Friday, May 22, 2009

Kimberly Hawkes '07

Sales and Marketing Manager,
B.B. King's Blues Club


q: What do you do?
a: I've handled sales and marketing for B.B. King's at Pointe Orlando since its December 2007 opening. We have live music seven nights a week and are one of the larger destinations for parties and dinners, being able to accommodate up to 1800 people. Everyone who works here gets along great and we're a well-oiled machine when it comes to events, right down to color-coded floor plans I make for the staff. I don't want events to just be special; I make them fantastic where everyone gets loud and dances their blues away.
q: What's your favorite part of the job?
a: Each event is so different and I can be creative. For a casino night I didn't just get the gaming tables but went the extra mile with large light-up dice and paid showgirls. We've had Cirque de Soleil cast members hang from the ceilings and 12-foot ice sculptures down to an intimate barbecue with a s'mores pit on our tropical patio.
q: What's the greatest challenge?
a: Bringing locals to I-Drive. Also, juggling several events simultaneously. For instance, I may have 3-4 buy-out nights in a row (where clients have booked our whole facility) which is lots of current details to manage. My mind still needs to be on events that are two weeks out, requiring special themes or entertainment.
q: Do you stay in touch with any other UCF hospitality alums?
a: Brittany Andrews '08, Raj Mehta '06, Scott Mifsud '03, Holly Steinebronn '07 and Elaine Wechsler '07.
q: Outside work...you're most likely to be seen?
a: On Park Avenue in Winter Park, at Park Plaza Gardens or 310 Park South.
q: Your biggest accomplishment since graduating, outside your career?
a: Making goals and completing them sooner than I anticipated: going to Rosen College, working at the Ritz-Carlton and then getting a management position that I really love. B.B. King's is a wonderful place to work and I'm excited about my transfer to the new location in West Palm Beach. It opens in October and I'll have the opportunity to help open a new restaurant, and the new experience of marketing in an area that's not as driven by convention business.
q: How did UCF prepare you for what you do?
a: Rosen College was the perfect college experience for me because I'm a kinesthetic learner, absorbing knowledge best by actually seeing and doing something myself. Just reading about events in a textbook and attending class lectures could never compare to our required hours working in the industry, real-world class projects, volunteer work and participation in networking associations.
q: How could the hospitality program have been better?
a: It's too far from Main Campus, where I lived the first two years. It's not a bad thing, necessarily, but just a different college experience; while most UCF students were going to parties and tailgating, I was working at my internships.
q: A UCF memory?
a: For "The Event Industry" course, I volunteered at an event at the Orange County Regional History Center. Several of us ended up touring the museum and posed for a bunch of fun photos, like in front of museum's faux orange groves. I liked the event so much that I applied for an internship. How embarrassed I was when interviewer Julie Noda '05 said she had looked up all of the intern candidates on Facebook and was impressed with the photos of me in the History Center! So a word of advice: we all know employers check the Internet so don't post photos that could affect your image negatively, but also focus on positive ways to portray yourself - while not intentional, the pictures helped get me the job!
q: Favorite meal in Orlando?
a: Sunday brunch at Park Plaza Gardens, where I order the eggs benedict which comes on a croissant with cheddar smashed redskin potatoes. My favorite at B.B. King's is "Boil from the Bayou" which is shrimp, corn on the cob, and baby baker potatoes served with really good garlic bread.
q: On your iPod?
a: At work we listen to Pandora radio, with lots of 80's music including Journey and Phil Collins. I also like Kings of Leon (who I just saw at UCF), The Fray, Fall Out Boy and Carrie Underwood.
q: Little known fact about you?
a: I'm obsessed with the Orlando Magic and Hedo Turkoglu. I've gone to every home game in the playoffs.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Scott Mifsud '03

Event Manager,
GET U.S. Destination Event Management

q: What do you do?
a: Manage all aspects of clients' meetings including ground transportation, dinners and off-site entertainment. My responsibilities include proposals, budgets, programming, managing client expectations, and billing. Ninety percent of our clients are pharmaceutical companies because our U.K.-based parent company, Universal Procon, specializes in health care events.
q: What's your favorite part of the job?
a: Traveling and doing something different every day. Instead of being city-oriented, GET U.S. travels with our clients and I've recently been working on planning events in Seattle, Hawaii and Phoenix. One day I could be sitting in the Orlando office making calls, and the next I could be learning the Chicago airport to find the best way to greet and direct guests.
q: What's the greatest challenge?
a: Also, traveling and doing something different every day. Previously I owned my own business and managed events in Panama, Rome and Austria all within a three week period. It's rewarding, but also requires flexibility and lots of energy.
q: Do you stay in touch with any other UCF hospitality alums?
a: Dave Buckalew '05, Danielle Derecola '03, Chris Fletcher '97, Ariel Gonzalez '07 and Erica Hanners '03.
q: Outside work...you're most likely to be seen?
a: In Thornton Park, at Universal CityWalk or at home catching up with my DVR.
q: Your biggest accomplishment since graduating, outside your career?
a: Meeting my girlfriend, a wedding planner.
q: How did UCF prepare you for what you do?
a: It gave me a foundation of industry knowledge, and taught me the ability to continue learning.
q: How could the hospitality program have been better?
a: The new school wasn't open yet so we were located in the Classroom Building on Main Campus. Most of our classes were held in two rooms, and I had four courses with Dr. Deborah Breiter and four with Duncan Dickson. For me the set-up worked -- thank goodness I liked these two professors -- and I understand that now there's a large number of faculty, classrooms and course offerings.
q: A UCF memory?
a: Homecoming my senior year. Also, traveling to California with Professional Convention Management Association. It was the first year ever of the PCMA student chapter and we raised approximately $10,000 in sponsorships to pay for our trip. I also enjoyed the Hospitality Association banquets, back when it was the only student organization.
q: Favorite meal in Orlando?
a: Dinner at JIKO at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
q: On your iPod?
a: A mix including the Barenaked Ladies, Jack Johnson, Counting Crows, John Meyer, Metallic and the Dave Matthews Band.
q: Little known fact about you?
a: I was a marketing major my first two years.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Stacie McCallum '08

Sales & Marketing Specialist,
Kraiburg-TPE,
Atlanta, GA

q: What do you do?
a: I support our commercial and marketing efforts in the U.S., as well as provide assistance with inside sales.
q: Do you stay in touch with any other UCF hospitality alums?
a: Kristyn Rogers '08.
q: Outside work...you're most likely to be seen?
a: The local dog park with my pomeranian, Tater, or out on the town in Atlanta on the weekends.
q: Your biggest accomplishment since graduating, outside your career?
a: Traveling around Europe. I was an event consultant in London for three months. I worked 40 hours a week Monday through Thursday, and used my three day weekends for trips. I experienced six or seven different countries.
q: How did UCF prepare you for what you do?
a: I got a well-rounded understanding of how events and trade shows work, plus learned how to network, which is how I got my job in London. I learned an incredible amount about marketing from Dr. Sandra Naipaul.
q: Your favorite class?
a: Quantity Food Preparation. I enjoyed learning all of the cooking basics. I have used techniques I learned in that class, and impressed my family and friends with my skills.
q: How could the hospitality program have been better?
a: Since I came from the Midwest, I was hoping for the spirited "big school" feeling you have at large Midwest universities. Football games were still at the Citrus Bowl and since I was at Rosen during my last two years, I didn't feel much connection with what was happening on the Main Campus.
q: A UCF memory?
a: Tailgating at Main Campus once the new stadium opened. This makes a major difference in the college experience and it's all coming together for UCF now.
q: Favorite meal in Orlando?
a: Brunch at Hue for Sunday Funday. I love the Eggs Benedict HUE Style which has crab cakes instead of Canadian bacon. Now that I've moved to Atlanta, I seriously miss this. I now love the Peasant Bistro in Downtown Atlanta for its amazing shrimp and grits.
q: On your iPod?
a: Everything from rock to country to pop.
q: Little known fact about you?
a: I lived in 12 different states before going to college. My parents love to move.
Profile updated 01/12/10. Previously Stacie lived and worked in Orlando.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Megan Oxman '06

Catering and Convention Services,
The Peabody Orlando


q: What do you do?
a: I create customized banquet event orders and event plans for clients booking 10 or fewer rooms. I also work on special projects like this weekend's gala for Give Kids the World.
q: What's your favorite part of the job?
a: Walking in the room when the event's about to take place. It's so rewarding when the group's finally in-house, and to see that all of our hard work has paid off with an impressive final product.
q: What's the greatest challenge?
a: Multi-tasking during big city-wide conventions. I need to juggle multiple projects.
q: Do you stay in touch with any other UCF hospitality alums?
a: Tawanna Frazier '08 works at the desk next to me, and I'm in touch with lots of others including Shannon Cole '06, Jessica Goldstein '06, Erin Magrum '06, Suzy Meyer '06, Nate Nakamura '06, JP Philip '07, Jennifer Rosenthal '07, Kacie Shuba '06, Alison Tomaska '97 and Steve Ziarnik '06.
q: Outside work...you're most likely to be seen?
a: At the Mall of Millennia or the theme parks. I've been going to a different park every single week lately, including Sea World, Magic Kingdom and Universal.
q: Your biggest accomplishment since graduating, outside your career?
a: Learning how to snowboard.
q: How did UCF prepare you for what you do?
a: In the event management class, I took exactly the right classes to be successful in my job. They covered conventions, meetings and catering. Also I ended up getting my position through Rosen College.
q: How could the hospitality program have been better?
a: My friends and I at Rosen were extremely passionate about the hospitality industry. It would be a better environment if all students recruited were there because, like us, they want to soak up as much knowledge as possible about the industry - some just wanted to get a degree.
q: A UCF memory?
a: Going to Hawaii for the Professional Convention Management Association's 49th annual conference was the best experience of my life. Also I had fun making a Homecoming mini-float for the Rosen College fountain, as part of a contest for the Hospitality Association. Ours was a pineapple.
q: Favorite meal in Orlando?
a: Chicken piccata at the Cheesecake Factory.
q: On your iPod
a: I don't have one, but if I did, it would have songs by Justin Timberlake, No Doubt and Christina Aguilera.
q: Little known fact about you?
a: I was born and raised in Orlando. I've never lived outside Orange and Seminole counties.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Jeff Hales '06

Director of Sales and Marketing,
Roguelephant Clothing

q: What do you do?
a: Run a start-up clothing business with two partners. My role is developing strategic markets and advertising strategies. Until now, we've only marketed through our web site, Roguelephant.com, but at our launch party in Chicago at the end of June, we're revealing an expanded clothing line-up. It's my job to get it in stores.
q: What's your favorite part of the job?
a: Owning our own business, we have the flexibility to make decisions very quickly. Since the three of us are in different states, we talk on Skype. We outsource nearly everything.
q: What's the greatest challenge?
a: Spreading the word and working out all the details.
q: Do you stay in touch with any other UCF hospitality alums?
a: Since graduating, I keep in touch with Dave Buckalew '05, Jessica Dowd '06, Brad Franklin '05 and Dana Reiss '06.
q: Outside work...you're most likely to be seen?
a: I also work at Starwood Vacation Ownership, and get to the beach when I can.
q: Your biggest accomplishment since graduating, outside your career?
a: Outside my career...probably getting tickets to the 2009 Masters.
q: How did UCF prepare you for what you do?
a: Definitely the networking. Who you know is important, but who knows you is even more important. UCF played a major role in connecting me with the latest networking events, market trends and creative strategies.
q: How could the hospitality program have been better?
a: There's too much theory and not enough real world experience. For instance, more sales training should be incorporated into the curriculum. Every position encompasses sales, even if it's just pitching ideas to your boss. Sales plays a major role in all aspects of careers.
q: A UCF memory?
a: Being the president of CMAA and study abroad in Europe.
q: Favorite meal in Orlando?
a: Actually it's not in Orlando but in Cocoa Beach: the wings and oysters at Shuckleberry Fins, which are 45 cents on Sundays. Try the Thai Chili.
q: On your iPod?
a: A blend of hip hop, rock, jazz and chill.
q: Little known fact about you?
a: I am fascinated by languages. I speak some Spanish and am currently learning Arabic.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Brittany Andrews '08

Sales and Special Event Coordinator,
Orange County Regional History Center

q: What do you do?

a: I sell and service small to large corporate and social events including holiday parties, meetings, outside festivals, class reunions, filmings and fundraisers. Our building was the Orange County courthouse until the year 1997 and the former courtroom is a favorite spot for attorneys to get married. They love to talk about their memories of what happened in that room.

q: What's your favorite part of the job?
a: Getting the opportunity to work on every type of event possible. I'm not just limited to social or corporate clients and never know what I'm going to be working on next. Seeing a bride happy at the end of her wedding night is a great feeling too.
q: What's the greatest challenge?
a: Working in an organization that's both a non-profit and a museum. Educating our community about local and different types of history is its focus, so events and rentals are never the primary concern. My department needs to be very creative when trying to "sell" the building.
q: Do you stay in touch with any other UCF hospitality alums?
a: Yes, Laura Ball '07, Kelly Dunn '08, Julie Noda '05, Jackie Scherer '08, Holly Steinebronn '07, Jamie Wagner '08 and Erica Yerton '08.
q: Outside work...you're most likely to be seen?
a: Downtown. I try not to move my car out of the Solaire garage.
q: Your biggest accomplishment since graduating, outside your career?
a: Living Downtown and being able to walk to work in five minutes. It's amazing!
q: How did UCF prepare you for what you do?
a: I started working with the History Center three years ago, volunteering at an event for a class project in "The Event Industry" class. The mandatory volunteer assignments and three internships play a critical role in helping you become successful in the industry. I'm thankful the teachers encouraged the students be involved with networking organizations, which becomes even more important after graduation.
q: How could the hospitality program have been better?
a: There should be more of a connection with Main Campus and Rosen. I missed the real college experience. Rosen students should be given the opportunity to help plan and produce some of the events that take place on Main Campus.
q: A UCF memory?
a: Tailgating at the Citrus Bowl. Those were the best times
q: Favorite meal in Orlando?
a: The Bubba and Crunch rolls at Amura.
q: On your iPod?
a: Anything and everything. There are very few types of music that I don't like.
q: Little known fact about you?
a: I love playing and watching football!