Malissa Ellis '08

Event Coordinator,

Il Mulino New York Trattoria

q: What do you do?

a: I promote and plan group events for the Italian restaurant at the Walt Disney World Swan. With a large number of small private flexible spaces, we can host a private reception or party with a customized group menu for up to 400 guests.

q: What's your favorite part of the job?

a: Transforming someone's regular dinner into a "special event" - especially seeing the big events come together.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Sitting at a desk, which is so much different than my previous job bartending at Shula's Steakhouse, at the adjacent Walt Disney World Dolphin.

q: Do you stay in touch with any other UCF hospitality alums?

a: Valerie Davis '06 and Taryn Dorsey '07.

q: Outside work...you're most likely to be seen?

a: At the beach, with friends, or bartending at Kitty O'Shea's Irish Pub.

q: Your biggest accomplishment since graduating, outside your career?

a: Time management.

q: How did UCF prepare you for what you do?

a: It taught me networking and professionalism.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: The Rosen campus doesn't have enough "college feel" to it. I transferred from Arizona State and that was a whole different experience.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Football games, especially Homecoming.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: The Crab Macaroni and Cheese at Shula's Steak House.

q: On your iPod?

a: A variety of 80's music and rock.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: My middle name is D'van. My parents keep coming up with different stories about how they chose this unique name, so I'm still unsure where it came from.