I have always been a "joiner". Starting in elementary school I was constantly busy with after school activities and performances. In high school, I realized that it wasn't the show I loved, it was being involved in the event. Rather than be onstage, I pursued the position of House Manager for the Drama Club. I managed everything on the house side of the show from ticket sales to pushing the raffle to ensuring there were enough students on hand as ushers for the event to run smoothly for the audience. I knew the House was where I belonged when the cardboard fireplace I had built as a member of the stage crew fell out of the rafters during the same play where I doubled the usual profits our group made from intermission sales.

 

When I was looking at colleges, I chose Bentley University so I could learn the business aspects of event planning. Once at Bentley, I pursued a Marketing degree to advance my knowledge of how to manage brand identities, communicate with the target market, accurately price products, and understand distribution channels. In addition, I didn't end my habit of joining everything. Throughout my four years at Bentley I was always involved in many different organizations including Circle K, a volunteering organization, WBTY, the campus radio station, and multiple committees on the Campus Activities Board which is responsible for the largest on-campus events for students.

 

During my senior year, I founded the Bentley Green Society.

  

Upon graduation, I accepted a position on the Strategic Sourcing team at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. As one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 966 properties in more than 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties, I knew this would be a great place to start my career and cement the skills I had learned in the classroom.