Jessica Crespo '05

Senior Meetings and Special Events Manager

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Maiden Name: Jessica Solomon

q: What do you do?

a: I help produce successful meetings and events for groups visiting The Ritz-Carlton Orlando. I'm the main point of contact for their meeting planners to coordinate audio visual, catering, décor and room requests. I act as the "voice of the meeting planner" to each pertinent hotel department. This helps set up the Ladies and Gentlemen who work at The Ritz-Carlton for success.

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

a: Building strong bonds not only with loyal, repeat clients, but also with the people I'm fortunate enough to work with on a daily basis within the hotel. I love that everyone's committed to do whatever it takes to make each program or event the very best. It's truly an extended family here because we're together so much with the long hours we work. Every day brings new challenges and, in turn, new innovations. This keeps the hospitality industry interesting.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: The expectations of the seasoned meeting planner or bride are constantly increasing. Meetings and weddings have evolved over the past few years and we are constantly pushing boundaries and trying to come up with new, innovative solutions and offerings for our guests.

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

a: Yes, with many who work here at the hotel and within the local industry, including Jason Ring '07, Marissa Moore '07, Holly Steinebronn '07, Julie Noda '05, Candi Evett '06, Joe Manglardi '08 and Brianna Callahan '05. They keep me in touch with the luxury market of Orlando.

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

a: Taking advantage of my beautiful downtown neighborhood. I often spend weekends at the farmers' market with my dogs, riding my bike and enjoying brunch with my husband and friends.

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

a: Getting married to my husband two years ago, after we dated throughout college.

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

a: Certain hospitality classes taught me things that are useful in my current position, such as hospitality law and classes geared towards wine knowledge.

q: Your favorite class?

a: Exploring Wines of the World.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: It would be beneficial for UCF to continue to seek new partnerships with local hotels and restaurants, and focus on strengthening its current partnerships. Professors should teach students that a management job directly out of college is not the norm; rather, it is the exception. Students need to focus on experience and internships to secure the jobs they ultimately want. My first position with The Ritz-Carlton was as an hourly concierge, which prepared me extremely well for my current position.

q: A UCF memory?

a: I have many fond memories of my sorority sisters from Kappa Delta. They include volunteering, planning Homecoming events and Spirit Splash.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: Either El Coqui Mexican/Puerto Rican cuisine on Bumby or Sea Thai on Colonial.

q: On your iPod?

a: Citizen Cope, Kings of Leon, Jay Z, The Black Keys, Black Eyed Peas, Stephen Marley, Sam Sparro, Santigold, Common, Kanye West.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I met my husband on Spring Break in Daytona Beach.

Romain Dawkins '08

Department Head,
Marriott Hotels

q: What do you do?

a: Manage a department in the Corporate Team Building division at Grande Lakes Orlando.

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

a: Working with different groups of people and helping improve their organizations.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Selling an ambiguous product to groups.

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

a: Yes!

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

a: BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse.

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

a: Sharpened my Ninja skills??? Is there a life outside of work?

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

a: Networking.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: The school should probably work with hotels to design a better internship program.

q: A UCF memory?

a: The day Mr. Rosen spoke in front of one of my classes.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: Paella.

q: On your iPod?

a: Bob Marley, Sublime, Weezer, Coldplay, Jimi Hendrix, Mos Def, etc.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I was a rock star in college.

Randi Torbert '03

Senior Sales Manager,
Grande Lakes Orlando

(Maiden name: Randi Cohan)

q: What do you do?

a: I am a Senior Sales Manager for both The Ritz-Carlton & JW Marriott Orlando, with my main goal being to book corporate and association group business. My territory includes association, corporate and SMERF business, out of the Southeast between 51-300 rooms on a peak night. I handle everything from the initial contact through the signing of the contract. My normal day includes responding to client RFPs, working on proposals, conducting site visits, traveling to see clients or negotiating contracts.

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

a: When the client signs the contract! The process can be long and working out the details of a successful contract can be tedious. It is always a great feeling, however, when both the client and myself can agree upon terms that are mutually beneficial.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Today's economy has made all of our jobs more challenging. Meeting planners' budgets are being scruitinized further and everyone is looking for the best deal.

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

a: Lindsay Dorf '03, Kelly McGann '03, and all of the alums here at Grande Lakes Orlando.

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

a: Playing with my two little boys in the backyard or in the pool. Also, I go to most of the UCF football games!

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

a: Marrying my husband Brian, who is also a UCF graduate, and having my kids Alex (2 1/2) & Sean (10 months).

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

a: I was involved in a few social organizations which taught me how to network and build relationships. These skills are essential for sales.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: There could be a broader focus on some other careers within the hospitality industry. The curriculum was heavily focused on certain job tracks within restaurants and event management, but there are many specialized career niches that weren't presented to us.

q: A UCF memory?

a: My best memory is the surprise party my friends held for my 19th birthday. It was a great time filled with great laughs and good times. This is also the night I met my husband, who came to the party with a mutual friend.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: With the kids: Sweet Mama's - a great little place off of Narcoossee Road. Without the kids: Primo Restaurant - I love to order a warm bowl of Zeppoles with gelato on the side.

q: On your iPod?

a: Mostly Top 40.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I perfomed in the '99 Superbowl half-time show in Miami.

Jose Chavez '06

Front of House Manager,
The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte

(left to right: brothers Andres Chavez UCF '08, Jorge Chaves UCF '07 and Jose Chavez UCF '06)

q: What do you do?

a: Manage the front desk, call center, guest relations, bellmen and doormen, and retail shops -- pretty much everything the guest experiences except housekeeping. As of next month, I will have worked at Ritz-Carlton five years, first working at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando and then moving up to Front of House Manager for The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. This new Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte with 146 rooms will open on October 1.

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

a: Interacting with the ladies and gentlemen who stay here, and with the staff. I truly am a people person and enjoy providing Ritz-Carlton's legendary customer service. This company believes in developing its people. Your career here can be whatever you want it to be.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Saying "no," because we like to say "yes" to everything a guest dreams or imagines. Very rarely though, what they want is a little too far out there, or I just can't make a request happen or give an employee the day off that he or she wants.

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

a: Many, but especially my brother Jorge Chavez '07 who works at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, and Devin Kammerer '06 who works at The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne.

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

a: At sporting events, especially local baseball or basketball games. Also traveling for both work and pleasure. I've been in a different city every month this year, including Austin, Los Angeles, Palm Beach, Shanghai and Beijing.

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

a: Moving across the United States twice without knowing anyone. With all my family in Miami, this was a bold move.

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

a: There's no way I'd be where I am now without my four years at UCF. It taught me the basics of what the industry's like. There was always someone at Rosen who had worked in hospitality who could motivate and guide you, and sit down and talk to you about their experiences. For instance, Professor Robert Ashley told us such great stories in his classes; you could tell he has real passion for what he does.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: It gives students the wrong perception that they can graduate and get management jobs. You need to work hard to get the respect of front-line staff who may have worked in their jobs 10 years or more. I know my generation is often considered the "entitlement generation" but hospitality is an industry where you truly need to earn your keep.

q: A UCF memory

a: When the basketball team won 18 games in a row and made an impact on SportsCenter. We had Dexter Lyons then. I remember the old arena being filled to capacity and people lined up four hours early to get seats for the games, even though they were free. I loved UCF Basketball and it's so neglected compared to football.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: At Oceanaire. The service, selection and wine pairings are superb.

q: On your iPod?

a: Mostly hip hop including Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Jay-Z.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I love french fries. I don't like anything on them though. People can't believe I won't even try them with ketchup or dipping sauces.

Marissa Moore '07

Meetings & Special Events,

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

q: What do you do?

a: I provide service to clients by communicating their program -- including schedules, banquet event orders, room rates, billing requests and more -- throughout the hotel, ensuring every detail of the client's experience at The Ritz-Carlton is delegated to the right people.

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

a: Each program is so different! I've worked on everything from large corporate meetings to an Easter brunch for a co-worker entertaining her friends and family.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Problem resolution -- communicating last minute changes, and WEATHER!

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

a: Jorge Chavez '07, Trel Delitz'06, Michelle Drabyk '07, Julie Noda '05, Jason Ring '07 and Ryan Tampa '07. My sister, Brianna Moore, is a current student at Rosen College.

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

a: At a networking event for the International Special Events Society (ISES) or Orlando Young Professionals, or in Baldwin Park.

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

a: Becoming self-sufficient. I share an apartment with my boyfriend in Baldwin Park with the cutest little dog.

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

a: The professors at Rosen weren't just teachers who got their knowledge from books. I learned a lot by listening to their stories of successful (and some not so successful) real-life experiences in the hospitality industry. Some favorites were Dr. Deborah Breiter, Dr. Wilfried Iskat and Dr. Tammie Kaufman.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: We had a lot of exposure to professional "experts" but recent grads could have prepared us more for our job search. They could offer more relevant advice such as don't pass by career fairs or manager in training programs, and tell us that realistically you need to pay your dues in this industry.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Football games...especially beating Marshall my junior year for UCF's first win in 17 games! Go Knights!

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: Steak and chicken at Kobe with all of my friends!

q: On your iPod?

a: Everything from Britney Spears to The Beatles to Corey Smith and Pat Green.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I've never tried ketchup, because I don't like how it smells.