Food and Beverage
My first summer of my college career was spent as a Food and Beverage Management Intern at Adventureland Amusement Park. There I developed employee management skills, time management skills, and food and beverage preparation skills. I worked and managed 7 main food stands that operated around 30 food and beverage kiosks. A lot of my time was spent ensuring employees followed all safety measures and keeping all line food stocked during peak hours. I would open the stands and close them, train employees on cooking procedures, and manage any employee conflicts.
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I had the opportunity to work directly with the chefs and managers at Seasons Dining at Iowa State when I was a Student Chef Assistant. During that time, I developed recipes that could be utilized in mass quantities, developed kitchen skills after training for 100 hours in Back of House, and maintained my food safety and sanitation knowledge. I developed a recipe, Philly Cheese-steak Spring Rolls, that was used the following semester at the dining center. This opportunity gave me inside in mass food production and food service opperations
Event Operations
I have worked as Event Staff at the Iowa State University Alumni Center since I was a freshman. Thanks to that position, I have learned about Banquet Event Orders (BEO), venue management, day of coordination, event A/V and technology, and event layout. I have worked as the shift lead since my freshman year, leading teams of 2-5. I ensured perfect setup for rounds of 6-10, theater style, classroom style, boardroom and lounge areas. I also ensured excellent guest experience by being attentive during events and providing guidance with any technical situations.
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Besides profession event experience, I have taken the lead in many Student Organizations. I have planned and organized fundraisers for clubs I have been involved in, as well as meeting events that are engaging and educational. I had the opportunity to help promote Iowa State University as a student ambassador. This involved creating experiences for parents, future students, and current students. Some of the events we hosted were group high school visits from culinary and home economics classes.
Related Classes
Throughout my time at Iowa State Unviersity, I have had a number of hands-on experiences in the classroom. Each specialized class brought new knowledge and skills that I have and continue to apply in my professional life.
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Some notable hospitality courses include:
- Quantity Food Production
- Fine Dining Management
- Wine and Spirits
- Chocolate Innovations
- Food Safety and Sanitation (with ServSafe Certification)
- Beer and Brewed Beverages
- Food Cost Controls
- Hospitality Law
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Some notable event courses include:
- Incentive Meeting Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Non-profit Event Management
- Sustainable Event Management
- Conference and Meeting Planning
- Special Event Management
- Event Sales
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