SHL alumnus spotlight: Janna Sager

My name is Janna Sager. I graduated in May 2020 from ECU’s School of Hospitality Leadership with a major in hospitality management, and a double concentration in food & beverage (F&B) and conventions & special events.

A month after graduation, I moved across the country for an F&B internship at Desert Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, a company I was introduced to while at the CMAA World Conference on a SHL-funded trip in February 2020. During this internship, I had the opportunity to work in all front-of-house roles of a restaurant operation: hosting, serving, bartending, and food running. I also experienced working at the different types of events and banquets that took place on the property. Upon completion of the internship program, I accepted the offer to be an F&B Supervisor at Desert Mountain, a position I still hold to this day.

The education I received as a student in the SHL was especially vital to me as a new manager. In my role, I work with inventory numbers, par levels, and cost of goods and sales – all of which I had exposure to during my studies. I received my ServSafe certification via one of my classes, so I was already very knowledgeable about health code requirements for restaurant operations when I became a supervisor. I also regularly assist with event management, and my prior education in different styles of banquet service prepared me for my job of overseeing event execution. Above all, my hospitality management education has duly prepared me for exceeding members’ expectations, conflict resolution, and leading others.

As of this past summer, I was honored to be asked to be one of the internship program coordinators for our 2023 F&B interns. It is truly a privilege to come full circle and be able to lead people in a program that I was once a part of myself. I credit the SHL for helping me find Desert Mountain Golf Club, and I am excited to see what the future holds for me as this amazing private club continues to grow and shape my career.

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