Megan Casey '07

Event Planner,
Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau

q: What do you do?

a: I help plan events for the 1300 or so members of our private, not-for-profit trade association. Also, I assist the PR and convention sales departments with media blitzes and press trips. In June, I'll be in Chicago promoting Orlando.

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

a: I'm doing something different every day, and get to interact with our members.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Juggling a large number of projects. We have them scheduled for the entire year, but with the tumultuous economy, some are canceled or changed at the last minute. New projects are often added at the last minute.

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

a: Even better...the professors! I see Dr. Deborah Breiter and Suzan Bunn on a regular basis at Meeting Professionals International (MPI) events.

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

a: In Downtown Orlando.

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

a: Buying my first home in Avalon Park.

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

a: Completely - since I wouldn't have my job if it weren't for Rosen College. Misty Johantgen, V.P. of Member Services for the Orlando CVB was a guest speaker in one of my classes and offered an internship opportunity. Since positions at the association pretty much never become available, I was thankful to be able to stay on after graduation. Rosen College professors provided valuable information because they weren't just teachers, but experts who actually worked in the industry.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: I feel the requirement of a paid internship was to my detriment. I had to turn down two amazing internship opportunities because they wouldn't pay me, and work as a hostess. That did not provide a valuable learning experience. After I completed my required three semesters in that paid job, the unpaid Orlando CVB internship is where I became inspired and immersed in the industry.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Football games and tailgating, without a doubt. Because Rosen College is secluded, and such a distance from Main Campus, football games were what made me feel like a UCF student.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: The tuna roll and seaweed salad at Shari Sushi.

q: On your iPod?

a: Everything from Britney Spears to Billy Joel.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I'm afraid of all lizards.

Holly Steinebronn '07

Account Executive,

Odyssey Creative

q: What do you do?

a: Business development for a digital video company. My job is to increase brand awareness - did you know that our video for UCF's annual Black & Gold Gala won awards?

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

a: The atmosphere of the company, its structure and its people - including company president Marc Collins, UCF '96.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Helping to educate businesses on the importance and benefit of marketing during a down economy.

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

a: Most frequently Brittany Andrews '08 and Laura Ball '07, who also work in Downtown Orlando.

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

a: I'm active in the Orlando chapters of the International Special Events Society (ISES), National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) and Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) so am constantly at association events. On nights without an event or meeting, I might be at Eola Wine Company or Ceviche.

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

a: Moving into a high-rise condo in Downtown Orlando. I walk to work!

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

a: The program forced me to get a job in the industry before graduating. I had been coaching gymnastics and loved it, so would have kept doing that if it weren't for the required internship. Thanks to the invaluable work experience in the hospitality industry, I received five job offers after graduation.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: The quality of the students needs to be improved. Admission should only be given to students who will take the program very seriously, and genuinely want a management job after graduation.

q: A UCF memory?

a: In our Catering Management course, we hosted and planned a dinner for Skål International Orlando, an elite group of travel and tourism leaders. Two groups within the class got to "pitch" our themes to the prospective client. Our theme was chosen; it was so much fun coming up with our presentation, impressing the client and then executing our ideas into a real-life event.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: At Fishbone's: the filet with gorgonzola butter and port wine glaze.

q: On your iPod?

a: Frank Sinatra and Jack Johnson.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: In high school, I was voted Class Clown.

Mel Johnson '07

 Associate Relations Manager,

Hyatt Regency Chicago

q: What do you do?

a: I manage associate relations for the largest hotel in Chicago; with 2,019 rooms, it's also the Hyatt Corporation's largest property. My primary responsibility is to run an associate relations program that meets the company’s business objectives while in keeping with the organizational mission, vision and values.

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

a: Becoming familiar with labor relations. Transitioning from a non-union property (Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress) to a property with five active unions is an extremely challenging and fun experience.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Having to much that I would like to accomplish in a day, with too little time.

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

a: Alex Hamilton '09 (Hyatt Regency O’Hare) and A.J. Stevenson '08 ( Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport).

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

a: Walking to my apartment from work.

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

a: Five years of marriage with Amy Henderson Johnson, UCF Special Education '04 & '06.

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

a: I took my studies very seriously and soaked everything in, reading every textbook cover to cover. The result was a big file cabinet of information in my mind that I reference all the time for ideas.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: The three classes I wanted to take weren't ever offered. They were Hospitality Consulting, Casino Management and Cruise Ship Management.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Quality brewing with Ed Measom changed my life forever.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: The lobster-crusted sea bass at Hemingway's, at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress.

q: On your iPod?

a: Three Doors Down - love that group.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: Before going to UCF, I participated in direct combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I served as an infantry paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Ashley Mulvey '07

Market Coordinator,Expedia

q: What do you do?

a: Right now I'm filling up rooms for the Superbowl! Tampa/St. Pete is one of the three markets I cover for Expedia.com and Hotels.com. I've worked here for about a year (ever since graduation), and primarily make phone calls and send e-mail solicitations to hotels, helping them to promote their properties on our web sites, and then coordinate all the details to make it happen. It's a full 40-hour work week.

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

a: Seeing that what I do makes such a difference for my partners. When a promotion goes live on the web site, it makes a huge influence in their booking numbers. I can see the increase in bookings within minutes after the promotion is on the site.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Time Management,as every week is shorter with the same "to do" list. The hotels are working with a shortened booking window, so everything moves very fast and is very last minute.

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

a: Taryn Dorsey '07 and I work together at Expedia so I see her every day! And Phil Miles '09 -- we became good friends in our many classes together.

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

a: Painting; I recently bought a home. But when I have time, I also like going to see movies, so you're likely to find me at the Waterford Town Center theater.

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

a: Consistency. I feel like I've become a responsible adult, balancing my finances, the house and work.

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

a: The professors taught me a lot about networking. I learned how to shake people's hands, give out business cards and not burn bridges - that everybody knows everybody. They were right; by attending my first HSMAI luncheon, I got my job. Dr. Jung made a huge impact on me, helping me to get a grasp on accounting. Every day at work I open my spreadsheets 30-40 times.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: Smaller classes, and more access to professors. Also I would have loved to have taken a business writing class, teaching how to write effective proposals and emails in real world settings.

q: A UCF memory?

a: The beer and wine class. It was my way of being in a fun environment -- learning and making some good friends. Since I worked full-time at Disney, I didn't attend many campus or social events until after graduation.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: At Ruth Chris: the filet with crab, garlic mashed potatoes, and chocolate lava cake.

q: On your iPod?

a: I have three iPods. The mini has country music on it, the shuffle has high-energy pop and rock, and the bigger "movie" iPod has a mix of everything, including Christian music, R & B and rap.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I once found a stolen car. My Dad, a now retired FBI agent, described a missing car and by total coincidence I happened to see it while driving around.