Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management Program at SUNY Plattsburgh - Student Profiles

Mr. Bezio is from Morrisonville, New York, and is currently working as a concessions manager for Centerplate in Lake Placid. Centerplate does all of the concessions contracts for the ORDA Olympic Venues in Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain. Following his graduation in May, Derrik will begin his new position as the Assistant General Manager for Centerplate. He hopes that in the long run that this will lead to a GM position at one of the many Major league Baseball fields where Centerplate has contracts.

"The class work I have taken at SUNY Plattsburgh, HRT department has really helped me with many situations I have encountered during my daily work schedule. In the HRT department, you're not another number; the professors get to know you, they interact with you and they care about who you are."

Following graduation in May, 2005, Miss Cabalit will be moving from her home in Plattsburgh New York to Manhattan where she will begin a management training program at The Waldorf Hotel. Once she gains experience in the lodging world, she hope to eventually move to Japan and work in the Hospitality industry there.

"I tried several majors at SUNY Plattsburgh before I found the HRT Program. None of them made me feel as comfortable at the HRT department. I found it very easy to interact with students and faculty, and really enjoyed our new facilities in Sibley."

For several years Mr. Kasper has been highly involved in the resort industry. He is from Sterling Colorado and his past three summers have been spent as resident golf pro at the Lake Placid Resort in Lake Placid, NY, and the past three winters as Freestyle skiing coach for NYSEF (New York Ski Education Foundation) at Whiteface Mountain. Using this experience to benefit the HRT program, Chris has helped to organize visitations to the Lake Placid Resort over the last few semesters. Following graduation in May, 2005 Chris will begin his career as the Assistant Food and Beverage Manager for Sunday River Ski Resort in Bethel, Maine.

"The Department gave me the tools to set a goal and set standards for myself that I can use throughout my career within the hospitality industry. The professors gave me the out of class assistance and support I needed to keep on track. I hope to continue to be involved in the growth and development of the HRT program. My time in the HRT department was wonderful."

Miss Schroeppel is from Hollowville, New York, and has experience with all aspects of the restaurant industry, with restaurant management as her primary goal. Her experience ranges from her time as a sous chef at the Algonquin Restaurant in Lake George, to purchasing for Flanagan's Bar in Schroon Lake. Following her graduation in May, 2005, she has planned a trip touring Egypt after which she will return to New York and take up her duties as head bartender at the Brass Ring in Bolton Landing, New York as the head Bartender.

"The HRT program was a great experience. It opened my eyes to the different areas of business that our industry has to offer. Of the five years of school at SUNY Plattsburgh, I feel that I gained the most from my time with the HRT department."