Emerging Professional Award

Brody Speno

Co-Founder

SkyDine Private Jet Catering

Originally from Parkland, Florida, Brody pursued a degree in Hospitality and Entrepreneurship at Florida State University—two fields that would ultimately shape his career path. He graduated during the COVID‑19 pandemic, when hospitality jobs were scarce, and relocated to New York City to build sales experience while the market recovered. That experience led him into private jet brokerage, where he managed everything from flight contracts to ground operations and catering. Through this work, Brody identified a significant gap in the quality of catering delivered on charter flights. Partnering with a longtime friend in hospitality, he helped launch SkyDine, which has grown from servicing a handful of flights to partnering with major jet operators, brokers, and Fortune 500 companies. His background in hospitality and entrepreneurship has been instrumental in understanding kitchen operations and designing scalable processes for a demanding, high‑end environment.

Jennifer Gross

Assistant Director of Sales

JW Marriott Charlotte, White Lodging

A two-time graduate of Florida State University, Jennifer began her career with White Lodging as a Sales Coordinator in 2021. On the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic, she relocated to Charlotte to join the pre-opening team at JW Marriott Charlotte, helping bring the luxury property to life ahead of its opening. During that time, she also completed her Master’s degree in Hospitality Entrepreneurship from Florida State University, balancing graduate studies while supporting the hotel’s launch. Since then, Jennifer has earned multiple promotions and now serves as the property’s Assistant Director of Sales, specializing in corporate groups, associations, and professional sports partnerships with accounts across the nation. Known for her relationship-driven approach and strategic mindset, she has played a key role in expanding the hotel’s presence within the corporate meetings, events, and sports travel industries.

Ashley Sanders

Director, Event Technology

Encore Global

Ashley has spent over five years leading with excellence at Encore, bringing a strong hospitality foundation as a Director of Event Technology. Last year, she was selected as one of only 36 high‑performing team members across Encore Global for their prestigious Leadership Enrichment and Development (LEaD) Program. A former FSU Flying High Circus aerialist and the 2019-2020 Student Coordinator for the FSU Dedman College of Hospitality, Ashley is known for her balance, poise, and ability to juggle complex challenges with confidence.