NEWH - Winter 2024 - 10

NEWS
NEWH Celebrates an ICON of Industry
Please join us celebrating the career of Diana Dobin,
co-CEO and chief sustainability officer of Valley
Forge Fabrics, our 20th exceptional individual to
receive this prestigious award. Whether you know
our 2024 icon or not, please take a moment to read
her biography and support our initiative to lead our
industry by example.
DIANA DOBIN
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer
Valley Forge Fabrics
C
elebrating others and making everyone feel treasured, confident,
and supported has been the focus of Diana Dobin's 30-year
hospitality career. The co-CEO of Valley Forge Fabrics (VFF),
Dobin is a maker at heart and a hospitalitarian in her soul.
Pioneering the importance of sustainability long before it was part of our
industry conversation, Diana is a passionate leader who has tirelessly
encouraged and educated the industry to recognize both the opportunity
and responsibility to impact the health, wellbeing, and happiness of travelers,
colleagues, and communities through environmental efforts.
As Director of Expansion for NEWH, Inc. and a board member in New York
and South Florida, Diana demonstrated her commitment to scholarship and
dedication to our industry.
A board member of Sustainable Florida, Diana worked with other state
business leaders to bring attention to critical water and resource needs at
the State and national level.
The VFF LEED Silver headquarters was made a reality through Diana's
design vision. Winner of the Green Building awards, the facility reflects the
philanthropy, quality, and excellence that VFF represents. The property
is used for VFF-hosted programs raising funds for charities focused on
sustainability, family, children, and mentorship programs for underserved
community members.
Diana demonstrates her affinity for diversity and works to close the equity
gap through her inclusion of others. She is proud that VFF is a srategic
partner of the Hospitality Diversity Action Council (HDAC).
Consistently asking how she can be of service, she is a six-year board
member of the Pillsbury Institute for Entrepreneurship at the Nolan School
of Hospitality at Cornell University. Dobin approaches mentorship through
a lens of cooperation, care, and coaching-always focused on people as
individuals.
Reflecting Diana, VFF has a special culture grounded in love for each other
and love for this industry. Her greatest legacy and greatest love is her family.
10 newh.org
A $7,500 Student Scholarship in honor of our ICON will be awarded
to one exemplary student who has completed at least half of their
program toward a degree in hospitality interior design, has a minimum
3.0 GPA, has participated in an industry internship, and exemplifies the
highest standards of professionalism. Our ICON and the scholarship
recipient will be awarded at the 44th Annual Gold Key Awards gala on
Monday, November 11, 2024, an event held in conjunction with BDNY.
Congratulations once again to Diana Dobin, a true ICON and LEADER!
Congrats to the 2024 $7,500 NEWH ICON of
Industry Scholarship Winner
Lindsey Phillips
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Interior Design, May 2025
44th Annual Gold Key Awards Gala
Monday, November 11th, 2024 -
Cipriani 42nd Street, New York in
conjunction with BDNY
goldkeyawards.com
http://www.goldkeyawards.com http://www.newh.org
NEWH - Winter 2024

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