Jen Belk White & Myisha Smith Named to HM’s 40 over 40 for 2026
Myisha Smith Director of Corporate Training Parable Hospitality
Dr. Jennifer Belk White, Ed.D. Vice President of Human Resources General Hotels Corporation
April Virtual Competency – Free for CHART Members We know that these two are exceptional leaders, and now the world does too! Congratulations to our own President-Elect Dr. Jen Belk White, Ed.D. and New Orleans Conference Director Myisha Smith for being recognized by HM for shaping the future of the hospitality industry.
Hospitality Training 360 Report – Newly Released! Get the key findings and full report at chart.org > Training Tools & Resources > Training Trends Study.
Executive Track: Communication & Influence Two, 2-hour sessions from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Space is limited. FREE for CHART Members; enter the discount code MEMBER-COMP at checkout. $149.00 for non-members. Register at chart.org > Trainer Development & Events > Training Competencies > Virtual Workshop Schedule
PresidenTalks The Magic We Create Together
Every moment of CHART109 in New Orleans was ✨ magic ✨ . In fact, on the last evening we were amazed by Aaron Baca, a local magician who reminded us that magic is something we can create for others. As explained in the movie “The Prestige,” a magic trick has three parts. The Pledge shows us something ordinary. The Turn makes the ordinary thing do something extraordinary. The Prestige brings it all together with a final surprise. Aaron began a trick by showing us an empty cloth bag. Two volunteers inspected it and even turned it inside out. This was The Pledge , a grounding moment of familiarity. Then came The Turn . Aaron reached into the empty bag with a flourish and produced an egg - voilà! The room gasped. He even walked us through the trick in slow motion as if revealing the secret. Finally, Aaron stepped aside and had the two volunteers walk through the steps: inspect the bag, flip it inside out, and then the moment of truth… a hand went in the bag and to their amazement (and ours), emerged
CHART President Kelly McCutcheon
holding an egg. They had performed the trick on their own! The Prestige! Their faces shifted from disbelief to confidence. The magic had transferred to them.
Isn’t this what we do in training? We show the ordinary, for example checking in a Guest at registration or cooking a burger. We demonstrate the skill so they can see it. We slow it down, exaggerating each movement so learners can see how it works and
imagine themselves doing it. We introduce the ordinary, guide them through the extraordinary, and then let them step forward so the moment becomes theirs, transferring the skill to them. CHART 109 reminded us that the real magic is not the trick. It is the transformation. And that transformation is even more impactful when we experience it together. When people share a sense of wonder, it brings them closer. At the end of Aaron’s performance, he placed the spotlight on us and asked everyone to thank the people at their table for being part of the magic. It was a simple gesture that created a wave of connection across the ballroom. Moments like that remind us how essential a sense of community is to CHART…and to our work in training. We teach skills, yes. We also build belonging, spark curiosity, and help people feel part of something bigger than themselves. That is the magic we create together.
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