Gary L. Deel

Gary is a motivated and driven polymath with aspirations for career growth in higher education and consulting.

Gary spent more than a decade in hospitality management and leadership. He worked for two years in parks and resorts with the Walt Disney World Resort, five years in hotel management with Rosen Hotels & Resorts, two years in attractions management with Picsolve, Inc. and Merlin Entertainments Group, and a year in casino security administration with Wynn Resorts.

Gary has also worked in the legal profession as an attorney and as an expert witness, assisting lawyers with a variety of hospitality-related litigation support services.

In addition to Gary's business experience, he has also spent ten years as a professor at various institutions, including Valencia College, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Colorado Technical University (CTU), Kaplan University, the Art Institutes (Ai), the University of Central Florida (UCF), American Public University System (APUS), Colorado State University (CSU), and University of Florida (UFL). Gary has taught courses in business, hospitality, leadership, law, professionalism, sales and marketing, engineering/maintenance, culinary management, human resources, and other areas. Gary currently serves as Faculty Director for the APUS School of Business and as Adjunct Professor for UCF, CSU, and UFL. Gary holds AS Degrees in Hospitality and Culinary Arts from Valencia College, AS and BS Degrees in Space Studies from APUS, BS and MS Degrees in Hotel/Tourism Management from UCF, a JD in Law from Florida A&M University (FAMU), and a PhD in Hotel Administration from UNLV.

Gary has held numerous licenses and industry certifications, including bar licenses in Florida and Nevada, Certified Lodging Security Director (CLSD), Certified Hospitality Sales Professional (CHSP), Certified Hotel Sales Executive (CHSE), Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA), Certified Human Resources Professional (SHRM-CP), and others.