SHL alumna spotlight: Maddy Mize

professional photo of Maddy Mize

My name is Maddy Mize, and I am a proud pirate alumna of East Carolina’s School of Hospitality Leadership!

When arriving at ECU, I did not have a major declared and was unsure of what I wanted to study. It wasn’t until I stumbled into an introduction to hospitality course that I found my passion. Afterward, I realized that each day in hospitality brought a new and different experience; I knew that this was what I was meant to do!

As a student, I interned as a special events coordinator at Marbles Kids Museum where I got to learn the true ins and outs of what it takes to host and service an event successfully.

After graduating in May 2020, I began a career at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, North Carolina. I have had multiple roles at The Umstead and was eventually promoted to group sales manager nearly two years ago. I have the wonderful opportunity to contract events and guestrooms to The Umstead and welcome groups to the property. My favorite part of my current role is traveling all over the country to share The Umstead Hotel & Spa with meeting planners and companies and explain why it is the next great spot for their program.

I owe a large majority of my success to the wonderful SHL professors who guided me along the way throughout the course of my education and even after graduation! I am so grateful for my time at ECU and for every peer and professor with whom I have a connection.