Heidi Gaensbauer is a junior in the Hotel School concentrating in corporate food and beverage management. She moved a lot growing up, spending most of her childhood in Cork, Ireland before her family settled down in Denver, Colorado. Experiencing the unique cultures and foods from each new place she traveled to solidified her desire to build a career in hospitality. She hopes to apply her knowledge from the Hotel School to create memorable events that capture the life of the hotel's destination. After graduation, Heidi plans to pursue catering and event services management for hotels globally.

As a freshman, Heidi joined HEC '97 as the sous-pastry chef, allowing her to showcase her culinary background. Her sophomore year, she returned with a more overarching focus as an Assistant Director for Food and Beverage. These positions gave Heidi insight into the many moving parts of the conference operation, something she looks forward to managing as HEC '99's Conference Services Director. 

Outside of HEC, Heidi is involved in the Hospitality Leadership Development Program at the Statler Hotel where she plans events for the Catering/Conference Services department. She is also a mentor for the Hotel Student Mentorship Program and a member of Kappa Delta sorority. In her free time, she loves to bake, hike, and explore new parts of Ithaca.