previous speaker

Fall 2022

Jill Bender

Director of Training for Hospitality & Experience
REVELXP

Jill Bender is a hospitality industry leader with over 20 years of experience in a variety of settings. Bender is a highly energetic and service-focused individual and is passionate about hospitality.

A graduate of and former student-athlete for Mississippi State University, Bender began her career
with the Colonnade Group as an intern for the MSU Bulldog Suites Office. In 2002, The University
of Alabama signed a contract with Colonnade Group and Bender became the Director of the Bryant-Denny Skybox Office, implementing the premium seating operation (along with her intern, former CHES student Raegan Tomasek-Powell, the now Senior Product Developer for Starbucks.) As the stadium and other athletic facility premium areas expanded, so did Bender’s leadership responsibilities. During her tenure as Director for the CTH office, Bender consulted on multiple facility expansion projects and planned annual events such as the Joe Namath Celebrity Golf Classic. In 2013, Bender grew to become an Area Director of Premium Seating, opening and overseeing hospitality offices at the University of Oklahoma and SMU in Dallas, and consulted for UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Missouri.

In 2021, Colonnade Group was acquired by REVELXP. With partnership of over 60+ collegiate and
professional properties nationwide, REVELXP is a national leader in pre-, post-, in-game, and non-gameday premium solutions. Bender oversees the training and development of over 35 full-time employees and indirectly 1000 game day staff members to ensure that premium seating guests have the best experience at all their venues.

Bender has two degrees from MSU, but she says she learned the most during her nearly two decades of service to The University of Alabama.

Spring 2022

MARK GOOMAN

CHAIRMAN COLORADO NUT HOLDING COMPANY

Watch Video

Fall 2021

Nick Sellers

CEO of The World Games 2022

Watch Video

Spring 2021

Watch Session

WOMEN LEADERS IN HOSPITALITY

Interactive discussion with a panel of hospitality executives.
These panelists will talked about career tracks, life
choices and proven leadership formulas for
success.