Candace Fitch

Biography

Candace Fitch, Howard Feiertag Endowed Professor of Practice, worked for several years in a variety of hospitality industry positions in food and beverage, sales and event planning throughout her career. She graduated from New England Law in 2004, and began her career as an attorney focusing on hospitality clients and educating hospitality employees and students about risk and legal issues. Her academic interests center on event management and legal/risk issues throughout hospitality. 

Research 

• Law and Ethics in Hospitality
• Events Management
• Food and Beverage/Catering Management

Teaching

• HTM 3424 Event Management
• HTM 4424 Event & Experience Management (Capstone for Minor)
•  4464 Human Resource Management in Hospitality Industry
• 1414 Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Management
• 2464 Intro to Service
• 2514 Catering Management
• MGT 4394 Strategic Management

Education

• JD, New England Law, Boston, MA, 2004
• BS, Hotel Administration, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1991
• AOS, Culinary Arts, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, 1988

Background

Honors and Awards

• Virginia Tech Certificate in Teaching Excellence, 2018-2019
• Pamplin College of Business, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management Teacher of the Year 2018-2019

Grants

• Virginia Tech Pathways Grant, Development of Event & Experience Minor, $10,000, Summer 2018

Previous Universities

• Adjunct Professor, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 2005-2016
• Chef Instructor, The Art Institute of Washington, D.C., 2010-2016

Relevant Industry

• Director of Legal Services, ESL Management, LLC, Washington, D.C., 2011-Present
• Attorney, Doyle, Barlow & Mazard, PLLC, Washington, D.C., 2009-2011
• Attorney, Mallios & O’Brien, Washington, D.C., 2006-2009
• Paralegal, Margolious, Mallios & Rider, LLP, Washington, D.C., 2004-2006
• Paralegal, Ahold U.S.A., Inc./The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, Quincy, MA, 2001-2004
• File Clerk, Holland & Knight LLP, Boston, MA, 2000-2001
• Conference Planner, Georgia Society of CPAs, Atlanta, GA, 1997-2000
• Sales Manager, Ramada Plaza Hotel, Atlanta, GA, 1996-1997
• Catering Sales Manager, Wyndham Garden Hotel, Atlanta, GA, 1994-1996
• Operations Supervisor, Cornell Dining, Ithaca, NY, 1992-1994

Professional Engagement

Conferences

• Virginia Meeting Professionals International (MPI) annual conference

Invited Talks

• Virginia MPI, Annual Conference, Norfolk, VA, Cybersecurity and Privacy for Event Professionals, August 2019
• The Virginia Alliance of Paralegal Associations Eleventh Biennial Statewide Conference, Hot Topics in Employment Law, October 2018
• Eventagious Planners Planning Intensive Boot Camp, Securing Larger Contracts, April 2017

Professional Experiences

• Member, Meeting Professionals International, since 2017
• Member, District of Columbia Bar, since 2007
• Member, State Bar of Virginia, since 2006

Recommendations

Destination

• “Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets.”  Oscar Wilde.

Food & Drink

• “Seize the moment.  Remember all of those women on the “Titanic” who waved off the dessert cart.”  Erma Bombeck.