Patrick O'Neal '08

Food and Beverage Assistant Manager,

Hilton Orlando

 

q: What do you do?

a: I'm a roving manager with responsibilities for all seven of our restaurant outlets. This encompasses fine dining, casual dining, breakfast, lunch, pool service, room service, and quick service. I need to understand every employee’s role in the operation.

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

a: Working with the best in the business. From top to bottom, Hilton Orlando’s 800 employees make an elite team. I consider myself extremely fortunate to learn from such an innovative and dynamic group. I come into work every day with a passion to gain something new.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Our hotel opened in September 2009, so the greatest and most rewarding challenge is putting all the operating systems in place. Every outlet is very different, and fine tuning policies and procedures takes a lot of brainpower and teamwork. It’s an effort that involves employee feedback, guest feedback, and leadership input. There are no precedents to follow, and every big group in house is a new challenge.

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

a: I keep in contact with Giancarlo Lanfranco '08, Kelly Smith '08, Mickey Grier '09, and Andrea Chinea '09. I grew up with Laird Boles '02 and Jeff Boles '09. They are very close friends of mine.

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

a: I love playing golf and fishing. I live in Delaney Park so you might see me at Burton’s and Sportstown, but I’m rarely out of work!

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

a: Public speaking taught me how to control my nerves. I really hated it my first semester, but all the repetition was priceless. If you want to be a leader, public speaking is a must.

q: Your favorite class?

a: Among many others, I enjoyed Hospitality & Tourism Marketing with Dr. Sandra Naipaul, and also Hospitality Communications with Carole Dickson.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: I believe that the cafeteria should be the best in the nation. There is no reason to contract the service to an outside company. If Three Pillars Café could be woven into the curriculum of Restaurant Management students, it could be beneficial to all parties.

q: A UCF memory?

a: I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent at Rosen; my best memory is graduating, and reflecting back on all UCF did for me.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: Linda’s La Cantina has amazing steaks and is very nostalgic to me.

q: On your iPod?

a: Live Widespread Panic! I love those guys.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: My high school was Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana. Notable alumni include George Steinbrenner, Bud Adams, Eugene Eppley, Hal Holbrook, Lamar Hunt, Roger Penske, and Gene Siskel.

Nadia Johnson '09

Catering Manager,

Club Cambria, Amway Arena

q: What do you do?

a: I work for Orlando Food Service Partners, managing the catering in Cambria, one of Amway Arena's private clubs. I'm there for every single event when the club's open, which includes Orlando Magic games, concerts, and other events like lacrosse games. I started here as Suites Coordinator three years ago.

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

a: Interacting with the guests. I couldn't go to work at a job where I didn't have fun. The event, people and menu here change daily so I never get bored.

q: What's the greatest challenge?

a: Staff. High turnover rates in this industry, training and retraining are a challenge when there's a need for high quality service and consistency.

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

a: Amanda Baruch '09, who I just trained to be our Suites Pantry Coordinator, and Nicole McCracken '08, Catering Manager for both the Canon and Blue Clubs at the Amway Arena.

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

a: Over the summer, I went to Ireland on an extreme sports trip; we did things like parasailing and mountain climbing. Riding on that high, I'm gearing up for Disney's Princess Half Marathon on March 7, 2010. One of my best friends, Natasha Durand, has battled eight different kinds of cancers since the age of two. My greatest accomplishment will be raising $2100 and completing 13.1 miles to cross the finish line in her honor.

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

a: At NASCAR Sports Grille at CityWalk, where I'm an event coordinator. I could also be training for my marathon or relaxing in places like the Vines Grille & Wine Bar, Tavern on the Lake or Tessa Ultra Lounge.

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

a: It taught me the terminology of my industry and led me beyond a hospitality job to a career. I was working as a front desk concierge on International Drive and was unfulfilled. I went for a campus tour and Lori Ashby inspired me to enroll in classes on-the-spot. Rosen is like family. Vivian Ray, Dr. H.G. Parsa, and Dr. Sandra Naipaul, among others, challenged me. I never would have finished college if it weren't for Rosen being such a warm and welcoming place.

q: Your favorite class?

a: Quantity Food Production with Vivian Ray. Through the "Distinguished Chef's Series," we students ran a restaurant open to the public on certain evenings. I became restaurant manager and hostess, which was an incredible experience.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: Expand the Distinguished Chef's Series into a restaurant on the Rosen campus, open full-time to the public. You don't see the overall picture working as a server in a restaurant - like what the chef goes through when the wrong type of chicken is ordered. Also, real-life restaurants have specific price points and menus so attract a consistent demographic. Working in the campus restaurant gave us the unique experience of dealing with all ages and types of people.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Planning and executing a luncheon for Meeting Professionals International members, as part of Elise Enloe's Event Management class.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: Seafood at Seasons 52 or the Vines.

q: On your iPod?

a: Country, Hip Hop, R & B, Soul, Rock and Alternative Rock; everything but Punk Rock or Heavy Metal.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I've had a rescue dog named Lady for two and a half years. She's part lab and part beagle, and was living with an abusive family before I adopted her.

Stacie McCallum '08

Sales & Marketing Specialist,
Kraiburg-TPE, Atlanta, GA

q: What do you do?

a: I support our commercial and marketing efforts in the U.S., as well as provide assistance with inside sales.

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

a: Kristyn Rogers '08.

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

a: The local dog park with my pomeranian, Tater, or out on the town in Atlanta on the weekends.

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

a: Traveling around Europe. I was an event consultant in London for three months. I worked 40 hours a week Monday through Thursday, and used my three day weekends for trips. I experienced six or seven different countries.

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

a: I got a well-rounded understanding of how events and trade shows work, plus learned how to network, which is how I got my job in London. I learned an incredible amount about marketing from Dr. Sandra Naipaul.

q: Your favorite class?

a: Quantity Food Preparation. I enjoyed learning all of the cooking basics. I have used techniques I learned in that class, and impressed my family and friends with my skills.

q: How could the hospitality program have been better?

a: Since I came from the Midwest, I was hoping for the spirited "big school" feeling you have at large Midwest universities. Football games were still at the Citrus Bowl and since I was at Rosen during my last two years, I didn't feel much connection with what was happening on the Main Campus.

q: A UCF memory?

a: Tailgating at Main Campus once the new stadium opened. This makes a major difference in the college experience and it's all coming together for UCF now.

q: Favorite meal in Orlando?

a: Brunch at Hue for Sunday Funday. I love the Eggs Benedict HUE Style which has crab cakes instead of Canadian bacon. Now that I've moved to Atlanta, I seriously miss this. I now love the Peasant Bistro in Downtown Atlanta for its amazing shrimp and grits.

q: On your iPod?

a: Everything from rock to country to pop.

q: Little known fact about you?

a: I lived in 12 different states before going to college. My parents love to move.

Profile updated 01/12/10. Previously Stacie lived and worked in Orlando.