Alison Helfferich '07

Entertainment Production Coordinator,
Universal Studios

q: What do you do?

a: I source and coordinate entertainment for special events. This includes everything outside normal park operations; for instance, a corporate group having a party. The entertainment can basically be anything...stilt walkers, a DJ or Universal characters.

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

a: The variety. One day could be a party at Marvel Super Hero Island and the next, I could be finding entertainment to fit a New York City theme. I also love working in the theme park. I get the opportunity to work on private parties within parts of Universal's large special events like Mardi Gras and Halloween Horror Nights.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: The seasonality of events.

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

a: Maureen Callahan '04 (M.S. '07), Cathryn DeCecco M.S. '08, Mary Ricci '09, Yolanda Stevens '09 and twins Cedar Watson '05 and Megan Watson '05. I also see lots of current Rosen students who are working at Universal.

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

a: With friends, or soaking up the entertainment industry through T.V. and movies.

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

a: Lots of volunteer projects. Last month I worked on the Green Cities™ Florida Conference at the convention center.

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

a: I was the fourth person to ever graduate with an event management degree, so know they were still working out all the details of the program. I learned professionalism and to be prepared for anything by thinking outside the box. The Theme Park Management class introduced me to how theme parks work.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: Some of the courses need to have a broader scope of content. For instance, in my Event Risk Management (law) class, all the lectures were about 9-11 and terrorism. In real life, risk management can include something as simple as rain plans. The professor in my Entertainment Arts and Events course had a Disney background, so every single lecture was about Disney. If the professor's knowledge is narrowly focused, he or she needs to make sure the curriculum includes a wide variety of topics and outlooks, perhaps by using guest speakers.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Being a Resident Assistant in the dorms. Because my first three years were at the University of South Florida, it was a great way for me to meet people at UCF. It gave me experience in event planning (we had to plan one a month), crisis management, working with people, and even lodging management. The dorm is in many aspects like a hotel, with "check-in" and managing keys, etc.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: Sharing several tapas dishes with friends at Café Tu Tu Tango.

q: On your iPod?

a: Country, Christian Rock, Rock, and Top 40.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I'm an avid fan of Major League Soccer.