Sharon Broo
Sharon began her career in the travel industry as a travel agent and travel agency manager in Michigan for one of the largest travel agency chains at that time. After relocating to Atlanta in 1980 to work at Teplis Travel Service, she changed course in her career in the travel industry to the wholesale side of the business working in the travel insurance sector at Mutual of Omaha, The Travelers and AIG/Travel Guard and TravelSafe as a Director of Sales responsible for a large multi- state southeastern territory. She also worked as a Regional Sales Manager for Costa Cruise Line conducting business with travel agencies in the southeast and southwest USA.
After a career working in the travel agency industry, Sharon accepted a position with the Biltmore Estate in the group sales department. She was responsible for increasing sales in the Corporate Partnership Program in Georgia. She primarily conducted business with corporations, associations, universities and museums. Presently, she is the Director of Sales at Southeast Tourism Society, an association comprised of 12 southeastern states.
Sharon is originally from Michigan and followed one of her corporate clients to Atlanta. Now after many years of marriage, Sharon and her husband continue to share their love of traveling to memorable destinations throughout the world. Sharon lived and worked in Germany and Switzerland where she attempted to perfect her German language skills. At present, she is taking Spanish language lessons at her Church. She also teaches an ESL class to Hispanics at her Church.
Sharon has always been involved in professional associations related to her career, serving as a board member with ASTA, TAC and TIAG. She holds a certification of CTA from ICTA. She is presently taking the online course for her CTC designation. She has been an active volunteer for UNICEF and had the privilege of working with that organization in conjunction with the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Sharon graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a BA degree in foreign languages and competed in downhill ski racing. She is in her 28th year attending Jazzercise classes which she even does while traveling on business. Her interests are learning foreign languages, reading, golf, cooking, learning more about and drinking good wine. She has been to every continent except two, Australia and Antarctica, which are on her bucket list. Add on to that travel experience, 40+ cruises. The woman obviously loves the industry with a passion!
Sharon began her career in the travel industry as a travel agent and travel agency manager in Michigan for one of the largest travel agency chains at that time. After relocating to Atlanta in 1980 to work at Teplis Travel Service, she changed course in her career in the travel industry to the wholesale side of the business working in the travel insurance sector at Mutual of Omaha, The Travelers and AIG/Travel Guard and TravelSafe as a Director of Sales responsible for a large multi- state southeastern territory. She also worked as a Regional Sales Manager for Costa Cruise Line conducting business with travel agencies in the southeast and southwest USA.
After a career working in the travel agency industry, Sharon accepted a position with the Biltmore Estate in the group sales department. She was responsible for increasing sales in the Corporate Partnership Program in Georgia. She primarily conducted business with corporations, associations, universities and museums. Presently, she is the Director of Sales at Southeast Tourism Society, an association comprised of 12 southeastern states.
Sharon is originally from Michigan and followed one of her corporate clients to Atlanta. Now after many years of marriage, Sharon and her husband continue to share their love of traveling to memorable destinations throughout the world. Sharon lived and worked in Germany and Switzerland where she attempted to perfect her German language skills. At present, she is taking Spanish language lessons at her Church. She also teaches an ESL class to Hispanics at her Church.
Sharon has always been involved in professional associations related to her career, serving as a board member with ASTA, TAC and TIAG. She holds a certification of CTA from ICTA. She is presently taking the online course for her CTC designation. She has been an active volunteer for UNICEF and had the privilege of working with that organization in conjunction with the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Sharon graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a BA degree in foreign languages and competed in downhill ski racing. She is in her 28th year attending Jazzercise classes which she even does while traveling on business. Her interests are learning foreign languages, reading, golf, cooking, learning more about and drinking good wine. She has been to every continent except two, Australia and Antarctica, which are on her bucket list. Add on to that travel experience, 40+ cruises. The woman obviously loves the industry with a passion!
Dr. Donetta Cummings Poisson received her Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, with an emphasis in Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Cognate in Marketing (2009) as well as her Master’s of Science in Consumer Sciences (2007). She currently works at Georgia State University as a limited term Lecturer and teaches Foodservice Management, Human Resources, Prospectus in Hospitality as well as Food Trends in the Hospitality Industry, in the Fast Track Global Hospitality Masters Program. At the University of Tennessee she worked as the Assistant Director and Interim Director of their Culinary Institute, responsible for Orientation for new students, overseeing financials, develop curriculum for new culinary classes, hire faculty, maintain salaries, monitor scheduling and timesheets, approve food-orders, monitor food costs and labor costs, meet with vendors, event coordinator for participation in community, network with local chefs and coordinate guest chef speakers or classes, instructor/Proctor for Servsafe Certification class, visit high schools, recruit potential students, monitor student tuition payment accounts, work with new students, give tours of the Culinary school, approve student applications and monitor student files. Additionally, she has dedicated her time as the Director of Education and worked in facilitating the SECHRIE Educational Symposiums for the past three sessions.
Donetta has over 15 years of industry experience in restaurant management including positions with Ruby Tuesday and Don Pablo’s Mexican Kitchen as well as working in the private club and airline sectors. Additionally, she is a member of the National Restaurant Association, is a certified ServSafe Food Safety instructor and proctor; has received her Certified Food Service Educator designation from the Food Service Educators Learning Community as well as the Foodservice Management Professional credential through the ManageFirst Program. Is a member of National Restaurant Association, National Association of Professional Women, on the Georgia BTA Board and NEWH Network in Hospitality Organization. Donetta is also a GSU alum graduating in 1999 from the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality.
Publications:
Dissertation (2009): The Relationship among Tourist Motivations, Winery Festival Destination Performance, Overall Satisfaction, and Repatronage Intention for Patrons of On-Site Winery Festivals.”
Master’s Thesis (2007): Coupons in the Restaurant Industry
Wanda M. Costen, Misty M. Johanson, Donetta K. Poisson (2010). The development of quality managers in the hospitality industry: do employee development programs make cents? Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism. Vol. 9 (2010), No. 2
Poisson, Donetta. Chen, Rachel (2010). Multiple on-site winery festivals: tourist motivations, winery festival destination performance, and repatronage intention. Tourism Analysis, 2010, Vol. 15 Issue 5, p 585-589.
Donetta has over 15 years of industry experience in restaurant management including positions with Ruby Tuesday and Don Pablo’s Mexican Kitchen as well as working in the private club and airline sectors. Additionally, she is a member of the National Restaurant Association, is a certified ServSafe Food Safety instructor and proctor; has received her Certified Food Service Educator designation from the Food Service Educators Learning Community as well as the Foodservice Management Professional credential through the ManageFirst Program. Is a member of National Restaurant Association, National Association of Professional Women, on the Georgia BTA Board and NEWH Network in Hospitality Organization. Donetta is also a GSU alum graduating in 1999 from the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality.
Publications:
Dissertation (2009): The Relationship among Tourist Motivations, Winery Festival Destination Performance, Overall Satisfaction, and Repatronage Intention for Patrons of On-Site Winery Festivals.”
Master’s Thesis (2007): Coupons in the Restaurant Industry
Wanda M. Costen, Misty M. Johanson, Donetta K. Poisson (2010). The development of quality managers in the hospitality industry: do employee development programs make cents? Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism. Vol. 9 (2010), No. 2
Poisson, Donetta. Chen, Rachel (2010). Multiple on-site winery festivals: tourist motivations, winery festival destination performance, and repatronage intention. Tourism Analysis, 2010, Vol. 15 Issue 5, p 585-589.
