Recent Alfred University graduate Landon DeKay represented the university at the International Conference on Management, Tourism, and Technologies, held May 8-10 in San Carlos, Costa Rica.
DeKay received a Master of Business Administration degree, with a concentration in accounting, at Alfred University’s Commencement on Saturday, May 17. At the conference in Costa Rica, he presented a research paper titled “The Critical Role of Internal Control and Internal Audit in Hotel Operations Management,” a collaborative project with his faculty mentor, Ali Coskun, associate professor of accounting. The paper explores the vital functions of internal control systems and internal auditing in enhancing operational efficiency within the hospitality industry.
In addition to the successful presentation, the research paper has been accepted for publication in the Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, a well-regarded series indexed in the Scopus database. Coskun said the paper’s publication represents a significant academic achievement.
The international conference provided DeKay with the opportunity to network with scholars, professionals, and students from around the world, gaining a valuable global perspective and professional experience.
DeKay, the son of Amy DeKay, vice president for Student Experience at Alfred University, was recently honored by the Rochester Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYCPA). The Buffalo, NY, resident and Orchard Park High School graduate was among eight students from colleges and universities across Rochester and the Upstate New York region who received Outstanding Accounting Student awards at the Rochester chapter of NYCPA’s annual recognition awards dinner on April 17 in Rochester.
In addition to his MBA from Alfred University, DeKay also has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Syracuse University.