News & Photos
Students and Professionals Connect at HSMAI.tusc Collegiate Mixer
On Monday, April 6, 2009, STHM students from Temple University, University of Delaware, and the Philadelphia Opportunity Inn Corporation (OIC) came together in the MBA Commons of Alter Hall for a unique networking opportunity, including a round table discussion with local industry professionals representing various tourism and hospitality sectors, including Jeff Stumph (Sodexo), Kelly Benedict (Kimmel Center), Kristine Plourde (Glenmede Trust), Celso Thompson (Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing), Nick Dominijanni (Penn’s View Hotel), Adeline Abdesaken (Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau), Barry Isbert and Sophia Scott (Philadelphia OIC), Suzanne Geyer (Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association), Jim Cohn (Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine), Jim O’Donnell (Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa), Richard Hammer (Orbitz Worldwide), Atika Brooks (The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College).
The evening began with refreshments provided by Sodexho and opening commentary from Nick Dominijanni, the President of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Greater Philadelphia Chapter. A short welcome was also given by Mr. Jeffrey Montague, Assistant Dean of the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management which engaged all students in attendance.
The warm welcomes were followed by four, 15-minute intervals of round table discussion in which students conversed with professionals from various industries, including hotel sales, destination management, event management, and catering services, and more.
All of the hospitality professionals were very friendly and encouraged students to ask questions. “Students are the future,” Dominijanni emphasized in his welcome; this belief reflected in the attitude of every industry representative in attendance.
After completing the round table Q&A session, students were encouraged to talk amongst each other with a musical icebreaker activity led by HSMAI Temple Student Chapter members. “It was essential that HSMAI incorporated a collegiate mixer into the programming of this event because in the near future each student in attendance will be entering the industry. If students can develop a strong peer network now, the better connected we’ll all be in the future!” said Tara Miller, Temple University HSMAI Collegiate Chapter’s president.
Several students echoed the same feelings about the networking event. “It was a wonderful experience to get to know people from our field,” said STHM sophomore Takaaki Ishikawa “...I look forward to [participating in HSMAI.tusc’s] next event.”
The professionals that headed the round table discussions were able to relate to the students well, which made the connections much more meaningful. Kristine Plourde, Marketing Officer for Glenmede stated "...I love what I do. It feels like I just got out of college, and making the transition from student/intern to full-time professional is an interesting journey."
Events like this are all about helping students to make their transition from student and intern to full-time professional a success. “Most importantly, students organize and learn from various events like this to enrich their knowledge about the industry. Temple’s Collegiate Chapter has a very active executive committee and we will continue provide this type of connection with our industry professionals.” said by Professor Clark Hu, the faculty advisor of HSMAI.tusc. HSMAI.tusc’s goal is to provide as many opportunities for students as possible, so that each can be fully prepared to make their own professional journey.
Written by: Rachel Wolkiewicz
for the HSMAI Temple University Student Chapter
and the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management