News

With the delta variant on the rise, the lambda variant taking hold and an upswing in COVID-19 cases, the hospitality business is seeing staffing issues as people weigh their personal safety against their employment as the pandemic rages on.

Masking up is one safe precaution. But it’s also an uncomfortable gesture, as some masks may inflict wear and tear on the face or not provide an adequate level of protection for the worker, explained Ajay Aluri, founding director of the Hospitality Innovation and Technology Lab at West Virginia University.

After West Virginia University student Anthony Garber’s friend’s dog accidentally received a hard pull on the neck from a retractable leash, Garber began searching the dog leash market for a product that wouldn’t yank so harshly. When he couldn’t find a leash that fit his idea, he began brainstorming.

That brainstorming led to The Easy Leash, a braked dog leash Garber is in the process of creating. Garber, a senior industrial engineering student in the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, explained that this leash functions similar to a standard bike brake.

“These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things…”

We have had a busy and exciting year here at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, and we thank you all for following along with us.

MORGANTOWN — Jeff Zidell has joined the faculty of West Virginia University as an adjunct professor of practice within the Hospitality and Tourism Management program in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics.

Zidell is Senior Vice President and Customer Experience Officer of RoomIt by CWT (the specialist hotel distribution division of CWT, the B2B4E travel management platform). He is also the former Senior Vice President of Loyalty Marketing and Partnerships for Hyatt Hotels, where he led a global team responsible for strategy, innovation, promotions, customer communications, partnerships, training and operations for the guest loyalty experience.

How would you describe Amy Toscano? Engaged in her college experience – and embracing every opportunity that comes her way. A senior in global supply chain management at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, Amy has found a passion for doing whatever she can to get others engaged in the organizations in which she is active. And there are many.

Originally from East Stroudsburg, Pa., Amy chose to become a Mountaineer – and that is a decision that she still celebrates, as it was the first step in opening the door to opportunities that fit her interests and strengths.

After taking a deep breath when the West Virginia University Board of Governors approved funding last fall for the Startup Engine business accelerator at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, significant pieces of the facility are coming together.

When you combine West Virginia’s rural disbursement of residents with its less-than-affluent, average demographic, the present day result is that the state has become a desert. That is, a “food desert,” where a large percentage of the state’s population resides significant distances from supermarkets and reliable food sources.