Darline Dondl '04

Regional Revenue Manager,
Starwood Vacation Ownership

q: What do you do?

a: I'm responsible for the rental revenue for six resorts in South Florida, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Beaver Creek, CO. I have to stay competitive with pricing in each of the markets, and ensure that the consumer is aware of the value of a villa vacation.

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

a: I enjoy that no two days are the same. The decisions that I make influence consumers' buying decisions, producing nearly instant results.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: With vacation ownership down in this economy, I have even more of an opportunity to be creative in renting the unoccupied villas, bringing income to the resorts. The daily challenge of revenue management at timeshare resorts is that the number of rooms available to rent is constantly changing, sometimes in your favor, and sometimes creating a risk.

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

a: I see Jordana Stengel '05 at the Starwood Vacation Ownership offices and I work with Taryn Dorsey '07 and Ashley Mulvey '07 as a hotel partner with Expedia.

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

a: At the dog park with Winston, my dachshund, or out shopping or having coffee with friends.

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

a: I bought a house just a few months before I graduated and it has definitely been a learning curve to balance time and finances for work, home, and enjoyment. I also completed my certification for a Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME).

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

a: The professors' real life stories from their professional past was truly what you could not learn in textbooks. The diversity of the courses provided an overview of how all segments of hospitality tie into each other. I didn’t enjoy the group projects at the time, but they gave me the opportunity to work with different venues and gain experience I wouldn't have received otherwise. I was in the inaugural HSMAI Central Florida Student Chapter and learned the importance of networking which lead me to my two jobs after graduation.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: Although I took a special one-time “Reservation Sales” class offered my last semester, there were no courses offered that touched the topic of Revenue Management. When I was a guest speaker in Professor Jung’s Class this past month, he said Rosen College is in the planning stages now for such a course, which will likely be added to the curriculum.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Working in the UCF Bookstore Café at Main Campus. I got to meet so many students and professors as they got their caffeine fix.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: At Brio: the Artichoke-Crusted Beef Medallions.

q: On your iPod?

a: Madonna, Eminem, Dave Matthews Band, something for every mood.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I enjoy Broadway shows. I've been a volunteer at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center for the past two seasons.

Malissa Ellis '08

Event Coordinator,

Il Mulino New York Trattoria

q: What do you do?

a: I promote and plan group events for the Italian restaurant at the Walt Disney World Swan. With a large number of small private flexible spaces, we can host a private reception or party with a customized group menu for up to 400 guests.

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

a: Transforming someone's regular dinner into a "special event" - especially seeing the big events come together.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Sitting at a desk, which is so much different than my previous job bartending at Shula's Steakhouse, at the adjacent Walt Disney World Dolphin.

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

a: Valerie Davis '06 and Taryn Dorsey '07.

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

a: At the beach, with friends, or bartending at Kitty O'Shea's Irish Pub.

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

a: Time management.

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

a: It taught me networking and professionalism.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: The Rosen campus doesn't have enough "college feel" to it. I transferred from Arizona State and that was a whole different experience.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Football games, especially Homecoming.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: The Crab Macaroni and Cheese at Shula's Steak House.

q: On your iPod?

a: A variety of 80's music and rock.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: My middle name is D'van. My parents keep coming up with different stories about how they chose this unique name, so I'm still unsure where it came from.

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.

Valerie Davis '06

Event Coordinator & Business Development Manager

Shula's Steak House
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel

q: What do you do?

a: I coordinate small events (8-10 people) up to large business functions of 80-100 people within the private and semi-private dining areas of the steak house. This involves setting up table arrangements, group menus, special hors d-oeuvres and wines for dinners and receptions. Sales and marketing is a big aspect of my job, promoting the services to locals as well as transient convention business.

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

a: Working with different people around the hotel as well as the prospective clients; I work with families setting up rehearsal dinners as well as huge corporations and love seeing the outcome of the events. I also like that I'm not just sitting in the office; we get out and network with concierge associations and visitors' bureaus.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: The troubled economy is definitely a big factor. Corporations are experiencing budget cuts and not planning as many dinners as they used to with their groups. I also face daily challenges with customers who change their minds constantly or plan/cancel their events last minute

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

a: Taryn Dorsey '07.

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

a: Exploring different restaurants, shopping and taking mini-getaways to Miami with my boyfriend.

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

a: Settling down in my new home, and learning how to surf!

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

a: I learned how to network. I enjoyed how my teachers also worked in the industry and gave us so many real-life ideas every day. When we set up a fashion show in my events class, we learned so many important details - from setting up A/V equipment and decor to costuming and catering - very hands-on!

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: With easier access to get into classes; many were closed before I even had the chance to look. Wine class at 10:30 in the morning?

q: UCF memories?

a: My sorority and dorm life.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: Steak Maryanne with sauteed mushrooms and Le Mistral at Shula's of course! I also love BlueZoo's Teapan seared scallops with a little Conundrum.

q: On your iPod?

a: I don't have one!

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I'm a Native Floridian and only child.

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.