Brooklynn Mackey

Major: Event Management
Company/Organization: Gateway Hotel and Conference Center
Company/Organization website: http://gatewayames.com/
Destination: Ames, Iowa
Timeframe: Summer
Advisor/Coordinator Email: rmcclain@iastate.edu

Responsibilities

• Oversee a staff of twenty-five servers and bartenders and ensure hotel guidelines are being met • Train new employees on proper serving, cleaning, and event management skills • Collaborate with upper management on more efficient bar practices to improve profitability • Complete preparations for event per Banquet Event Order by delegation • Cooperate with other departments within the hotel to ensure every event runs smoothly

Accomplishments

Being the main supervisor on a wedding of 250 people with a plated meal with four different food options. Expoing the food went incredibly smooth and the entire room was served in under five minutes. The bride and groom were happy and had nothing but praise to say about the staff and the wedding.

Learning experience

The greatest lesson I've learned is that you can never know everything in the event industry. I am constantly learning, and so are my superiors. As times change and the industry grows, it's so beneficial to constantly learn and keep yourself ahead of the game.

What advice would you give?

Go into your internship with eagerness to learn but don't try to overstep your boundaries too early. You are an intern and your purpose is to make mistakes and learn from them and those above you are there to teach you. You might think you know the best way to do something, but try to learn it their way first. If their way doesn't work for you, then you can branch out and bring new ideas.

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