Meet the NSMH Founders

HISTORY

Since its founding in the spring of 1989 at Cornell University, the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality has been a non-profit student run professional organization. NSMH works in conjunction with its sponsors to establish a working relationship between the hospitality industry and minority students.

NSMH believes that its members are an asset to the hospitality industry. NSMH is an organization of students and professionals representing an array of social and cultural backgrounds and a wealth of unique perspectives and ideas.

NSMH is proud of its diversity and believes it provides a competitive advantage in the hospitality industry. Consequently, we work to make the industry aware of the benefits that a diverse workforce provides in a business that caters to the world.

Penny Urquhart

While attending Cornell in 1989, Penelope Wint joined Michael Burkeen, Evan Frazier and Alfred Watts in forming the National Society of Minority Hoteliers (NSMH). In 1990 they organized the first national conference of its kind -- a gathering of minority hospitality students and hospitality companies from across the nation. She served as Secretary and Vice President of the organization before graduation from the Cornell Hotel School in 1992.

After graduating from Cornell, Penni became a graphic designer at a small design firm in Manhattan and was soon promoted to assistant manager when the company doubled in size. In 1997, she started a sole proprietorship and has been successfully running a consulting business designing reports and managing projects for companies in the pharmaceutical and finance industries, as well as non-profit organizations.

On a personal and passionate level, Penni has served on the Special Education PTA Board of the Pelham school district for the last six years and is currently the president. Having a child on the autism spectrum has driven her to become a more public advocate for the learning disabled. In 2008 she formed the first Pelham team for Autism Speaks which raised $9,000. She has also served in many capacities at Trinity Baptist Church: as a Worship Arts leader, raising sponsorship for children in Rwanda through WorldVision, and currently as a Trustee. Also for two years she was a Promotional Strategist for The Leadership Summit, a global leadership conference held via satellite at over 5,000 churches nationwide. In 1995 she married Duncan Urquhart, who is an independent photographer. When they are not running their individual businesses, they are running around with their 2 boys, Ryan and Ian, in Pelham, NY.

Michael Burkeen

Michael Burkeen is the director of Enterprise Learning at ConAgra Foods, Inc., supporting the development of the company’s Marketing and Brand functions.  He joined the company in October 2007.  His primary responsibilities include the development and deployment of learning solutions.

Michael previously worked at the Procter & Gamble Company for nine years.  His first four years were spent in line marketing on national brands including Gain, Mr. Clean and Swiffer.  The last five years there were spent as manager of North American Marketing Capability.  Prior to working at Procter & Gamble he spent four years as a sales manager at the Washington, DC Convention & Visitors Association.  Michael is one of the co-founders of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality, a student-run organization founded in 1989 to support individuals in College that are interested in careers in the hospitality industry.

Michael has a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from Cornell University and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business.  He is married with two children and resides in Aurora, IL.

When he isn’t spending time with family he enjoys a variety of physical activities and in his spare time is an avid fantasy baseball and football player.  Although not an expert in any of those things the effort keeps him busy and entertained.

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Evan S. Frazier

Evan S. Frazier Senior Vice President of Community Affairs Highmark Inc.   As a senior vice president of community affairs for Highmark Inc, Evan Frazier oversees activities that include Highmark’s corporate giving, sponsorships, event marketing, volunteerism, select community health initiatives, and the Highmark Foundation. Prior to joining Highmark, Mr. Frazier served as president and chief executive officer of the Hill House Association for six years, one of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s most important and comprehensive community service agencies. He was responsible for developing and implementing the organization’s strategic vision, which includes managing a staff of more than 100 employees, overseeing a multi-million dollar budget, and providing outreach to 60,000-70,000 clients per year in the Hill District and the Greater Pittsburgh region. In a few short years, Mr. Frazier successfully led the agency through a strategic planning process and a $10 million capital campaign milestone. In 2005, Mr. Frazier launched a new economic force in the Hill district, The Hill House Economic Development Corporation, where he was responsible for implementing several key neighborhood revitalization development projects in the Hill District community. Under his leadership, Hill House had received numerous honors and awards. Prior to joining the Hill House, Mr. Frazier served as vice president of strategic planning for PNC Financial Services Group where he contributed to PNC’s corporate strategic development.  Later with PNC, he served as vice president of finance communications. Before joining PNC’s leadership team, Mr. Frazier served as senior vice president of the Manchester Bidwell Corporation, a nationally recognized entrepreneurial nonprofit that incorporates arts, education and training to encourage social change. In this capacity, he provided leadership to the corporation’s various profit and non-profit subsidiaries. Mr. Frazier also spent six years at the corporate head quarters of Eat’ n Park Restaurants, where he initially worked in human resources and later became their director of community relations. Mr. Frazier received his master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College and received his bachelor’s of science degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. He also completed a number of executive management certificates including Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management, Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, and Boston College’s Corporate Community Relations certificate. In 1998, Mr. Frazier was one of 17 individuals to be named a national “Luce Scholar.”  The honor, presented through the Henry Luce Foundation, enabled him to experience Asia for a year working at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in Singapore and Hong Kong. For several years Mr. Frazier served as a McGinnis Distinguished Lecturer at Point Park College where he taught courses in international business and marketing. In 1990, he co-founded the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH), the nation’s leading student-run organization for minorities in the hospitality field now with more than 75 chapters across the United States. An active member of the community, Mr. Frazier has served on more than 25 boards since graduating from college including his current service as a trustee of Carnegie Mellon University. He also serves on the boards of The Andy Warhol Museum, Hill House Economic Development Corporation, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, The Pittsb urgh Foundation, and the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Politics. In 2008, he was appointed by Governor Rendell as a Commissioner for the Pennsylvania Public Television Network.  Also in 2008, he launched his first book entitled “Most Likely To Succeed: The Frazier Formula for Success,” which introduces his personal framework to inspire and motivate youth and adults to achieve. In 2010, Frazier was selected by The Network Journal as one of their national “Forty under 40” awardees, and this year, he was featured in the Profiles in Diversity Journal.  In 2012, he was also appointed by Governor Corbett to the Governor’s Commission on African American Affairs. Evan Frazier is married to Dr. Holly Hatcher-Frazier (educator & national television personality) and they have three children:  Evan Jr., Nia, and William.

Alfred D. Watts

Alfred D. Watts is the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Christian Center, a multi-cultural congregation located in Milford, CT.  As a high school senior he was challenged by his mentor to dream big dreams, and dare to achieve them.  Toward that end, he attended Choate Rosemary Hall as a post-graduate student, and began applying proven principles of success to his studies and life.  Upon graduation, Alfred received the highest award given at Choate, the School Seal Prize, for making the most outstanding contribution to the school.  It is the first and only time in the history of the school that the award has been given to anyone other than a four-year student.

Alfred then attended Cornell University’s prestigious Hotel School and amassed numerous accomplishments.  They included traveling on a 100-day voyage around the world and cofounding the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality.  Upon graduation, Alfred was again recognized for making the most outstanding contribution to a school.  He was given the Hotel School’s highest award, the coveted Joseph Drown Prize, which was accompanied by a $15,000 cash prize.

The words of Alfred’s mentor continued to shape his life after Cornell.  Alfred attended the Howard University School of Law and graduated ranked fourth in his class.  He then served a one year term as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Ellen B. Burns of the United States District Court.  Following his clerkship, Alfred became a corporate law attorney at one of the top five law firms in the country, Davis Polk & Wardwell, and served as legal counsel at Mitsubishi Chemical America, Inc.

During His tenure as an attorney, Alfred also served as Youth Director at Cornerstone Christian Center.  In October 2000, Alfred cried out to God, “I want to know what you can do with one man completely sold out to you.”  One month later, he was asked to become the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone.  Alfred answered God’s call, left the legal profession, and was officially installed as Senior Pastor on June 17, 2001.   Since Alfred became pastor, Cornerstone has more than tripled in size, with over 450 people attending weekly worship services, and Alfred has led mission teams around the world sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Watts and his wife, Akiba, currently reside in Hamden, CT with their two boys, Avery and Anderson.