to dinner Austin, who would they be? Michael Jackson, Edgar Allen Poe and my Mom. 12. The best part about being in Austin? I thoroughly enjoy how each part of our city is a different world. We often ‘nest’ in our own areas but if you venture 5 miles in any direction, you’ll have a new experience and meet good people. 
Susan Greenberg CMP, CASE
Title: Sales Executive, Darling Promo Past President 1. Where are you originally from? “I got to Texas as fast as I could!” Born in NYC, lived all over most of the East coast – Got my first pair of real cowboy boots at 16 and was destined to be in AUSTIN! 2. What is your favorite thing about being a part of HSMAI? As a lifelong learner, being part of an Industry Association that focuses on personal and professional development is destiny. 3. How did you get started in the hospitality industry/HSMAI? During college at Tufts University there was always a focus on being part of the community. Un-be known to me, my first meeting planning job was as an Intern to Senator Paul Tsongas planning town hall meetings in Massachusetts. Next I focused on food and became the cook for Sigma Nu fraternity; I had so much fun cooking and creating special events upon graduation I switched from law school to WESTIN hotels apprentice opening the Washington DC property on 24th & M Street in 1985. 4. How long have you been working on the board for HSMAI/ or for your current employer? In 2015 I became the HSMAI VP of Education and moved into President Elect in 2016. In March of 2016 I had the pleasure of making an amazing career change. As a meeting planner and promotional products sales consultant I get to work with all my colleagues and meeting clients crating infinite possibilities for them to brand and advertise their business and events. 5. One fun fact about you is? I am a Certified Executive Chef; in my past life in Miami I had 3 restaurants, a catering business and pastry shop. In Austin, I have an AMAZING QUALITY OF LIFE! 6. Your perfect day in Austin would be? Live music in one of our many parks or outdoor venues, walk along Lady Bird Lake & Sunset dinner at Hula Hut! 7. What’s one thing in Austin you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Duck tour! 8. What is the best advice you can give a visitor to Austin? Enjoy our 300 days of sunny weather by wandering outside and stopping when you hear the music you like and trying as many restaurants as possible. 9. Life tip you live by? Give everyone you meet a SMILE it will come back to you. 10. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? Tour the classic seven wonders: Great Pyramid of Giza. Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Statue of Zeus at Olympia. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Colossus of Rhodes. Lighthouse of Alexandria. 11. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to dinner Austin, who would they be? Eleanor Roosevelt, Leonardo DaVinci, Thomas Jefferson and Julia Child to cook! 12. The best part about being in Austin? Always so much to do: incredible music, great food, lakes, hills and a great Capitol. 
Necah Cannon
Title: Senior Sales Manager- City of Austin, Austin Convention Center HSMAI- Managing Director 1. Where are you originally from? AUSTIN 2. What is your favorite thing about working in the hospitality industry? DIVERSITY IN MY DAY 3. How did you get started in the hospitality industry/HSMAI/Etc.? Worked in a movie theater (which is now the Cheesecake Factory in North Austin.) 4. How long have you been working on the board for HSMAI/ or current employer? On the board since December 2014. Been with City of Austin for 4.5 years. 5. One fun fact about you is… On both hands, I can pop out my pointer finger bones 6. Your perfect day in Austin would be… A sunny 75-degrees overlooking the lake, chilling on a patio with a glass of Prosecco and some chips, salsa, queso and guac. 7. What’s one thing in Austin you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Voodoo doughnuts on E. 6th 8. What is the best advice you can give a visitor to Austin? Don't move here. 9. Life tip you live by...? It is, what it is. 10. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? 11. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to dinner Austin, who would they be? Kandinsky (painter), Dolly Parton, Jennifer Aniston 12. The best part about being in Austin? It is my home-town 
Tracy Terrell Title: Director of Sales and Marketing for the Courtyard Residence Inn Austin Downtown Past President & Chair of Chinese Auction & Dinner Committee 1. Where are you originally from? Houston, Texas 2. What is your favorite thing about being a part of HSMAI? Getting to know the members and helping them to grow/develop; Raising money for the Terrell William Abbott Educational Scholarship Fund 3. How did you get started in the hospitality industry/HSMAI? My father was the owner representative for the Hyatt Regency Houston and General Manager for Columbia Lakes Resort. I just grew up around the business and it was just in my blood. I also put together the inaugural fundraiser for the Rice Women’s Tennis Team as a student athlete and I think asking people for money also just was in my blood! 4. How long have you been working on the board for HSMAI/ or for your current employer? I was part of the founding board that starting meeting as a group back in 2008 and the first meeting was at the Four Seasons in April 2009. Was 6 years at The Driskill and celebrating 7 years with CYRI & WL on June 15th! 5. One fun fact about you is? I am a non-runner that has ran three marathons - all in San Francisco. Would love to do it again with a group of friends, but just the half-marathon this time! 6. Your perfect day in Austin would be? Me and Hector taking our Rotties, Max and Maya, for a swim and walk on Red Bud Isle! 7. What’s one thing in Austin you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Paddle Boarding on Lady Bird Lake 8. What is the best advice you can give a visitor to Austin? You have to take the free tour at the State Capitol – makes you proud to be a Texan! 9. Life tip you live by? A positive attitude and an inquisitive mind helps you to leave places and people in a much better state than you found them. 10. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? New Zeeland 11. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to dinner Austin, who would they be? All deceased, but what I wouldn’t give to have dinner with mom, dad and Terrell, again. 12. The best part about being in Austin? Lucy’s Fried Chicken & Royer’s Pie Haven |