Dr. Catherine Curtis, director and associate professor in the School of Resort and Hospitality Management at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) in Fort Myers, will speak about the school’s program at the business luncheon meeting of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, July 13, at Casa Ybel Resort’s Thistle Lodge on Sanibel Island starting at 11:30 a.m.
Dr. Curtis’ research focuses on employee and managerial performance in the hospitality industry. She completed her doctoral studies in hospitality management education at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, where she also completed a masters in hospitality and tourism management. Prior to joining FGCU, she was a faculty member at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and Florida International University (FIU) in Miami.
The professor has taught courses in organizational behavior; hospitality accounting, management, and leadership; and food and wine. She has more than 15 years of industry experience focused on beverages, multi-unit management, and accounting. Dr. Curtis has served as the managing editor for the FIU’s Hospitality Review journal and writes reviews for various journals on hospitality and tourism and other related fields. She has served as the secretary for the International Council of Hotel and Restaurant and Institutional Education.
“Dr. Curtis is an established authority in the field of hotel and food and drink industries,” said John Lai, chamber president and chief executive officer. “She will fill in members on the workings of FGCU’s educational programs in those fields and how the university is preparing a new generation of tourism management.”
The chamber business lunch is a monthly networking opportunity held at various member locations. The chamber strives to provide speakers to discuss relevant business topics for the membership.
Sanibel-Captiva chamber members receive meeting invitations by email. Cost for luncheon attendance is $30 for chamber members only. Advanced registration is required to attend; walk-ins are not accepted. Register by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 8, at sanibel-captiva.org <http://sanibel-captiva.org> or by calling 239-472-8255. Payment is due at time of registration.
ABOUT SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. With more than 460 active Chamber members from both islands and businesses from Lee and Collier counties, the Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. The Francis P. Bailey, Jr., Chamber Visitor Center is located at the entrance to Sanibel Island and welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. VISIT FLORIDA named the visitor center one of 13 official Florida Certified Tourism Information Centers in the state. It is open 365 days a year and provides comprehensive information about things to do, places to visit, and where to stay, shop, and dine. The chamber website sanibel-captiva.org <http://sanibel-captiva.org/> receives more than 1.3 million website visits per year.
For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org <http://sanibel-captiva.org/> or contact Landen Collins, communications and marketing manager, at 239-472-8255 or [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> .
