Purposefully Pursuing MHA

Within my hospitality career, over the next five to ten years, my goals are to work in an environment that allows me to use my strategic marketing and sales skills, logistic skills, while teaching and writing and living a balanced marriage-family-career life.

I want to use UNLV's Masters of Hospitality Administration (MHA) degree to further enhance my own credibility within the industry, on both local and global levels. 

As with many in the hospitality industry, with economic conditions as they are, I am feeling the pinch within my career as the Director of Sales of the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau.  We are experiencing the downsizing, doing more, better, for less and ultimately, maintaining success with 30-40% less resources.  While still passionate, I am seeking educational opportunities to further my skills strategically while motivating myself and those I connect with. Attaining the MHA degree would afford me a better chance at leveraging opportunities as they become available in all aspects of the hospitality industry.  

Presently, I “teach” through my daily work environment as I work with a variety of people from all socio-economic backgrounds that make up our hospitality industry. I am also asked to guest lecture for local community colleges and universities as well as mentor students through our Meeting Professionals International NENY Chapter.  I realize how passionately I assume these duties and responsibilities.   All these interactions are motivating to me both professionally and personally and have solidified my desire to teach in the future.  By achieving the Master of Hospitality Administration I would be able to pursue academia more seriously as a third career.