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!

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.