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.

Kacie Shuba '06

Convention Housing Coordinator
Rosen Centre Hotel

q: What do you do?

a: I’m the point of contact for clients for reserving rooms and suites for conventions and meetings. I manage the group’s room inventory and work closely with the client to confirm terms including method of booking, billing, cut-off dates and upgrades. I'm responsible for receiving and updating reservation rooming lists, blocking all room upgrades and verifying VIP reservations.

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

a: I enjoy my co-workers. Also, it's always great to meet a client for the first time, putting a face to the person you’ve been working with for many months via phone and e-mail.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: When the computers run maintenance updates during the day and I need to make or change a rooming list by a certain time. I can’t do my job without my computer but I understand these updates need to be done in order for them to work.

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

a: I work directly at the Rosen Centre with Courtney Beckwith '04, Becky Crowder '04 and Karli Bennett '08. I’m still great friends with Erin Mahaffey '06 and Taryn Dorsey '07. I still keep in contact with Nate Nakamura '06 and Megan Oxman '06. I’ve known Megan since middle school and Nate since high school.

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

a: You could find me at the movies or a restaurant with my friends, family, and boyfriend. I love going to concerts and theme parks as well.

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

a: One of my main goals in life is to travel as much as possible. I went to Chicago and Phoenix in 2008.

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

a: Because of all the required group projects, I learned how to work well in a team. Rosen College also showed me many job opportunities the hospitality field has to offer.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: The college didn’t offer some of the classes that they offer today. I would have taken cruise ship management, which sounds like an interesting class.

q: A UCF memory?

a: The UCF football games at the Citrus Bowl; also, the Rosen College Hospitality Association's 2004 trip to the Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Show in New York City.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: The Factory Burrito Grande at Cheesecake Factory.

q: On your iPod?

a: I have a wide variety of music on my iPod. Some of my favorite music artists are Dashboard Confessional, Jimmy Eat World, Breaking Benjamin, 311, and Jason Mraz.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I'm the first person in my entire family to graduate from college with a bachelor’s degree.

Taryn Schademan '07

Strategic Account Coordinator,
Expedia
Maiden Name: Taryn Dorsey 

q: What do you do?

a: I work with Global Strategic Accounts at Expedia, Inc, specifically assisting with and maintaining the corporate relationship with the IHG and Best Western brands.

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

a: At Expedia, the sky's the limit. Our business is always evolving and on the edge of technological advances.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: I am always learning something new about the company, more efficient ways of doing my job even better, and the hospitality industry in general.

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

a: Yes! I work with Ashley Mulvey '07 and Shannon McLeod '05, and I have kept in contact with Kacie Shuba '06. I see Rosen alumni all over the place!

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

a: Spending time with my husband, enjoying great food and wine, and spending time with friends.

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

a: Remodeling our house and marrying the man of my dreams.

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

a: Learning about and discussing current events, learning and using the terminology crucial to this industry, and working on real-world events/projects.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: I wish there had been more opportunities to research, write, and develop projects in our classes. Also, as the Rosen College developed, there were many interesting courses listed in the course catalog that weren’t available for credit during my undergradate career that I would have loved to take and explore.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Spirit Splash at the Reflection Pond during Homecoming week.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: At Hue: the tuna tartare appetizer, filet mignon and mashed potatoes.

q: On your iPod?

a: A mix of country, rock, pop and my favorites from the 80's & 90s like Paula Abdul.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I'm a bed hog.