The Hospitality Management program is pleased to welcome three new members to its
advisory board: Katharine Elder and Sumit Patel. Bringing extensive industry experience
and leadership expertise, they will help guide the program’s continued growth and
strengthen connections between students and the hospitality industry.
From Farm to Table: Katharine Elder Expands How Students Experience Hospitality
At Elderslie Farm, hospitality begins with the land. Katharine Elder has built her
career around that idea, creating a farm-based dining experience that connects guests
to local ingredients and seasonal menus, infused with artful panache from her family
ties to Northern Italy.
As chef and co-owner of Elderslie Farm in Kechi, Kansas, Elder leads a growing operation
that includes a fine dining restaurant and a seasonal cafe. She also serves on the
Hospitality Advisory Board at the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University,
helping connect students with real-world, locally rooted hospitality experiences.
“Hospitality starts long before a guest sits down,” said Elder. “It begins with the
care you put into the ingredients and the experience you create around them.”
Her work reflects a commitment to seasonal, locally sourced cuisine, immersive dining
experiences, and a celebration of sustainable living. A self-taught chef ('mentor
taught" she asserts), she draws inspiration from Italian hospitality traditions and
focuses on locally sourced, seasonal cuisine. Through both her experiences with the
James Beard Foundation—particularly the Women in Entrepreneurial Leadership in partnership
with Cornell—and Les Dames d'Escoffier, she has benefitted trendously from her opportunities
as a student of hospitality professionals.
“Katharine’s passion for hospitality is both unmistakable and inspiring,” said Nikki
Beyrle, Hospitality Executive-in-Residence and Chief Human Resources Officer at LDF
Companies. “She leads with authenticity and a deep connection to place, creating experiences
that feel intentional, meaningful, and truly memorable.”
That approach reinforces how environment, sourcing and storytelling shape hospitality.
“Students benefit from understanding how hospitality connects to community and sustainability,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School. “Katharine’s work helps bring that to life.”
Building Hospitality from the Ground Up: Nick Esterline Shares an Entrepreneurial Mindset
Building hospitality projects requires more than vision. It requires capital, execution
and long-term planning. Nick Esterline brings that perspective to the Hospitality
Advisory Board at the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University. As president
and founder of TGC Group, Esterline has led more than $500 million in acquisitions
and development projects across hospitality and commercial real estate with a portfolio
that includes more than 40 hotels across 22 states.
“Successful hospitality projects require patience, discipline and a long-term perspective,”
said Esterline. “The best opportunities come from understanding how development, operations
and guest experience work together. Understanding that balance is key.”
Esterline’s work spans development, construction and hospitality management across
multiple states. Under his leadership, TGC continues to expand through new hotel developments,
acquisitions and construction projects. That experience gives students insight into
how hospitality businesses grow—from evaluating opportunities and securing capital
to opening properties and managing operations.
“Nick brings a perspective that connects strategy with execution,” said Nikki Beyrle,
Hospitality Executive-in-Residence and chief human resources officer at LDF Companies.
“He helps students understand how projects come together.”
That perspective reinforces the program’s applied learning approach.
“Students benefit from seeing how hospitality concepts are developed and scaled,”
said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School. “Nick’s experience helps illustrate
that process.”
Building Hospitality at Scale: Sumit Patel Brings Development and Operations Expertise to Hospitality Education
Sustaining successful hospitality organizations require more than great guest experiences.
They depend on strong operations, disciplined financial management and strategic growth.
Sumit Patel has spent his career building and operating hospitality businesses across
those areas.
As Vice President of Operations and Development for Core Hospitality Group, Patel
oversees hotel and restaurant operations, development projects and ownership strategy
across a diverse portfolio. He serves on the Hospitality Advisory Board at the Barton
School of Business at Wichita State University, bringing expertise in hospitality
development, operations and entrepreneurship.
“Hospitality is one of the few industries where development, operations and guest
experience all have to work together every day,” said Patel. “Understanding how those
pieces connect is what creates long-term value.”
Patel manages day-to-day operations across Core Hospitality Group’s hotels and restaurants
while collaborating on future acquisitions and real estate developments. His responsibilities
include operational oversight, financial performance, leadership hiring and strategic
planning. Throughout his career, he has developed and operated 29 restaurant locations
and more than 45 hotels across major hospitality brands including Hilton, Marriott,
Hyatt, IHG, Choice Hotels and Wyndham.
His experience spans ownership, development and operations, including the development
of more than 5,000 hotel rooms, five convention centers in Kansas and more than 450
multifamily housing units. Today, Core Hospitality Group’s portfolio consistently
ranks among the top-performing properties within their respective brands for service
and quality.
“Sumit brings a unique perspective because he understands hospitality from both the
ownership and operational sides,” said Nikki Beyrle, Hospitality Executive-in-Residence
and Chief Human Resources Officer at LDF Companies. “His insights will help students
see how development, finance and guest experience all connect to create successful
hospitality businesses.”
That experience gives students exposure to the business decisions that shape hospitality
organizations long before guests ever walk through the door.
“Students benefit from learning from leaders who have built and scaled hospitality
organizations,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, Dean of the Barton School. “Sumit’s experience
helps demonstrate how strategic growth, strong operations and leadership work together
to create long-term success.”
Beyond his regional impact, Patel has helped shape hospitality development throughout
Kansas, including the development of 13 hotel properties across the greater Wichita
area. His experience gives students exposure to the entrepreneurial mindset, operational
discipline and long-term planning required to succeed in a competitive hospitality
industry.
To learn more about the Hospitality Program or explore opportunities to get involved,
visit wichita.edu/hospitality.