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.

Mel Johnson '07

 Associate Relations Manager,

Hyatt Regency Chicago

q: What do you do?

a: I manage associate relations for the largest hotel in Chicago; with 2,019 rooms, it's also the Hyatt Corporation's largest property. My primary responsibility is to run an associate relations program that meets the company’s business objectives while in keeping with the organizational mission, vision and values.

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

a: Becoming familiar with labor relations. Transitioning from a non-union property (Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress) to a property with five active unions is an extremely challenging and fun experience.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Having to much that I would like to accomplish in a day, with too little time.

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

a: Alex Hamilton '09 (Hyatt Regency O’Hare) and A.J. Stevenson '08 ( Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport).

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

a: Walking to my apartment from work.

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

a: Five years of marriage with Amy Henderson Johnson, UCF Special Education '04 & '06.

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

a: I took my studies very seriously and soaked everything in, reading every textbook cover to cover. The result was a big file cabinet of information in my mind that I reference all the time for ideas.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: The three classes I wanted to take weren't ever offered. They were Hospitality Consulting, Casino Management and Cruise Ship Management.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Quality brewing with Ed Measom changed my life forever.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: The lobster-crusted sea bass at Hemingway's, at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress.

q: On your iPod?

a: Three Doors Down - love that group.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: Before going to UCF, I participated in direct combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I served as an infantry paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Ashley Mulvey '07

Market Coordinator,Expedia

q: What do you do?

a: Right now I'm filling up rooms for the Superbowl! Tampa/St. Pete is one of the three markets I cover for Expedia.com and Hotels.com. I've worked here for about a year (ever since graduation), and primarily make phone calls and send e-mail solicitations to hotels, helping them to promote their properties on our web sites, and then coordinate all the details to make it happen. It's a full 40-hour work week.

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

a: Seeing that what I do makes such a difference for my partners. When a promotion goes live on the web site, it makes a huge influence in their booking numbers. I can see the increase in bookings within minutes after the promotion is on the site.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Time Management,as every week is shorter with the same "to do" list. The hotels are working with a shortened booking window, so everything moves very fast and is very last minute.

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

a: Taryn Dorsey '07 and I work together at Expedia so I see her every day! And Phil Miles '09 -- we became good friends in our many classes together.

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

a: Painting; I recently bought a home. But when I have time, I also like going to see movies, so you're likely to find me at the Waterford Town Center theater.

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

a: Consistency. I feel like I've become a responsible adult, balancing my finances, the house and work.

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

a: The professors taught me a lot about networking. I learned how to shake people's hands, give out business cards and not burn bridges - that everybody knows everybody. They were right; by attending my first HSMAI luncheon, I got my job. Dr. Jung made a huge impact on me, helping me to get a grasp on accounting. Every day at work I open my spreadsheets 30-40 times.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: Smaller classes, and more access to professors. Also I would have loved to have taken a business writing class, teaching how to write effective proposals and emails in real world settings.

q: A UCF memory?

a: The beer and wine class. It was my way of being in a fun environment -- learning and making some good friends. Since I worked full-time at Disney, I didn't attend many campus or social events until after graduation.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: At Ruth Chris: the filet with crab, garlic mashed potatoes, and chocolate lava cake.

q: On your iPod?

a: I have three iPods. The mini has country music on it, the shuffle has high-energy pop and rock, and the bigger "movie" iPod has a mix of everything, including Christian music, R & B and rap.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I once found a stolen car. My Dad, a now retired FBI agent, described a missing car and by total coincidence I happened to see it while driving around.

Stacie Cornell '01

Director of Events and Councils

Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando

q: What do you do?

a: For two and a half years, I've managed the events for an 1100-member association which can range from mini-golf to a bus tour for real estate agents. I also work with speciality councils within the group including the sales and marketing council, design council and Hispanic council. My schedule varies as I could work 60 hours one week and 40 the next; I do in-house marketing, manage budgets and attend lots of event-planning meetings.

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

a: I like to "be the hostess", putting on the events and enjoy working with the passionate volunteers. I knew this is what I wanted to do even while in school, rather than the hotel side of the industry, and worked at an association in D.C. right after graduating from the College of Business.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Sponsorship dollars. Members don't have the money right now, due to the real estate economy, so I'm having to come up with creative ways to keep the cost of events down.

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

a: Every day I see Robyn Roberts '06 who works at the front desk of the HBA.

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

a: At home with my husband and daughter, who's almost two.

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

a: Buying a house.

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

a: Teaching us the "lingo" of the event industry. The coursework in trade shows was especially helpful, taught by an adjunct professor who was working at the convention center. Also I use the finance and computer skills daily for my budgets, especially Excel.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: I wish the Event Management track was offered when I was at UCF.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Mostly good times with my sorority. Chris Muller also made a big impression.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: Tijuana Flats for lunch. There's something addicting in it.

q: On your iPod?

a: I don't have one but if I did, there'd be lots of soulful music like Alicia Keyes.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I have a chihuahua.

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.