Jeff Hartzler '09

Event Manager & Marketing Coordinator,
Knights Plaza

q: What do you do?

a: I work on sales, sponsorships and day-to-day project management for Knights Plaza, which includes the UCF Arena. Currently I'm preparing for Light Up UCF, an event running from November 20 through January 10. The light show has doubled in size from 2008 and in addition to the ice rink, we've added a Ferris wheel, ice slide and carousel. We'll be playing 15 holiday movies.

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

a: I was prepared for front of the house responsibilities from my work in restaurants and guest services, but this job is better for me because no day's ever the same. There are so many different logistics involved. For instance today, they're starting to hang up the holiday lights and we have a strategic planning meeting. On another day, I could be meeting the Fire Marshall.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Developing an abstract idea into a concrete event. I brainstorm so many ideas for events but it's not as simple to come up with a realistic action plan.

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

a: So many! Just a few are Matt Bunevich '08, Christine Calace '09, Ashley Lopez '09 and Jamie Simpson '09.

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

a: Kayak fishing.

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

a: Taking the initiative to run for a seat on the Oviedo City Council. (Jeff put up a good fight but did not win in the Nov. 3, 2009 election.) More people should run for public offices. Competition is the lifeblood of democracy.

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

a: Rosen is different from other colleges because 95% of the teaching is from a real-life standpoint. I can't say enough good things about my professors, specifically Darren Chiappetta, Scott Smith, Dr. Youngsoo Choi and Dr. Hyung-il Jung. Thanks to Tony Peluso, who was my theme park professor at Rosen, I got the internship here at the UCF Arena, and they kept me on full-time after graduation.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: There should be a real-life facility completely run by Rosen students, similar to the Statler Hotel on the Cornell campus. Ideally this would be a restaurant, hotel, attraction or club on the Main Campus of UCF or located close by, which would give exposure to what Rosen College is all about. As a remote campus, we can be forgotten and/or mistakenly perceived by some of the UCF community as a trade school. There's so much talent at Rosen College that's not being marketed to the public through small class projects. Also, a large percentage of the Rosen students live near Main Campus, so working in a living, breathing facility in that area would be more convenient than internships in the Disney or International Drive area.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Dr. Parsa's speeches before and after the guest lecture series. He is always so positive and happy. I love that about him. So many of the professors are that way.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: The Mexican buffet at El Potro in Oviedo and, for breakfast, The Townhouse Restaurant in Oviedo.

q: On your iPod?

a: I'm Old School so don't have an iPod. If I did, it would have reggae music on it.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: Half of my family (my mother's whole side) is from Aruba and Curaçao.

Wendy Bingham '04

Senior Sales Manager,
Embassy Suites Orlando - International Drive

Master of Science, Hospitality and Tourism Management '04

q: What do you do?

a: Manage the convention and association market sales for a 244-suite hotel. Because of our location on International Drive, 60% of the people who stay at this Embassy Suites are part of a group. My day can include reviewing contracts, responding to request for proposals, cold calling, following up with potential and past clients, site visits, and working on special marketing projects.

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

a: Negotiating - yes, in a sick, twisted way, I enjoy teaching people about our brand and why our rates are worth it. I also love the relationship-driven nature of sales. In addition to previously working as a wedding planner for a local company, my progression with Hilton Hotels Corporation over seven years has been from Front Desk to Sales Coordinator to Catering Manager to Sales Manager to Senior Sales Manager.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Competitors are slashing their rates to unrealistic levels. Additionally they will throw in a free reception and free breakfast, which were some of the advantages of our property. We are staying tough though and it's working. When I can get potential clients to come see the difference in person, they will choose Embassy Suites practically 100% of the time.

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

a: Tiffany Littlefield Perez '04 is our Director of Front Office Operations. I also stay in touch with Wendy Rosales Malik '07 and Lee Malik '06, Nila Kusher '99, M.S. '05 and Hope Wehrle '02, M.S. '04, as well as professors Deborah Breiter, Judy Holcomb and Scott Smith. Scott takes credit for my marriage since he encouraged me to pursue a position at Embassy Suites North, where I met my husband Warren, UCF '05.

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

a: At home, with my husband and seven month old son.

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

a: My family. I have a great marriage.

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

a: The hands-on experiences, like working on a fund raiser for Dr. Mary Jo Ross, helped us "cut our teeth" and get some direction for our careers. It's one thing to say you want to go into hospitality or events, but there are so many different niches and you don't know what's going to be for you until you explore them in real life.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: It could have been even more hands-on. Also, students need to be given a reality check of what the industry's all about. We interview graduating students who have the perception that they can go right into management, but they need to work up the ranks like I did.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Going behind the scenes at the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) convention with Dr. Breiter. Our class got to go up on the rigging and catwalk. The show featured everything that was cutting edge for theme parks; seeing it was an experience I'll never forget.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: Fondue at The Melting Pot. I look forward to going there for my birthday in November. I like that it's a process, not just a meal.

q: On your iPod?

a: I don't have an iPod. I'm pretty low-tech except for my Tivo! I mostly play children's songs in my car, but also listen to 80's and country.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: My undergraduate degree from the University of Florida was in Forest Science. I worked on the genetic optimization of trees, to make them more disease resistant, and worked at International Paper after graduation. I still have an interest in Forestry.