Nathaniel George Booker

Founder & President

Nathaniel George Booker launched Astute Culture (AC) in 2017. Prior to AC, he served in Executive Hotel Operations and Human Resources for Marriott International and InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG). After serving in the hospitality industry for 15 years he rose to Area Director in Organizational Development & Performance Improvement for IHG overseeing the brands InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, and EVEN Hotels corporate properties in the Mid-Atlantic region. Career ambitions have had him serve in Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Dallas, and New York.

 As a strong community advocate, he has served Maywood as Economic Development Commissioner, ran in 2019 for village council and won, then ran for Mayor in 2021 and won. As Village President for the Village of Maywood, on a national level he also serves on the National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors, representing more than 19,000 villages, cities, and towns across the nation. He is also 1st Vice President for National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO). Within the State of Illinois, Booker is the President of Illinois Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (IBC-LEO) along with being on Illinois Municipal League (IML) Revenue & Taxation and Public Works & Transportation Committees. With a focus on Metropolitan Chicago, He is a council member with the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus (MMC) for the Aging Friendly Communities as well as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees and West Central Municipal Conference – Illinois Legislative Committee.

In 2022 Mayor Booker launched Healthy Maywood I Cook (HMWC) which focuses on the US Department of Health & Human Services, Social Determinant of Health - Elements of Healthy Communities. While operating within HWMC, Maywood is a partner with the White House on End Hunger & Build Healthy Communities. As a Board of Director with National League of Cities (NLC), working on various committees with the US Departments of Housing + Urban Development, Labor, Education, Energy, and more, Mayor Booker has taken full advantage of all resources. His work within NLC have been impactful through initiatives such as Youth Excel, Good Jobs Great Cities, Cities, Addressing Fees & Fines Equitably, Cities Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Cross Community Climate Collaborative, and more.

As a local community advocate he most recently served on School District 89’s Education Foundation as Board Treasurer, Proviso Township Democratic Organization as former Chairman for Young Democrats of Proviso, Cook County Democratic Party along with Executive Board Member for Cook County Young Democrats and Community Advisory Review Council, Institute of Transitional Medicine (ITM) (consultation to University of Chicago, Rush, Advocate Healthcare, Loyola University, Northshore, and Illinois Institute of Technology) and much more. Booker has consulted for Cook County Black Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce, Proviso Township Democratic Organization, JB Pritzker for Governor, and Proviso Township along with multiple corporate entities as well.

His education includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Tennessee State University (Psychology), along with certifications from American Hotel & Lodging Education Institute (AHLEI) (Hospitality Trainer), Franklin Covey (Ultimate Competitive Advantage Facilitator), Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (Illinois Economic Development), and University of San Francisco (Public Leadership).

Certified Expert

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Leadership Facilitation

Franklin Covey Certified Facilitator

  • Ultimate Competitive Advantage

Harvard Business School

  • Harvard Manage Mentor

American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)

  • Certified Hospitality Trainer (CHT)

  • Certified Hospitality Department Trainer (CHDT)

InterContinental Hotel Group

  • Influencing Learning & Development

  • Crafting Training Certification

Marriott International 

  • Trainer Certification Level I (TCI)

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Federal Compliance

Occupational Safety & Health Administration

  • (OSHA) Authorized Trainer

Red Cross

  • 1st Aid, CPR, AED Certified Trainer

  • Bloodborne Pathogen Certified Trainer

National Restaurant Association

  • ServSafe Food Handler Authorized Trainer

Health Communications

  • Training Intervention ProcedureS (TIPS) Certified Trainer

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Hospitality Services

InterContinental Hotel Group

  • Managing, Training & Development

  • Risk Management Professional

Marriott International 

  • Performance Development Manager OnBoard

  • Supervisor SPIRIT Phase I & II

  • Service Excellence Core Mastery

  • JW Marriott Service Excellence Mastery

  • JW Marriott Opening Note Mastery

  • Marriott Right From the Start Mastery

  • Marriott Service Excellence Mastery

  • Renaissance Ready, Set, Go Mastery

  • The Facilitator Role

Hilton Worldwide 

  • Hilton Certified Trainer