Mary Gerdts will be honored at HFTP’s Annual Convention this October
Mary Gerdts was selected as the 2017 Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) Paragon Award recipient for her unwavering support of the association, and substantial contributions to increase knowledge sharing and promote growth in the hospitality industry at large. Gerdts will be honored next month during HFTP's 2017 Annual Convention held at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in ChamptionsGate, Florida USA.
Based in Phoenix, Arizona USA, Gerdts is the founder, CEO and president of two companies in the electronic transactions industry: POST Integrations Inc. and EboCom, LLC. Her visionary leadership in business, innovation and technology led to her to be nominated for Forbes' "Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs."
Gerdts has worked in the hospitality industry, and been active in HFTP, for over 25 years. She served as a board member for the HFTP Valley of the Sun Chapter from 1996-2001, and served as president of the HFTP Phoenix Chapter from 1998-2000. While Gerdts was president of the HFTP Phoenix Chapter, the chapter received the prestigious "Chapter of the Year" award as well as the "HFTP Chapter Choice" award. Over the years, Gerdts has been honored to speak at HFTP Annual Convention and serve on panels at Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®). She also served on the HFTP Leadership Committee and was the chairwoman for two years in a row.
"I am so very honored to be chosen as this year's Paragon recipient," said Gerdts. "This award represents the culmination of my life's passion and commitment to the hospitality industry. I feel so incredibly blessed to be amongst my peers in being recognized for such a prestigious award. HFTP holds a very special place in my heart, and I will be forever indebted to HFTP for the amazing path that was laid out before me some 27 years ago. My involvement in HFTP truly changed the trajectory of my life and for that, I will be forever grateful."
Established in 1999, the prestigious HFTP Paragon Award recognizes individuals each year who have made a significant and lasting contribution to both HFTP and the hospitality industry. Paragon Award nominees can be HFTP members; representatives of industry-related associations, societies or trade publications; leaders from hospitality businesses, educational institutions and other related disciplines. A panel of industry experts selects the award recipients who will be recognized at HFTP's Annual Convention each October.
Previous Paragon Award winners include: Alice Banks, CHAE (1999); Henry "Buddy" Weeks, CHAE (1999); Frank Santos, CHAE, CHA (2000); Katherine Cavanagh, CHAE (2001); Raymond Schmidgall, PH.D., CPA, CHAE (2002); Frank Wolfe, CAE (2002); Len Bartello, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2003); John J. Cahill, CHA, CHTP (2004); Wendy Zurstadt, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2005); Richard Braa, CHAE (2006); Robert Patasnick, CPA (2007); George Glazer (2008); Agnes DeFranco, Ed.D., CHAE (2009); Stephen LeBruto, CPA, CHAE, Ed.D. (2009); and Steve Doherty, CHAE, CHTP (2010); Frank Agnello Jr., CMA, CHAE (2011); Howard Field, FBHA, FCA (2012); Joseph McInerney, CHA (2013); Evelyn Adams (2014); Ralph R. Miller, CPA, CA, CBV, CHA, CHAE (2015); Raman (R. P.) Rama B. Com, CHA Emeritus, CHTP, CHAE (2016); Kris S. Shoemaker, CMA, CGFO, CHAE, CHTP, CPFIM (2016).
Annual Convention 2017 will take place from October 25–27, 2017 at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in ChampionsGate, Florida USA. For the latest news, follow HFTP/HITEC on HITEC Bytes, PineappleSearch, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@HFTP), Instagram (HFTP_HITEC), Flickr and YouTube. For more information about HFTP events, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at education@hftp.org, +1 (512) 249-5333. For more information on the Paragon Award, contact the HFTP Communications Department at publications@hftp.org or +1 (512) 249-5333.
