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.

Nate Nakamura '06

Front Desk,

Hilton Garden Inn Lake Mary

q: What do you do?

a: Help guests at the front desk of the Hilton Garden Inn in Lake Mary. Funny, I worked at theme parks and restaurants for all four years of college, and said I'd never work in a hotel.

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

a: I like how we are really close to the guests that we call them by their first name. We have great relationships with some of the regulars. It's also a fun staff, and small enough that we praise each other's efforts.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Keeping myself entertained during non-peak times.

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

a: Most often: JP Philip '07, Andy Yaffee '08, Jessica Goldstein '06, Megan Oxman '06, Shannon Cole '06, Alison Tomaska '97, Blair Keller '08 and Lydia Hueneke '08.

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

a: At the theme parks or a Magic game. I have a Sea World annual pass and am a full season ticket holder of Orlando Magic tickets for the second year.

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

a: Being elected to the board of the Rosen College Chapter of the UCF Alumni Association. Also, eating a record 375 clams and mussels at the Yacht & Beach Club.

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

a: It got me out of my shell. I networked with anyone and everyone.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: More parking! Also, once the gates were added, it became a different school - more closed-in and isolated like a private school. It had a better feel as an open campus.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Serving at the Grande Hospitality Gala. My whole first semester was an incredible experience, meeting new people and having inspiring classes with Paul Rompf, Ron Logan and Kim Severt.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: Oysters at Lee and Rick's on Old Winter Garden Road. They can't shuck them fast enough to keep up with me.

q: On your iPod?

a: I don't have one, but if I did, it would have songs by Billy Joel, Duran Duran, The Who, Def Leppard and The Police.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I hate rice.

Alison Tomaska '97

Front Desk Manager, Buena Vista Suites

q: What do you do?

a: On average, I work about 50 hours a week running the front desk and bellstand for a 279-suite hotel. Under the same ownership as Caribe Royale, Buena Vista Suites is about 50/50 corporate and leisure guests.

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

a: Interacting with the guests. It's rewarding to have the power to do someone a small favor, and then have it completely turn their stay around.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Since I'm new, learning to manage my team. I'm lucky to have six great employees who have welcomed me with respect since I came from the Peabody. Everyone's personality is different though, so I'm figuring out how to motivate each individual and meet expectations.

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

a: Previously at Peabody Catering I worked with Megan Oxman '06 and Beth Hardy '04 (who moved to Ft. Lauderdale). I also stay in touch with Megan Bandor Vandeer Morris '03 and Chris Fletcher '97.

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

a: Running. I run half marathons and marathons, and am looking forward to completing the New York Marathon this fall with my sister and cousin, since it's through my hometown.

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

a: Definitely running my first marathon.

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

a: So much! I kept my Convention Services textbook on my desk and referenced it often in my first job. Dr. Kwane (Quane) from Guest Services made a huge impact on how I did. Still today the most helpful is all the hospitality accounting, since I'm responsible for budgets, payroll and revenue forecasting.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: Back in '97, it was a small department and we weren't taken seriously. It was the stepchild of the College of Business.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Tailgating and sitting in the student section of football games. Daunte Culpepper was the quarterback my junior and senior years. It just isn't the same the way they have it now, tailgating right outside the classroom buildings.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: The Bubba Roll at Amura Downtown.

q: On your iPod?

a: Everything but country. Lots of rock, and pop for running.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I was on the UCF crew team for three months during my freshman year. We had to be at Lake Pickett in Chuluota to practice at 5 a.m. I didn't last long with that.