UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Faculty of Hospitality Administration within the Faculty of Well being and Human Growth, along with the Penn State Resort and Restaurant Society (PSHRS), has named Leeny Oberg, chief monetary officer and govt vp of improvement at Marriott Worldwide, because the 2026 Hospitality Govt of the Yr.
Oberg will likely be honored on the 2026 PSHRS Trade Awards and Reception, which can happen on April 8, 2026, at Penn State College Park amongst alumni, college, trade companions and college students.
Receiving this award is an amazing honor, and I’m deeply grateful to Penn State for this recognition. I’ve had the privilege of being on the Marriott group for greater than 20 years and contributing to its international progress. All through my profession, I’ve been guided by Marriott’s core values — particularly the assumption that placing folks first is on the coronary heart of hospitality. That very same spirit is clearly mirrored in Penn State’s dedication to people-centered training. I’m impressed by the work they’re doing to organize the following era of hospitality leaders, and I’m assured the way forward for our trade is in very succesful palms. Leeny Oberg, chief monetary officer and govt vp of improvement at Marriott Worldwide
Oberg has performed a pivotal position in Marriott’s evolution, together with her management within the acquisition and integration of Starwood Inns & Resorts. Earlier than assuming her present position, she held a number of key monetary management positions at Marriott, together with senior vp of company and improvement finance and senior vp of worldwide challenge finance and asset administration for Europe, the Center East and Africa. She joined Marriott in 1999 as a part of its investor relations group. In July 2025, Marriott introduced that Oberg will retire efficient March 31, 2026.
Oberg additionally beforehand served because the chief monetary officer for the Ritz-Carlton, the place she contributed considerably to the model’s efficiency, progress and organizational effectiveness.
Leeny’s profession at Marriott Worldwide exemplifies how you can construct sturdy, sustainable relationships with colleagues, homeowners, franchisees, traders and companions in an more and more advanced and dynamic international setting. She serves as a management position mannequin for the multitude of Penn Staters working for and with Marriott world wide in addition to our aspiring hospitality administration majors. I stay up for welcoming her to campus in April to have a good time her extraordinary profession and legacy. Donna Quadri-Felitti, Marvin Ashner Endowed Director of the Penn State Faculty of Hospitality Administration
Earlier than becoming a member of Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton, Oberg held quite a lot of monetary management positions with Sodexo (beforehand Sodexo Marriott Companies), Sallie Mae, Goldman Sachs and Chase Manhattan Financial institution.
She is an energetic member of the American Resort and Lodging Affiliation’s Trade Actual Property Finance Advisory Council and at present serves on the board of administrators of Adobe Inc.
Oberg earned her bachelor of science diploma in commerce with concentrations in finance and administration data methods from the College of Virginia and holds an MBA from Stanford College.
Having honored those that have considerably impacted our trade for over 60 years, we imagine Leeny is an distinctive addition to this distinguished group. Her profession journey stands as a mannequin for the following era of hospitality leaders as they work to forge their very own path and discover their ardour, contemplating the broad horizon of the hospitality trade in entrance of them. Tom Neely, president of PSHRS and president and CEO of Thomas E. Strauss
Concerning the Penn State Resort and Restaurant Society
The Penn State Resort and Restaurant Society was based to strengthen all hospitality professions and improve the status of the Hospitality Administration program. PSHRS is an alumni group of the Penn State Alumni Affiliation and the Faculty of Well being and Human Growth Alumni Society.
PSHRS gives a method for attaining nearer fellowship amongst alumni, college and college students. PSHRS serves those that are at present attending Penn State in hospitality administration or who’re graduates of this system, in addition to those that work inside the hospitality administration trade and have attended Penn State or are pals of this system.
Concerning the Faculty of Hospitality Administration
Established in 1937, the Penn State Faculty of Hospitality Administration is among the nation’s earliest and most revered colleges of hospitality administration. Its top-ranked undergraduate and doctoral applications put together international leaders with a rigorous, numerous curriculum centered on engaged scholarship, that includes partnerships with Penn State’s Hospitality Companies, Housing and Meals Companies, and prime international hospitality manufacturers. Additionally it is dwelling to the oldest Penn State alumni program group, the Penn State Resort and Restaurant Society. New to the college’s portfolio is an revolutionary and centered Grasp of Skilled Research in Hospitality Administration graduate diploma program.
For extra details about the college or the PSHRS Trade Awards and Reception, contact Ben Jellison, director of trade and alumni relations, at [email protected] or 814-865-6728.
About Penn State Faculty of Hospitality Administration
Established in 1937 Penn State’s Faculty of Hospitality Administration is among the nation’s oldest and most revered. Its top-ranked undergraduate and doctoral applications put together international leaders with a rigorous, numerous curriculum centered, since its inception, on engaged scholarship, that includes partnerships with Penn State’s Hospitality Companies, Housing and Meals Companies, and prime international hospitality manufacturers. It is also dwelling to the oldest Penn State alumni program group, The Penn State Resort and Restaurant Society.
Ben Jellison
Director of Trade and Alumni Relations
814-865-6728
Penn State Faculty of Hospitality Administration
