UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jane Woods LaFranchi, vice president, general counsel and secretary at Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company (HE&R) has joined the Penn State School of Hospitality Management (SHM) Industry Advisory Board.

In her role with HE&R, LaFranchi leads the legal department in providing comprehensive counsel, representation and oversight on a wide range of legal, compliance and regulatory matters involving the company’s diverse entertainment and lodging operations, including The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge, Hersheypark amusement park and the Hershey Bears, the company’s American Hockey League club. She also serves as legal counsel, secretary and trusted adviser to the company’s board of directors and is a member of the company’s executive committee. LaFranchi also serves on the company’s risk management committee, inclusion and diversity council and Milton Hershey School & HE&R Partnership committee.

“For more than eight decades, the School of Hospitality Management at Penn State has produced top leaders in the industry,” said LaFranchi. “I am honored to be part of the prestigious Industry advisory board of such a notable institution and look forward to working with my fellow board members to provide actionable insights for students and faculty. I look forward to sharing my own industry experiences to support the development of future leaders in the many areas that a career in hospitality management can encompass.”

The School of Hospitality Management Industry Advisory Board regularly invites industry experts to strategically advise the school, its leadership and its faculty on evolving industry trends and standards, to best prepare students for future careers in hospitality management. The industry advisory board includes a range of professionals in a variety of leadership positions at top hospitality brands, all with unique viewpoints from which to provide council.

“Jane boasts a wealth of experience in hospitality law,” noted Donna Quadri-Felitti, associate professor, and Marvin Ashner director of the Penn State School of Hospitality Management. “Her work with hospitality brands on regional, national and international scales gives her a distinct perspective that is sure to benefit the industry advisory board, the School of Hospitality Management and our students.”

"Jane's expertise and representation from the iconic Hershey Entertainment and Resorts brand, headquartered in our region, is a perfect fit for our industry advisory board. She will complement our board of industry­ thought leaders with unique insights to advance our hospitality management program and how we educate students and serve our industry," said Brian Black, director of industry and alumni relations for the Penn State School of Hospitality Management and a board member of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Prior to joining HE&R in 2016, LaFranchi worked with Marriott International, Inc., for more than a decade, as vice president and senior counsel, then vice president and assistant general counsel. Before her foray into the world of hospitality, LaFranchi worked in various other legal capacities around the country and the world. She is currently a governance fellow with the National Association of Corporate Directors and a faculty member of the American University Washington College of Law Program on Hospitality and Tourism Law. She obtained both her bachelor of arts degree and her law degree from the University of Texas.

HE&R is comprised of nearly 20 different operations including attractions, entertainment venues, resorts, restaurants, spas and other businesses. The company employs more than 1,700 full-time and 7,000 seasonal and part-time employees.

About the School of Hospitality Management

Established in 1937, Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected schools of hospitality management. Its top-ranked undergraduate and doctoral programs prepare global leaders with a rigorous, diverse curriculum focused, since its inception, on engaged scholarship, featuring partnerships with Penn State's Hospitality Services, Housing and Food Services, and top global hospitality brands. It’s also home to the oldest Penn State alumni program group, the Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society. For more information about the school, contact Brian Black, director of industry and alumni relations, at bab180@psu.edu or 814-865-1853.