Dr. Ajai Ammachathram is a hospitality leader and educator who has been associated with food and beverage management for over 25 years. He is a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) from American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Institute, and holds a doctoral degree in leadership (higher education) from Eastern Michigan University. He holds three degrees in hospitality management from University of Madras, India (bachelor's), Southern New Hampshire University, New Hampshire (bachelor's) and Eastern Michigan University, Michigan (master's).<br><br>Dr. Ammachathram currently serves as the immediate Past President on the board of the Central Federation of the International Council of Hotel, Restaurant, Institutional Education (ICHRIE). He brings a wealth of industry management experience from various sectors of the hospitality industry, more specifically from:<br>- Food and beverage management serving airline passengers<br>- Students in college dining services<br>- Restaurant guests at The Ritz Carlton<br>- Day-to-day customers in various retail industries, and<br>- Healthcare patients for a 600 bed hospital in Southwestern Ontario.<br><br>He has taught various courses in hospitality for the Hotel and Restaurant Management Program at Eastern Michigan University, and educational leadership courses in the leadership and counseling department at Eastern Michigan University. He strongly believes in a collaborative/hands‐on approach to education and adores being a “guide on the side” in the classroom rather than a “sage on the stage.” He considers his passion and love for the hospitality industry as his key asset which he always brings to the classroom based on his extensive qualifications and years of experience.