08/29/2022

Cindy Sams

Director of Education, Workforce & Programs

As the Director of Education, Workforce & Programs, Cindy R. Sams leads the programming for several member councils and specific groups, seeks the right opportunities for our Allied Members with Sponsorships to meetings and events.

She coordinates the OHLA Allied Council, the Ohio Chapter of Women in Lodging (WIL) CONNECT, along with the Under 30 Gateway program focused on young professionals in the Lodging Industry.  As Staff liaison to the Education & Workforce Development Committee (EDU/WFD), action has increased in outreach to high schools, colleges and community training organizations to bring awareness to the jobs and careers in the Lodging Industry. Sams is active with Hospitality Instructors at Ohio’s College and University Hospitality Management Programs. She has grown the participation of students at the annual conference and kept them informed about what OHLA offers to them now and after graduation.

She gives guidance to meeting and event planning, with the Communications & Events Coordinator, including Lodging Council meetings for OHLA's local lodging councils and Board meetings. In addition, coordination of the OHLA’s Annual Conference and several city specific Stars of the Industry awards luncheons. 

Sams joined the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association September 2005. Her background in the travel and tourism industry, includes two years working at the Ohio Travel Association to assist in the planning and execution of Heartland Travel Showcase and eight years managing staff and volunteers at the Santa Maria tourist attraction in downtown Columbus. Retail management and merchandising were previous to that.

Embracing her love of art, she serves on the Columbus Arts Festival Steering Committee of GCAC, planning the annual arts festival in June. Sams is the owner of Canvased Floors LLC, www.cindysamsart.com, creating custom canvas floorcloths, etc.  Sams is a graduate of The Ohio State University, B.S. in Consumer and Textile Sciences. She lives with her husband Greg in Canal Winchester.

PH: (614) 461-6462 ext. 2
Email: cindy@ohla.org