Diversity Committee

In 2020, CFHLA created the Diversity Committee with a mission to serve as a community leader in cultivating an environment of diversity and inclusion throughout the Central Florida Hospitality Industry and to establish a framework to be administered within CFHLA Lodging establishments and partners. After a year of focus within the CFHLA Board of Directors, the Diversity Committee is now open for all CFHLA members to join one of the newly created subcommittees. Each of these subcommittees is designed to help CFHLA focus on several new strategic initiatives for 2022 and beyond. The subcommittees are:

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Listening Circle Toolkit
Subcommittee Chair: Tekoa Pouerie, Tekoa Pouerie Enterprise
Listening Circles provide companies with an open environment for all staff to share their thoughts and experiences on diversity, equity, and inclusion with leadership. Listening Circles should focus on empathy and equality, so participants listen and learn from the experiences of their peers. This Subcommittee will be responsible for developing a toolkit that can be shared with all of CFHLA's membership, in order to support leadership and the promotion of Listening Circles at their lodging properties and/or allied member companies.

Leadership Mentoring Subcommittee
Subcommittee Chair: Paul Schmidt, Regal Palms Resort & Spa - Guest Services
After reviewing the results of the CFHLA Board of Directors Diversity Assessment, it was discovered that there tends to be a disparity when comparing the diversity of mid-level management to senior and executive-level positions within CFHLA’s member properties. CFHLA is committed to supporting our Lodging Members by mentoring and developing mid-level leaders, in order to help them advance their careers and build a more diverse future workforce. This subcommittee will develop a mentoring program (and/or a new Council) that would provide a diverse group of mid-level leaders (lodging and allied) with the opportunity to be more involved with CFHLA and our membership.

High School Outreach Subcommittee
Subcommittee Co-Chairs: Ally Martin, Homewood Suites by Hilton Orlando Airport at Gateway Village & Amy Walsh, Domino's
CFHLA’s Lodging and Allied Members have been participating in our Adopt-A-School program since 2002. Unfortunately, several of our local middle and high schools, which have hospitality magnet programs, do not have as strong of a connection with CFHLA and our members. This Subcommittee will work with our local school boards to develop new outreach activities, including increased mentorship and internship opportunities, that will support these magnet programs and advance CFHLA’s commitment to the future workforce of the hospitality industry.

2022 COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP

Co-Chairs: Justin Williams, Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando
                    Tekoa Pouerie, Tekoa Pouerie Enterprise

Vice Chairs: Paul Schmidt, Regal Palms Resort & Spa 
                       Cedric Pas
                       Erin Arpke, Avanti International Resort 

Allied Liaisons: Barbara Bombalier, WELBRO Building Corp
                             Morgan Flowers, Ripley's Believe It or Not! Orlando