The Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida will honor Ron Dowdy and Maria Triscari at The Pineapple Ball™ on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, FL. The event will be produced by Rosen College faculty, staff and students. Proceeds will benefit academic initiatives and scholarships.<\/p>\n
\u201cRon and Maria are longtime Central Floridians who have helped shape the world-famous International Drive corridor into a powerful tourism destination,\u201d said Dr. Abraham Pizam, dean of Rosen College. \u201cThe industry owes a great deal to their leadership, vision and continued dedication, so this honor is extremely well deserved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronald \u201cRon\u201d E. Dowdy is a seasoned real estate owner\/operator with more than 45 years of professional experience, including more than 42 years in real estate acquisition, development and management. His real estate career began in 1971 when he obtained his first lease of a hotel gift shop at the entrance to Walt Disney World. Mr. Dowdy currently manages around 50 tenant spaces in six different locations on and around International Drive and oversees an approximately 2,000-acre Black Angus Cattle Ranch in Virginia\u2019s Shenandoah Valley. He is also very active in civic causes, including American Red Cross of Central Florida, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts of America, Florida Citrus Sports Foundation, Florida Citrus Bowl and the Sheriff\u2019s Employee Assistance Trust (SEAT) Foundation.<\/p>\n
Maria Triscari is the President and CEO of the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce, which represents the International Drive Resort Area and its myriad hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, attractions and major theme parks. She was hired as executive director of the Chamber in 1989 at its inception and after 27 years of service, is one of the longest-running heads of any organization in Central Florida. During her career, she has worked closely with government and elected officials on projects to enhance the International Drive Resort Area and the tourism industry. Under Ms. Triscari\u2019s leadership, the Chamber now boasts hundreds of members and is one of the most active, influential and highly-respected industry organizations in the region.<\/p>\n