SHL alumni spotlight: Zach Dettlinger

I graduated from ECU’s School of Hospitality Leadership in May of 2018 and then moved to Raleigh a month later where I began my sales career in the field of business development. Fast forward to 2024, I am now located in Boston MA, where I am currently the Head of Business Development for North America for Board International, a global software company specializing in Business Intelligence (BI), Corporate Performance Management (CPM), and Advanced Analytics.
 
Just before graduating from ECU, I met my future wife, who I’ve now been with for over 6 years, and we’ll have been happily married for one year this May. We absolutely love New England, the people, the food, the history, and the sports. In our spare time, we enjoy going to the gym, hitting Fenway Park for a Sox game, driving up to Maine/New Hampshire to hike/camp. We also love traveling to Europe as often as we can (where most of her family lives), and we spend a lot of time with our 10-year old, 19.5 pound cat, Pepi!
 
There is not one other school out there that I could have been happier with then ECU’s School of Hospitality Leadership. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for the mentorship, the people I got to meet, the life lessons I learned inside and out of the classroom, and ultimately the fun I had!

ECU’s SHL program simply taught me to be inquisitive, work hard but to smile while doing so (and not to take things too seriously) not be afraid to ask questions, be friendly in working together with your peers, and truly have fun in whatever it is you do!
 
I am especially appreciative of Dr. O’Halloran’s mentorship during my time at ECU, and for the incredible staff he put together to help me get the degree I worked so hard for.

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