Northern Arizona University

INTERVIEW OUR STUDENTS

If you’d like to interview our students for jobs or internships, please click here to visit the Career Counseling and Employment Services web page or contact Suzanne Woods at 928-523-1610.

Career Counseling and Employment Services will be delighted to provide you with schedules and resume information and keep you up to speed on Career Days and Job Fairs, as well.

   

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Most job opportunities for our graduates have been in hotel, resort, restaurant, and casino segments, but more and more often representatives from related segments, such as country clubs, attractions, and institutional food service, have recruited on campus. This past year the average starting salary for a graduate was $37,000. After five to ten years of experience, hotel and restaurant managers may earn between $55,000 and $98,000 a year.

The hospitality industry is the fastest growing industry in the world and the largest industry in Arizona. Complex, fast-moving, and multidimensional, its umbrella also includes: bar and nightclubs, contract food service, airlines, car rental, city clubs, outdoor recreation, meeting planners, event management, theme parks, RV parks and campgrounds, travel agencies, and tour companies.

Over thirty hospitality recruiters visit our campus each year. Recruiters tell us they feel welcomed and appreciated during their campus visits in spring and fall. Whether they have been recruiting our graduates for many years or for just a semester or two, they enjoy the blend of competencies our seniors demonstrate—technical skills, people skills, and an understanding of the service component.

HRM recruiters include Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels, Choice Hotels International, NYPD Pizza, Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster and Olive Garden), Hilton Hotels, Pappas Restaurants, Four Seasons Hotels, Chili’s Grill and Bar, Paradise Bakery and Café, Panda Express, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Famous Dave’s Barbeque, and La Quinta Inns.

Many of HRM’s recruiters have discovered the value of internships as a recruiting and training tool. Research shows that students who have had a productive and positive internship experience build a bond with their internship host and are very likely to choose the host as an employer upon graduation.

Retention of employees is 25% stronger when positions are filled “internally” because candidates already know and fit in with the company’s culture. Internships give host companies a chance to size up “talent” they may wish to hire.

Some of our Alumni

Anne (Todd) Niemiec, CHA, (’92) is the national director of group and event sales for AMF Bowling Worldwide in Phoenix.

Cameron J. Carlin (’03) is department head of the Palo Verde Restaurant and In-Room Dining at The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa in Carefree, Arizona.

Chaar Laverne Boyd (’94) is the stewarding manager for the Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa in Litchfield Park, Arizona.

Craig Edward Seymour (’99) is a conference services manager for the Pebble Beach Co., which includes three resorts, a spa, and several golf courses, in California.

Crystal Kay Carter (’04 and SBS) has been working for two years to transform the former home of the Hilltop Gasser on Highway 89 north of the Flagstaff Mall into a top notch coffee house. The Coffee Beanery finally opened its doors on October 28, 2007.

Desiree Delaughder (’04) is pursuing the master’s in conference and event planning at Westminster University in London.

Desra Christine Enns (’99) and Jack Hager McDonald were married on July 21, 2007 and now reside in Boulder, Colorado.

Flavio X. Martinez (’82) is an associate regional vice president at HelmsBriscoe, a meeting planning services and intermediary firm, based in Scottsdale.

Gary Allen Maggetti (’95) is director of Parks Food & Beverage Service for Disneyland Resorts and is married to Kelley Lynn McDermott (’96 SOC).

Gina Louise (Foster) Estey (’92) is the director of marketing for Windsor Capital Group-Embassy Suites in Auburn, Washington.

Heather E. (Klinefelter) Carlton (’99) is a regional manager for HelmsBriscoe, a site-selection and meeting-planning-services firm in Scottsdale.

Hilary Anne (Girardot) Huckemeyer (’97) is a regional manager for HelmsBriscoe in Denver.

James Thomas Heck (’05) is the clubhouse manager for the Desert Highlands Country Club in Scottsdale.

Jules Albert Laurey III (’94) is director of development for Paradise Bakery corporate headquarters in Scottsdale.

Kimberly A. (Acino) Ebeling (’01 and BAILS) is the Disney college program recruiter for Disneyland.

Kristine Begay Jantzi (’99) is the business development manager for Tristar Hotel Management in Phoenix.

Kyle Ray Johnson (’96) is the general manager for the Turquoise Room at the historic La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona.

Mario Andres Alcantar (’02) is director of Environmental Services for the Flagstaff Medical Center.

Marty Gruetzmacher (’86) was promoted to senior vice president of Operations with Red Lobster’s University Relations in November 2007. In his new role, Gruetzmacher will lead Red Lobster restaurants in the Big East Division.

Molly MacDougal Cooper (’99) is the regional director for Paradise Bakery and Café in Phoenix.

Nava (Thuraisingam) Singam (’00) is the director of franchise operations for Paradise Bakery and Café in Phoenix.

Paige (Willis) Lund (’93) is the general manager of Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa in Litchfield Park, Arizona.

Sarah J. Klasky (’05) is the spa group coordinator at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale.

Scott Heinonen (’94) joins Jackson’s Grill, Flagstaff, as executive chef. Prior to this, Chef Heinonen was executive chef at Cuvee 928.

 

CONTACT
INFORMATION

Suzanne Woods
Phone: 928-523-1610
Fax: 928-523-1711
PO Box 5638
Flagstaff, AZ  86011-5638
Suzanne.Woods@nau.edu

 

 

TRACK RECORD

In recent years, 97%
of HRM students registered
with NAU Career Counseling
and Employment Services
were employed within six
months of graduation.