Mary Jo Dolasinski
Corporate Senior Director of Learning Services
White Lodging Learning Services

Education:

M.A. Communications, Purdue University Calumet,
B.A. Hospitality and Tourism Management

Biography:

Mary Jo Dolasinski has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management and a Masters Degree in Communication and Creative Arts. She has been training and teaching in both industry and academia for over 15 years. As Corporate Senior Director of Learning Services, she has created and opened White Lodging Learning Services, the learning are of White Lodging Services. In her role, she is responsible for all activities related to Management and Employee training. In this role she has developed and implemented company wide initiatives such as New Hire Orientation, Certification Training, Leadership Training, On-going Development programs, etc. Production of all company videos is also part of her responsibilities. She has also been able to develop partnerships with Marriott, State government and Community based organizations to implement training in such areas as Welfare to Work, Career Advancement Training for the company's incumbent working poor, and Work Specific English to help immigrant employees.

Mary Jo is also a national trainer for Marriott International, conducting training classes for managers and supervisors across the country on topics including; how to conduct training, time management and managing change. Over the last several years she has also designed and delivered training for other Fortune 500 companies including Home Depot and National City Bank. Finally, over the last 15 years she also has been a Guest Lecture for Purdue University's Calumet campus teaching Small Group Communication and Public Speaking, as well as, a host of hospitality, management and Human Resource classes.

Over the last several years, Mary Jo's efforts have been recognized nationally, including White Lodging Services recognized as one of the Top 100 Training Companies for 2002 as determined by Training Magazine, receiving the Industry Recognition Award for ongoing efforts toward the advancement of hospitality and tourism education presented by International Council of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education Association (ICHRIE), and recognized as a "Best Practice Champion" in American Lodging Excellence by the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

She has been invited to deliver keynote addresses and workshops for many organizations including; The Government Meeting Planners Association, Indiana Chapter, ICHRIE and the League of Cities, the Hospitality Business Alliance, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association. She has authored several articles, wrote a chapter on training for the "Essentials of Food Safety and Sanitation", authored Train the Trainer: Performance Based Training, Prentice Hall 2003, and has co-authored both an "Immigrant's Guide to the American Workplace: Making it In America", Prentice Hall 2002 and "The Family Guide for the American Workplace", Learnovation 2003.

Finally, with a sincere belief in giving back to the industry she works in and being an advocate of education, Mary Jo sits on several boards and is a member of many committees including: Hospitality Advisory Committee for Purdue University Calumet, the Strategic Planning Committee for ICHRIE, Commissioner for Commission on Accreditation of Hospitality Management Programs, Marriott International's University Committee, and various School to Work Committees. She has also spearheaded local events for the promotion of the hospitality industry and education of high school teachers, customer service training for many local business, workshops with county convention and tourism bureaus, and partnering with the Department of Economic Development in the city of Gary, In to initiate a customer service program for local businesses.