Grace Markum

My years of experience in the public sector, in higher education and as an entrepreneur help me bring different perspectives to Pitt Johnstown students.

I spent over 20 years in the hospitality industry with Crown American Hotels, headquartered in Johnstown, PA, serving 10 of those years as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for a portfolio of 27 hotels. After 10 years in that position, I was promoted to President and CEO.

My teaching at Pitt Johnstown began 2004 when I introduced the first and only University of Pittsburgh course dedicated to the art of selling. After 4 years as an adjunct faculty member, I assumed a full time Assistant Professor of Marketing position. At that time, I created a new course entitled Hospitality & Tourism Marketing and enjoyed teaching a variety of marketing courses.

Upon leaving the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, I joined Pennsylvania Highlands Community College as the Associate Vice President for Continuing Education. In that capacity, I was responsible for all non-credit course offerings including community education and workforce development.

Along the way, I created High Impact2, Inc., a business consulting company specializing in helping companies and organizations reach their sales and marketing goals. As part of that endeavor, I developed, launched and currently facilitate Leadership Westmoreland, a 9-month, tuition-based leadership development program and Leadership Westmoreland Youth Academy, both are sponsored by Westmoreland County, PA Chamber of Commerce.

I got the entrepreneurial bug again in 2016. My husband and I opened The UPS in Ebensburg, PA where we focus on small business solutions as well as packing & shipping.

The course I typically teach are: