HTM201

Guest Speaker Reflections

Jenna Lynch / Recreation Systems Management
Daniel Kuperschmid / Hotels
Jessica Mattly / Curriculum Vitae
Andy Baumann / Restaurants
NSMH / Alumni Panel
Jess Ponting / Sustainability
Kristina Owenburg / Meetings & Events

Jenna Lynch

Recreation Systems Management

I learned many things from Jenna Lynch when she came as our guest speaker. Specifically, I learned about some jobs and their responsibilities within recreation, the kind of skills and experience that is needed to begin and excel in the business, and the challenges one would face in this line of work. She also gave good advice on our current positions as students and discovering the right path for us. The information that I will summarize in these categories will be a combination of what I have learned from Jenna Lynch’s interview and the questions students have asked afterwards.
On the topic of jobs and responsibilities, I learned that Lynch currently works as a Recreation Leader Two for the City of Poway. She taught us that an entry-level position would likely be Recreation Leader One, who will have responsibilities including basic administration support (which involves making phone calls, taking phone calls, confronting the appropriate staff about specific issues, etc.). Her job as a Recreation Leader Two includes the responsibilities of a Recreation Leader One, but with an additional, more involved role in major decision-making, such as the hiring process. A typical day in her work (not including changes due to the pandemic) involve: park patrol (ensuring walkways are clear and nothing is deteriorating), ensuring park rules are being followed, giving service to the people who have questions or need assistance, and managing rentals. However, she clarified that different parks will likely have different responsibilities, one example being rentals – a different park may not have to worry about rentals, and other parks may have to worry about different kinds of amenities/services. She pointed out that there is also plenty of crossover between hospitality and recreation in terms of responsibilities and activities, such as event planning.
Regarding skills and experience, Lynch emphasized the importance of flexibility and adaptability. Regardless of whether or not someone had prior experience in the field, they prioritize a worker’s ability to be open to the variety of work they will have to perform (such as event planning, decorating, public speaking, etc.) and perform it to the best of their ability. Networking is also just as important at gaining opportunities and moving forward. She advises that students, as much as possible, will put themselves out in the open and actively talk to staff who have experience and attend events to meet new people. When engaging in those activities, she also recommends having an elevator pitch ready so that conversations can be as effective as possible.
Finally, Lynch shared a lot of challenges she came across on her journey. She explained how she used to be undeclared and found recreation on a whim. She explained how networking was likely the most important factor to her in regards to getting her the opportunities she needed to get to where she is now. On the job, she has also faced many challenges involving people who gave her a difficult time and are difficult to converse with, to which she advised to always remain calm in those situations, attempt to work with the person, and, if necessary, be ready to call for backup or support. She personally feels that her greatest challenge comes whenever she has to inform people that they are doing something inappropriate or against park rules. Overall, her advice regarding these situations is to remain professional and calm. Finally, she left us with one last piece of advice: Do not be afraid of graduation and it is okay to be uncertain even at that time. The best thing about hospitality and recreation is the amount of flexibility they have in terms of what you can do and what other responsibilities or roles one can play. There are also plenty of valuable soft skills that hospitality and recreation will teach someone, and those skills are valuable to other lines of work as well. I believe that this last piece of advice is the greatest takeaway and reassurance for myself, as someone who is uncertain and afraid of my path moving forward

Daniel Kuperschmid

Hotels

I learned many things from Daniel Kuperschmid when he came as our guest speaker. Specifically, I learned about the hotel industry, its different positions and responsibilities, and the different ways I can enter the business. He also gave insight and advice regarding our paths to success and the rewards and challenges that come with his line of work. The information that I will summarize in these categories will be a combination of what I have learned from Daniel Kuperschmid’s interview and the questions students have asked afterwards.

Kuperschmid has 23 years of leadership experience with Hyatt hotels and currently works as the chair of the San Diego Tourism Authority and as a board member on the California Hotel and Lodging Association and San Diego’s Port Tenants Association. He spoke extensively about his journey with Hyatt, from busboy to bellman to front desk agent and so on. He detailed how he had to move 10-11 times throughout his career and how that helped him climb the ladder. He details the different responsibilities of each of his roles. For example, with the San Diego Tourism Authority, he has to consider: how they book conventions, how they are represented in the community, how they get funds from city council, etc. Meanwhile, with the San Diego Lodging Association, he deals with more operational challenges, such as communicating with the city and county; which differs from his role within the California Lodging Association, which deals with larger issues, such as getting Airbnb to operate similarly to hotels (like paying the tax) instead of damaging the industry. This gave plenty of insight on the different levels of responsibility one would be assigned with different positions and employers.

Then, Kuperschmid walked through the process one would have to go through (in Hyatt), should they be interested in being part of the hotel sector. An entry-level employee could begin as a line associate, supervisor, or assistant manager, or take the corporate management trainee route, which focuses on sales. It is a 6-9 month program where the trainee will spend around 2 weeks in each department, learning about their purpose and processes. An entry-level salesperson (or "meeting connections” in Hyatt) will be tasked with booking small meetings for 10-150 rooms within the establishment. From there, the employee should continue networking, getting involved in events, and finding openings to move up in position. Although not many would be open to the idea of moving, the reason why Kuperschmid was able to move up the ladder very quickly is because not many others wanted to move to a different location for work, and so he was offered many opportunities to fill in higher positions that were open in the new locations. Rest assured, Hyatt will assist with the move. He advises, however, not to settle for any lower than a supervisor position when searching for entry-level jobs. In terms of important skills to have going into the industry, Kuperschmid recommends to have a strong level of communication and empathy, since those were most essential to his success in several leadership positions. He believes every voice at the table is important, and so he always considers diversity, listens to different viewpoints, and leads with empathy.

As someone who struggles with finding their path, my biggest takeaway from Daniel Kuperschmid is his insight on the flexibility of the hotel industry. While Jenna Lynch reassured that the recreation industry will have positions for those who change their mind while working, Kuperschmid reassured that the hotel industry will have positions for those who choose the industry despite having graduated with a different degree. He explains how someone with an accounting degree could continue their career within the hotel industry, since they also have their own form of financial accountancy. The same goes for plumbers, engineers, planners, salespeople, HR, and more.

Jessica Mattly

Curriculum Vitae

I learned many things from Jessica Mattly when she came as our guest speaker. Specifically, I learned about how to build a strong resume and cover letter. She went into detail about the different types of resumes one can have and which style is most appropriate to use. The information that I will summarize in these categories will be a combination of what I have learned from Jessica Mattly’s presentation and the questions students have asked throughout.

Mattly shared a lot with us regarding resumes. She explained and provided examples for us of what makes a good and a bad resume. She taught us about organization, specifically the utilization of a full page of space (while avoiding cramped work) and the presentation of our work (chronological, functional, or a combination of the two). A functional resume would be best for first-year college students, or those who do not have plenty of experience in general, while a chronological resume would work best for those in the opposite situation. She also gave insight on the use of colors and borders to make a resume stand out, easy to read, yet pack a lot of information. She said that employers, especially those of larger companies, have to read through many applications in a day, so it is important that we make ourselves easier on their sight and pleasant to read. In the case of programs that sift through resumes as a preliminary measure, she emphasizes the importance of researching the company and the job application for key words that the program might have to find. When asked about programs that automatically disqualify based on color (of the resume), she advises the use of more plain styles and assures that a resume devoid of color can just be as easy-to-read and impactful. She shares that she usually uses a colorful resume for smaller firms or in-person reviews and switches to a “boring,” black-and-white resume for larger corporations who are more likely to use programs to sift through resumes. Regardless, she will always attempt to seek a way to slip in her colorful resume.

On the topic of cover letters, she mostly emphasized one important thing: it is a chance for us to show our human side – the side that shows our motivations, background, drive, interests, and the like. She encourages us to make it personal, especially when we have a story to tell. Avoid regurgitating your resume, since your employers have likely already read it. It is a chance for us to let our personal experience serve as a foundation for our qualities and work, and those with an especially strong story will be able to stand out and hook employers in.

Overall, it was a clear CV workshop that was very straightforward and insightful. It reminded me of important pieces that I already knew and taught me a few more that I had completely overlooked. I am grateful to have had her as a speaker and resource. I have kept Mattly’s email and plan to speak with her in the future.

Andy Baumann

Restaurants

I learned many things from Andy Baumann when he came as our guest speaker. Specifically, I learned about the restaurant industry and working the HTM field in general. He went into detail about his personal history going into the industry as well. The information that I will summarize in these categories will be a combination of what I have learned from Andy Baumann’s interview and the questions students have asked throughout.
Baumann shared plenty of details regarding his background. He talked about how his family’s legacy began in 1954 when his grandfather, Tom Ham, bought the valley high. He then built the Tom Ham lighthouse in 1971. Because of that legacy, Baumann grew up in the industry, but he was not expected to work in hospitality; rather, he was expected to be a doctor. However, he learned later on that he did not want to go through the medical route, and so had to build up the courage to tell his family that he wanted to stray from the path they wanted him to go. He started low and worked his way up the ladder, similar to plenty of our speakers this semester, and now describes having a family that can take vacations and go out every so often. He speaks about enjoying his work and still being able to take the time he needs for himself. He also shares plenty of anecdotes of other employees around him in the industry, who started low on the ladder, like himself, that managed to climb to a higher position despite all odds. Of course, he made it clear that these stories all took place over several years. It won’t be easy, but the best way to start is to start low, get to know the industry, climb up, and continue making connections along the way.
As for the restaurant industry, specifically, Baumann said that starting as a hostess or busboy is a solid start. From there, there are plenty of opportunities available to you. He assured that even restaurants have event planners, accountants, and more. Even those who wish to become a wedding planner can work in the restaurant industry, as Baumann works with over 200 weddings a year. He also describes the work environment to be very friendly and community/family-like. He recounts how people from his work, even those who no longer worked for him, attended his wedding, since they have created this bond with them.
Although Baumann came to talk about his industry, I mostly connected to his story, as well as the anecdotes of others that he brought with him. I am going through a difficult time in my life right now where I may be deviating from my parents’ ideal path for me to a more uncertain path I am not sure of, myself. Because of that, I really connected to Baumann’s journey, where he deviated from his family’s expectation for him to pursue the medical field. His stories of others also gave me hope for myself, that I also may one day be in a stable position that I love and still have time for my own leisure. It hits me deeply and is, undoubtedly, my greatest takeaway from his visit

Alumni Panel

National Society of Minorities in Hospitality

The Alumni Panel was attended by Liz Hayes, Emma Meyers, and Nikki Gonzales. They spoke a lot about their experiences finding HTM, going through HTM, and finally getting to where they are now. The information that I will summarize will be categorized by each speaker and how they answered each question given to them.
Liz Hayes began her journey as a hostess for P.F. Chang’s. She then got a job at Yellowstone National Park and continued her career through Disney College and, eventually, across the United States. If she had to look back two years ago, she would have never seen herself in the position she is in now. Two years ago, she was ready to graduate college and she had assumed she would take some kind of event-type job. However, a different opportunity presented itself and she gave it a try. The more she embraced her opportunities and the company she worked with, she grew to love her work more and more. She is grateful to the community for supporting her through her journey, but she admits that it has been more difficult to keep in touch with others since the pandemic. However, she is still grateful that her work allows her to consistently meet new people from diverse backgrounds, and she really does not want to disconnect from that. If she had to give her younger self some advice, she would let herself know to stay involved as much as possible, because with involvement comes many opportunities and friendships. Any opportunity could even change her life’s perspective, and along the way she will find and become a part of strong communities that will not crumble with time. Her greatest takeaway from the Payne school program is how to be confident in herself and her own success.
Emma Meyers began her journey through Disney College as well. She then got an internship at Marriot and an externship with Hilton, but the pandemic hit the US soon after and left her lost and confused. It was not until she was introduced to a new job position as a Resident Service Specialist as well as a Recruitment Specialist that she found where she wants to be. If she had to look back two years ago, she would have never imagined herself in this position as well. Two years ago, she go the MIT position she had wanted and was happy where she was academically. However, she then tried out a part-time job in hospitality that she found she really loved. She personally values moving forward, being challenged, and achieving success, so she knew she had to switch to a hospitality role. Over the course of her journey, she found it difficult to keep in contact with her community since she was always active and moving, but the pandemic gave her an opportunity to take a break and reconnect. If she had to give her younger self some advice, she would let herself know to get involved and always be eager to learn. Say yes to challenges and you will grow. Her greatest takeaway from Payne school is the competency skills, which are highly transferrable job skills.
Nikki Gonzales began her journey knowing she wanted to go into hospitality. However, she initially planned to be part of events, which took a turn because she chose to do hotels instead. She got an externship at Hilton and as she got more involved with her job, she found herself taking on many different roles and travelling a lot for her work. Similarly to the other two, she never thought she would be here two years ago. Now she has discovered that she actually hates doing events and could care less about linens and setups. She wanted to be involved with a bigger perspective of hospitality, and she has found it and is happy to be where she is now. To her, HTM in itself is a community, because anyone you meet in HTM will undoubtedly have your back when you need it. Virtual meetings have also allowed her to build connections across the world with ease. If she had to give advice to her younger self, it would be to stay curious and remain open to opportunities. Her biggest takeaway from Payne school is how to make difficult decisions.
My greatest takeaway from this panel was a sense of reassurance that my life and future is not set in stone yet. All three panelists have discovered hospitality as an option and has had at least one surprise that turned their life around over their journey. What I must do, and what they have done, is to consider every opportunity that comes my way. They did not fear starting at entry-level positions, like a hostess or server, and it brought them up to where they are now. Every opportunity is a learning experience and to find those opportunities, I must continue to make connections and get involved whenever I can.

Jess Ponting

Sustainability

I learned many things from Jess Ponting when he came as our guest speaker. Specifically, I learned about the sustainability industry in hospitality. He went into most detail about his journey with sustainability and his passion for surfing. The information that I will summarize will be about the experiences that he shared, the purpose of the sustainability movement, and the lessons he learned along the way.
Ponting started with a bachelor’s degree in Resource and Environmental Management in Australia, and from there joined the Australian version of the Peace Corps and left to live in Papa New Guinea. Later, he obtains a scholarship that allowed him to get a PhD and become a professor. He recounts his time there and explained how tourism improved the economy of the villages there. He detailed how they built their homes out of bushes and other resources in their environment. It was their way of life and living, so he could not simply tell them to stop destroying their environment “because sustainability.” So, he had to figure out how to get funds to do community development work for the village, as well as other villages around it. Here, he placed emphasis on the importance of connecting with the local communities, especially to obtain their support in the changes you are trying to enact. Eventually, they built a guest house. With the guest house, villagers could continue to live their lifestyle and traditions while attracting and engaging tourists. It allowed for them to share their traditions while also generating revenue, so they no longer needed to keep destroying their environment to live.
Ponting also loves to surf. He is part of the Center for Surf Research and is even part of the executive committee for the World Surfing Reserves. While he was travelling, he noticed that a lot of tourists give very little regard for the local environment and culture. For example, he would often see tourists who would bring in alcohol and drugs to a highly Muslim community, and even trash the place while they were drunk. After thinking on it for a while and seeing these damages, he realized that he could take initiative for the change he wants to enact. He aims to promote surf tourism while minimizing damage to the local environment and cultures. Specifically, he aims for higher quality experiences for fewer people that protects places and bring in more money per capita, and therefore create less impact on the local communities. He explains the difficulty of finding that balance. The more tourists came to visit, the more revenue they generated, but they were also more difficult to manage. This is why he places heavy emphasis on letting the local communities own their industry. This makes it so that they have jurisdiction over the area and can tell tourists to stop whenever they feel like their home and/or culture are being desecrated.
He then continued on with his stories and I gleamed a lot of lessons from them. I learned how a lot of funds from sustainable tourism industries go back to the local communities, as well as the National Surfing Association. I also learned the impact of technology on surf tourism, specifically how accurate surfing forecasts created an influx of tourists to gather at one area, sometimes exceeding over 150% capacity, just to surf and then never come back again. Overall, I really enjoyed his presentation because, unlike hotels and restaurants, he showed us the positive impacts of tourism beyond just taxes and infrastructure. His stories were also incredibly entertaining. My favorite quote from this presentation, which I found very inspiring, was when he said: “It is entirely possible to join the dots between what you like and what you’re good at together in ways that people haven’t thought of before and create a career path that is meaningful to you and that has an impact in ways you’d like to have an impact.”

Kristina Owenburg

Meetings & Events

I learned many things from Kristina Owenburg when she came as our guest speaker. Specifically, I learned about the meetings and events industry and what kind of responsibilities she has to manage. She also gave plenty of good advice for students who are looking into meetings and events. The information that I will summarize will be a combination of what I have learned from Kristina Owenburg’s interview and the questions students have asked afterwards.

Owenburg’s first job was working the drive thru at KFC, and that is where she got to know hospitality. She saw how the business was run through her friend’s father and she greatly enjoyed the environment, her coworkers, and seeing new customers come in every day. Eventually, she upgraded to working at Famous Dave’s and that is where she began working events and catering. She was at a crossroads in her life, having to choose between a low-wage job in hospitality or a more secure, financially rewarding job in insurance. Since she really loved what she did with meetings and events, she chose to go the Hospitality route. At first, she did not like it, but she eventually got offered her dream job and now she works as a travel director, doing on-site event management for different companies for their conferences as well as any incentive travel. She had majored in Communications and minored in Arts in Media which, despite not being directly hospitality, gave her plenty of skills that were transferrable in her work. Since she had started working for Carlson Marketing – an outside company that planned conferences and events for large corporations – she has travelled to many places such as Europe, Bahamas, Bali, the Virgin Islands, and all over the U.S. Her experience also gave her lots of connections in the hotel industry, which helped her later when she decided to delve into the restaurant side of event planning. Now, she has experience in working hotels, restaurants, cruises, and amusement parks. It goes to show that event planning can be really flexible and is in demand in any industry within and outside of hospitality.

Owenburg eventually gave some advice for students interested going into the meetings and events industry, although the advice is also applicable anywhere else. She advised to try different opportunities when you can, perhaps even a part-time job after school just to see what it’s like to work that area. She also advised to keep in touch with the people you meet along the way, because you never know when they can come to your aid. She emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities and not to wait for someone to tap your shoulder to keep moving forward. She also advised to keep an eye on LinkedIn, as it is an extremely diverse and easy way to get connected with other people and find the right jobs.

What really spoke to me about Owenburg’s interview was how much I connected with her story – more than any guest speaker so far. Even her conflict about insurance vs. hospitality is exactly what I am going through right now. As of writing this reflection, I have already spoken with Kristina in a private Zoom and it was the most insightful conversation I have ever had with a professional so far. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to meet her through attending our class as a guest speaker.