SHL Alumni Spotlight: Reed Austin

Our School of Hospitality Leadership alumni spotlight features Reed Austin, who currently is a front of house manager and bar manager for J Alexander’s Redlands Grill in Memphis, Tennessee. J Alexander’s Holdings is a collection of boutique restaurants based out of Nashville with 46 locations across 16 states. Austin tells us the company focuses on providing guests with the highest quality food and memorable professional service, all in an attractive ambiance.

We recently spoke with him about his experiences with the School and how he landed his job at J Alexander’s.

“I graduated from East Carolina University (and the School of Hospitality Leadership) in the Fall of 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Leadership, triple concentrating in Food and Beverage, Lodging and Event Management, with a minor in Business Administration.

Discovering the SHL during my first semester and ultimately changing my major to Hospitality Management was one of the best decisions I made while at ECU. The group of professors in the program not only taught through their real-life experiences in industry, but they also pushed their students to participate in groups and organizations outside of the classroom. Thanks to these pushes, I joined The Club Management Association and was inducted into the Eta Sigma Delta Hospitality Honor Society during my senior year.

I was pushed once again by professors during my final semester to attend an informational meeting about J Alexander’s. After learning about the company, it sounded like an amazing opportunity for growth that I wanted to explore. After initial interviews, I visited their corporate restaurant in Nashville, where I fell in love with the culture, amazing food, and dedication to service that I had not seen anywhere else in the industry. After graduation, I accepted a position and moved to Atlanta to begin my training. A few months later, I moved to Memphis, where I have lived for three years.

The most rewarding part about my career is seeing our hard work manifest into an experience for our guests every time they dine with us. In this fast-paced environment, no two days are alike, and I am constantly learning something new every day I walk into the building.”

Reed Austin, pictured back row on the right, with the 2016 Club Management Association.

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• Academic
• School of Hospitality Leadership