Thomas J. Spano is a lecturing instructor of Hospitality and Service Management at CIA at Greystone. He brings to the classroom more than 35 years of experience in hospitality management, spanning hotels, restaurants, and retirement living.
Most recently, Spano was the dining room manager at Belmont Village Senior Community in La Jolla, CA, where he fostered a welcoming environment for residents, collaborated with the culinary team to develop menus for special events, and significantly improved resident satisfaction and reduced employee turnover.
Previously, Spano spent more than 30 years with Piatti Restaurant Company in La Jolla, where he built a reputation for creating a culture in which employees could thrive and every guest experience was exceptional. During his tenure as general manager, the restaurant was awarded 26 points by Zagat and voted the best Italian restaurant and for having the best patio and best Maître d’.
Spano earned his bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing from SUNY Plattsburgh in New York and his associate degree in Hotel Restaurant Management from Paul Smith’s College in New York’s Adirondack mountains.
When he’s not in the classroom, Spano can be found walking his labradoodle named Rupert, biking, trying his hand at pickleball, or catching up with friends.