Invest in the next generation of travelers and hospitality professionals.
The American Experience Foundation (AEF) enriches the lives of students through inspirational experiences and educational opportunities to cultivate the next generation of hospitality industry leaders. AEF invests in young people, connecting them with the travel and tourism professionals, entrepreneurs, and executives to help ensure they can enter college and career with confidence.
- INSPIRE - Free field trips to our nation’s capital for students from DC and across the country
- TRAIN - Internships and educational opportunities to connect students with hospitality industry professionals
- EDUCATE - Scholarships to qualified students and alumni from DC’s ten high school Academies of Hospitality & Tourism, Culinary Arts, and Mass Media
AEF is the official non-profit affiliate of Destination DC (DDC), the destination marketing organization for our nation’s capital. By leveraging the resources and networks of DDC and its 1,000 member businesses, AEF is uniquely positioned to open doors for students, filling a need for career exposure and paths to success.
Kelly Cantarero-Flores, AEF Intern Summer 2020 & 2021, Wilson High School Class of 2022
"I will be forever thankful to have the AEF team as mentors and for all the valuable things I have learned from and through this internship. I feel more confident in my abilities and skill sets to enter the workforce."
Learn More About AEF
AEF Staff
Program Manager
202-789-7064
Executive Director, American Experience Foundation
Senior VP, Partnerships & Alliances, Destination DC
202-789-7048
Assistant
202-789-7050
Associate Director
202-789-7065
AEF 2024 Career Ready Interns
Asly Argueta Benitez
Senior, Coolidge High School
Nealia Williams
Senior, Coolidge High School
Christian Osborne
Senior, Ballou High School
Valerie Benitez
Senior, Jackson-Reed High School
*Valerie completed a co-hosted internship with the Washington Nationals
AEF 2024 College Intern
AEF 2023-24 Advanced Internship Program
Mailing Address
American Experience Foundation
901 7th Street NW
Fourth Floor
Washington, DC 20001
AEF Board of Directors
Chair
John Snedden
Owner, Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company
Vice Chair
Tanisha Lewis
Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Secretary
Skye Curry
Manager, Global Quality, Marriott International
Treasurer
Greg Casten
President, Oceanpro Industries
At-Large Members
Michael Akin
President, LINK Strategic Partners
Michael Borris
Director of Global Accounts, Encore
Skye Curry
Manager, Global Quality, Marriott International
Stacy Eacho Smith General Manager, Hyatt Place DC/White House
Elliott L. Ferguson, II
President & CEO, Destination DC
David Grosso
Partner, ArentFox, Shiff, LLP
Bill Heater
Vice President & General Manager, Big Bus Washington DC
Abby Himmelrich
Teacher, McLean School
Eric Kincaid
Vice President of Sales, Choose Chicago
Tanisha Lewis
Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Destiny Kibalama
Director of Recruiting & Human Resources, Clyde's Restaurant Group
Elif Sen,
General Manager, Cambria Hotel Washington D.C. Navy Yard Riverfront
Rauf Shakir
Chief Executive Officer, USA Guided Tours
Gail Smith-Howard
General Manager [Retired], Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
Charles Williams II
OTA Specialist
Alex Wilson
Director [Retired], Jackson- Reed High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism
AEF Student Advisory Board
Chair
Zoe Roberts
George Mason University Class of 2022
Lauren Brown
Howard University Class of 2022
Full Sail University Class of 2023
Morehouse College Class of 2019
Temple University Class of 2022
Columbia Heights Educational Campus Class of 2019
Washington & Jefferson College Class of 2027
Columbia Heights Educational Campus Class of 2019
JP Roberts
Eastern Connecticut State University Class of 2026
Anura Sharma
Georgetown University Class of 2026
