Growing up in a restaurant family, Greater Miami and The Beaches Hotel Association President and CEO Wendy Kallergis was groomed for a career in hospitality.

As a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef with past positions in some the area’s top hospitality institutions, Ms. Kallergis’s understanding of the tourism industry led her to the association’s top post over a year ago.

With successes such as its Green Hospitality Council, Ms. Kallergis is leading the 410-member association into 2011 with plans for membership growth, a new website with hospitality careers and membership directory, growing community partnerships and assisting local hospitality students to enter one of the county’s booming job industries.

“Look at all the hotels that we have now,” she said. “It's exciting to be working here. Miami is a very exciting town to be in right now.”

In an interview with Miami Today reporter Ashley D. Torres, Ms. Kallergis discussed her journey, future growth for the sweet-sixteen association, and the continued strength of the county as a tourism mecca.