Mackenzie Cahalan

Responsibilities

My responsibilities include working the private member events on the resort, including reading through the BEO, helping the kitchen understand what is needed, making sure that the event space is set up properly, and ensuring the correct amount of people are RSVP. Other responsibilities include working in the restaurants at the resorts to learn how food and beverage play a large part in events and learning how to price out menus for events and large groups as well as gratuity and paying staff.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment so far would have to be working the grand opening of the new putting course on the resort. It was a private member event that had 350 people planning to arrive as well as other members who joined last minute. My job was to check people in, get their pictures, and show them what group they were in and when they would be playing in the tournament. This was a very busy time when all 350 members arrived at once with only a few people to check in, but everything ran smoothly and I was able to get done early and help the golf associates finish their set up.

Learning experience

The biggest lesson that I have learned here is that event planning is not a single person's job. It takes people from all of the departments working together to make sure that everything is ready and the event runs smoothly from set up, check in, during the event, tear down, and reviews.

What advice would you give?

My advice would be to learn as much as you can about every department, not just event planning. At one point or another you will need help from either front desk, golf, banquets, food and beverage, or any other department that is in the business that you work for. Make connections and friends and build bridges that will help you in the future.