SHL Alumni Profile: Melissa Landis

Managing in the Pacific

Melissa Landis
SHL Class of 2011

Originally from Arlington, VA., I set sail to East Carolina to find a path that would lead me to personal growth, Pirate Football, and an education in Hospitality that would inevitably be the forefront of all professional milestones I would land.

After my freshman year in college, I worked at Disneyland Resorts as a seasonal Cast member and decided I wanted to continue in the field. I declared my major as Hospitality Management and entered into a degree that would cover aspects of Hospitality that I never knew I would become passionate about.

While obtaining my degree, I did my internship with Lighthouse Resort Services. Through this I was trained in resort management, events, and began my interest in the beer and wine industry. I went back for my senior year knowing I wanted to somehow combine my love of craft beer, resort atmosphere, events, and my dance and theater upbringing. I enrolled in the beer and wine elective class, fell in love, and decided I would begin my career there.

I moved to Oregon and began working for Hop Valley Brewing Co. I later became the Assistant General Manager for a brewery that is now one of the fastest growing breweries in craft beer history. This career movement is what ultimately combined my education and professional experience enabling me to obtain my dream job and current position as the Entertainment Manager at Pacific Islands Club Saipan.

Saipan is a U.S. common wealth in the Northern Mariana Islands. I live in a place with enriched culture and diversity. On a daily basis I work/interact at a resort with Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Chamorro, and Carolinian guests and staff members. I am responsible for our in-house entertainment by casting, directing, choreographing, and designing costumes for our rotating set of shows.

I was able to land this job because of my work experience that was brought on by my well-rounded education in the Hospitality department at East Carolina.

• Categories:
• Academic
• School of Hospitality Leadership