Honoring Excellence: Dedman's 2025 Honors and Awards
The Dedman College of Hospitality at Florida State University hosted its annual Honors and Awards Dinner on October 23, 2025, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. The event brought together students, alumni, faculty, and industry partners to recognize the achievements and generosity that continue to strengthen the college’s global impact.
The evening highlighted the ways Dedman’s mission—preparing students to lead with integrity, adaptability, and purpose—comes to life through its people. Each recognition reflected both individual accomplishment and the enduring spirit of connection that defines the hospitality field.
Student Scholarships
More than 40 students were awarded scholarships recognizing academic excellence, leadership, and service within the hospitality industry. These awards represent the continued generosity of alumni, families, and industry partners who ensure that Dedman students have the support and opportunity to grow through experience.
Hall of Fame Inductees
The Dedman College of Hospitality Hall of Fame honors alumni whose professional accomplishments and service embody the highest standards of the industry.
Andrew Rubinacci, Chief Commercial Officer at FLYR Hospitality
As the Chief Commercial Officer of FLYR Hospitality, the hospitality division of FLYR, Andrew leads a global team whose mission is to amplify the commercial performance of FLYR customers. He also serves a critical role in helping FLYR grow the hospitality business and lead the industry with modern approaches to commercial strategy.
With over 25 years of commercial leadership experience, Andrew is one of the foremost revenue management and global distribution experts in the hospitality industry. He has held various executive positions, including Chief Commercial Officer and CIO for Omni Hotels & Resorts, and Senior Vice President of Distribution & Revenue Management for InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). Most recently, Andrew served as Executive Vice President, Commercial & Revenue Strategy at Aimbridge Hospitality Corporate Office.
Andrew holds bachelor’s degrees in business administration, majoring in both marketing and hospitality administration at Florida State University. He recently won the International Hospitality Institute’s Top 25 Hospitality Executives to Watch in 2025 and the 2023 HSMAI Award for Lifetime Achievement in Revenue Optimization. He currently serves as the Chair of HSMAI Americas. He has also served on the boards of HEDNA, Worldres, Open Travel, Roomkey, and the Dedman College of Hospitality at Florida State University.
Rob Morris, Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A in West Palm Beach
Rob began his career with Chick-fil-A at the age of 17 in Coral Springs, Florida. Upon graduation from Florida State University’s Dedman College of Hospitality, he became one of the youngest franchisees in Chick-fil-A history in January of 1998.
After “turning around” a difficult franchise in Midland, Texas, he spent four years in Atlanta before opening South Florida's first free-standing Chick-fil-A in 2004. Currently Rob owns and operates two restaurants in West Palm Beach and consults for a third location. He is best known for using his franchises to provide exceptional leadership development opportunities, targeting young adults upon graduation from college. Twenty current Chick-fil-A franchisees learned and developed under his tutelage. In addition, five of Rob's employees went on to become Chick-fil-A corporate staff members.
Rob is co-chair of the board of directors for Urban Youth Impact, an NGO serving challenged inner city youth in West Palm Beach, FL. He also serves on the board of directors of Global Leadership, an NGO which works with entrepreneurs in Ukraine and China. Furthermore, he serves on the advisory board at Palm Beach Atlantic University's Rinker School of Business and The Titus Center for Franchising. Rob has represented the southeast United States on the advisory board for Chick-fil-A CEO, Dan Cathy, and Chick-fil-A President/COO, Tim Tassopoulous.
His wife, Jennifer, also serves on the board of Global Leadership and is a leadership consultant with clients around the United States and abroad. Rob and Jennifer have three children, R.J., Megan and Allie.
Emerging Professional Awards
The Emerging Professional Award honors Dedman alumni who have graduated within the past decade and demonstrated significant career advancement and leadership in the hospitality industry.
Samantha Fleisher (’19, ’22) was recognized for her rapid progression in luxury hospitality finance. After early internships with The Ritz-Carlton Herzliya and Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, she advanced to senior finance roles with Baccarat Hotel and Corinthia Hotels before joining Hotel Phoenix as Director of Finance. Fleisher credits her professional foundation to the mentorship and guidance she received from Dedman faculty.
Devin Birkes (’16) began his career at the Four Seasons Miami and quickly distinguished himself through innovation in revenue management and guest operations. Over nearly a decade with the brand, he developed analytical tools and strategies now under review for global adoption across the company. Today, Birkes serves as Senior Analyst for Commercial Planning at Royal Caribbean, continuing to advance the role of data-driven decision-making in hospitality.
Karin Bittong (’17) has spent the past seven years with Dimension Hospitality, where she now serves as an Area General Manager. Known for her operational excellence and people-centered leadership, Bittong oversees multiple properties and fosters cultures of collaboration, professional development, and exceptional guest care.
The 2025 Honors and Awards Dinner reinforced what Dedman College of Hospitality continues to stand for: a global network of professionals, scholars, and mentors shaping the future of an industry built on human connection.
View all photos from the event through the link below.