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 the University of Colorado.

Most recently, Mendy served as Executive Vice President of Operations for Extended Stay America, where he held multiple leadership positions over the last two decades (Senior Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Training, Standards and Guest Relations, Regional Director of Operations, and Director of Revenue Management). Mr. Mendy was also an Adjunct Professor at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado.

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 Revenue Management program for franchise partners, oversaw Revenue Management Franchise support for Full Service hotels and served as Director of Revenue for a number of properties in the Boston Area. Raul has a BS in Hotel Administration in the Dominican Republic, an MBA in Hospitality Management from University of New Haven a well as a Certificate in Asset Management and Hotel investments from Cornell University & Certificate of Business Analytics from Wharton School.

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 approach, he aims to create a positive effect in the lives of people, nurture a truly inclusive and diverse environment, and empower teams to pursue excellence more than anything else.

Combined with his extensive professional experience, Ousmane has an expansive education portfolio, including three academic degrees. Over the years and from coast to coast, he has held executive roles for several esteemed luxury hotel brands and lifestyle/boutique hotels, having most recently served as the Opening General Manager for a forward thinking lifestyle hotel in Est Nashville. Currently, he presides as Director of Brand Operations, Graduate Hotels under the management of AJ Capital Partners. In the truest sense of servant leadership, Ousmane strives to create a legacy of distinction and brilliance that inspires teams to embrace change and strive for greatness.

In addition to being an avid fashionista, martial artist, soccer player, track and field, extreme sport and motorcycle enthusiast, Ousmane is an “Ambassador of Goodwill” and a student of life who strives to impact lives positively. His expert level of superintendence, deep passion for people, and his innate essence of “Teranga” – (It designates the values ​​of hospitality, sharing and solidarity of the Senegalese. This term, proudly claimed, reminds us that Senegal has always been a place of mixing of peoples and cultures.) is what drives his desire to not only lead others but to provide for them as well. Ousmane is also a multi-hyphenate; he is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist with a “unity-first” mindset. He is the founder of “A Home meal and A Smile,” an initiative that regularly provides freshly prepared food and other assistance to the homeless and hungry members of the community. He is imbued with many talents that afford him opportunities to make a notable impact on the daily lives of others while educating and empowering next-generation leaders with the knowledge that leads to success.

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 skills interacting effectively and partnering with university/college internal and external constituencies, governing boards, committees, governmental agencies, FORTUNE 500 businesses, and the industry as well as grass-root efforts have made her a sought after knowledge maker. She is the co-founder of DMV Black Restaurant Week and creator of platforms that bridge small hospitality businesses to the local resources they need to thrive. A Clinton Foundation 20/30 Advisory Board member and HELF Leadership Fellow, her first book is under contract with Columbia University Press.

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 title of author and award-winning poet. Her skills are based in the concept of using PR as a tool to bring diverse communities together in creative ways that provide mutually beneficial outcomes.

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 Partners in the local community and manages the NABSD marketing efforts.

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.