PRLA Restaurant & Lodging Matters Winter 2021

Winter 2021 • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • 9 Meet the 2021 Officers Tom is a 30-year veteran in the hospitality industry after graduating from Penn State University with a degree in hospitality management. In those 30 years he has had the pleasure of being able to engage teams to want to perform at the highest level in every area. From the select service hotel market space to family destination resorts to boutique luxury, his passion has shown through. In his commitment to the industry, Tom has worked to be involved in local and statewide agencies that support the industry. Currently an executive officer of the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau in Centre County, PA and a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association. His hope is to find meaningful ways to engage young adults and help them to find their passion in our industry to, in some small way, drive a strong future for high functioning service businesses. TOM NEELY VICE CHAIRMAN Penn State Hospitality Services State College CYNTHIA SMITH TREASURER Hoss’s Steak & Sea House/ Marzoni’s Brick Oven & Brewing Ducansville Cynthia serves as in-house counsel for Hoss’s Steak & Sea House Inc., a family- owned company with 33 Hoss’s and 4 Marzoni’s restaurants. She started her restaurant career as a teenager in high school, working as a greeter and salad bar attendant at Hoss’s in Altoona, PA. She continued working as a server at various other Hoss’s locations while attending the University of Pittsburgh, graduating with a degree in Economics. Cynthia went on to earn her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law in Baltimore and has been in-house counsel with her family’s business for over 24 years. During that time, she has taken on roles in multiple areas, with her current focus being regulatory compliance and corporate records management. She has been an active member of the PRLA for over 20 years and has served as chair, and more recently co-chair, of the Government Affairs Committee. She currently serves on the Public Policy Committee of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce. BILL COVALESKI CHAIRMAN Victory Brewing Company Downingtown As founder and brewmaster, Bill plays a creative and pivotal role in leading the overall growth strategy of Victory Brewing Company. Bill and Victory co-founder, Ron Barchet, serve as brewmasters, providing strategic guidance in the development of new beer brands. Prior to co-founding Victory, he earned a degree from the prestigious Doemens Institute of Munich Germany, having completed its international course in brewing studies after an invaluable five-year apprenticeship under German-trained Dutch brewmaster, Theo deGroen. Before pursuing his craft beer dreams, Bill labored as an art director after earning his degree Magna Cum Laude from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art.