February 8, 2019
SHL Career Fair Breaks Records
ECU Hospitality Management majors discuss employment opportunities with Biltmore Recruitment Manager Dawn McKinney, right, during the SHL Career Fair at the Main Student Center on Wednesday afternoon. (ECU Photo by Rhett Butler)
Let’s just say the College of Business’ (COB) School of Hospitality Leadership (SHL) and this year’s career fair broke records.
For the first time since joining the COB, SHL had more than 40 vendors and 200 students participate in the fair. It was the first major event to be held in ECU’s Main Student Center.
“Recruiters represented companies from across the nation, which validates the School of Hospitality Leadership as an important source for young managerial and leadership talent,” said Dr. Bob O’Halloran, director of the SHL.
Companies as far away as Colorado attended the event. Steve Decker is with the Broadmoor of Colorado Springs. His original intention for attending the career fair was to “get people excited about the Broadmoor that never even heard of it.”
“These kids (attendees of the career fair) are really on the right track, and I’m excited about their potential,” said Decker.
Alyse Hall is with First Carolina Management, a hospitality management company based out of North Carolina. Like the Broadmoor, First Carolina Management wanted to introduce the company to a new, knowledgeable audience.
“We’re looking for talented people to add to our portfolio,” said Hall.
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- Alyse Hall
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- Steve Decker
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- Mary Ostman
Alana Shields is from Washington, DC. She’s an SHL senior and attended the career fair for networking opportunities.
“I’m hoping to talk with a lot of companies, and I’m interested in learning about a lot of management and training programs,” said Shields.
Mary Ostman is with J Alexander’s Restaurants. She’s attended the event before and has hired graduates that she met at previous career fairs.
According to Ostman, J Alexander’s continues to participate in the career fair because “the students are so sharp.” They always have great…experience. They’re really hard workers and work hard for the company.”
“The competition for talented workforce in the hospitality and tourism industry is keen, and our students represent the industry’s next generation of leaders,” added O’Halloran.
The School of Hospitality Leadership in the College of Business has the largest student enrollment in the North Carolina university system.
ECU SHL student Alana Shields, left, speaks with an SHL career fair vendor.