Katy Sweetland ’18 Launches Hospitality Career at Oceanfront Venue
Take one look across Hale Street and you’ll see one of the most picturesque wedding and events facilities in New England—Misselwood.
8/21/2018
Take one look across Hale Street towards the ocean and you’ll see one of the most picturesque wedding and events facilities in New England—Misselwood. For Katy Sweetland, a 2018 graduate of the School of Hospitality Management, Misselwood Events served as her educational playground for two summers, but after her graduation this past May it is now the location for her first, full-time job. Sweetland is the events operations manager for Misselwood Events which hosts hundreds of events every year across the College’s 235-acre, oceanfront campus. Events range from weddings, corporate functions, social meetings, gatherings, and even an annual classic automobile and motorcycle show.
“Endicott allowed me the opportunity to work at Misselwood for two summers in which it helped me get a sense of the company and the event lifestyle,” says Sweetland, who was a wedding host while studying as an undergraduate hospitality major. “Plus, the three internships that all students are required to complete also helped me figure out exactly what I wanted to do.”
An Internship Model That Works
Creating the perfect moment—one event at a time.
Misselwood Events has gained regional and national notoriety as providing a top-of-the-line experience for a variety of events that occur on their grounds—from elegant car shows to beautiful, oceanfront weddings. Sweetland’s role as event operations manager helps provide more than a fully-stocked bar or proper place settings to ensure these events go off without a hitch. Instead, she is a part of the development and execution of the entire client experience.“My favorite event is a wedding—making someone’s day everything they wanted, and more,” says Sweetland. “It is very rewarding at the end of the night, when I overhear the wedding guests say ‘I don’t want this night to end.’”
The Perfect Wedding Awaits at Misselwood
Kind words from the boss.
Misselwood Events is under the guidance and care of Executive Director Eileen M. Geyer, a 1992 graduate of Endicott College as a hotel and restaurant management major, who has elevated the prominence of this oceanside property since her tenure began back in 2006. In that time, Misselwood Events has seen its name lauded multiple times by such publications as The Knot: Best of Weddings Hall of Fame and Wedding Wire: Couples’ Choice Awards as well as receiving 2017 nomination for Unique Venues’: Best Outdoor Venue.Kind words from the executive director about your job performance, therefore, are complementary and incredibly valuable.
“The hospitality industry is unique in that you always need to be ‘on’ and ready to surpass expectations for your clients daily,” says Geyer. “After working for Misselwood Events as a wedding host for two consecutive summers, Katy proved that she thrives under pressure situations and understands the importance of being part of a collaborative, team environment.”
What the School of Hospitality Management can offer you.
Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA), the School of Hospitality Management prepares students for leadership roles and career opportunities in hotels, resorts, food service, clubs, cruise lines, casinos, senior communities, property management, nonprofits, corporate, and special events. Two degree programs are offered: hotel management and hospitality management with an expanded list of concentrations offered for the 2019-20 academic year.Endicott’s experiential learning model, the lifeblood of the College since 1939, has placed School of Hospitality Management undergraduates in such standout organizations as Conventures, Fenway Park, Four Seasons Hotels, Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hyatt Hotels International, Rafanelli Events Company, Shangri-La Singapore, Sheraton-Waikiki, and TD Bank Garden.
International education opportunities are abundant for the School of Hospitality Management as students are encouraged to utilize Endicott’s partners located in Greece, Italy, United Arab Emirates, and Australia. In Switzerland, at the Les Roches Hotel Management School, students will earn a Les Roches diploma, which combines the best of American management techniques and the Swiss reputation for hospitality education.
The World Travel and Tourism Council has projected that the hospitality and tourism industries will continue to grow at an annual rate of 3.9 percent over the next 10 years. There is a demand for qualified job candidates with professional work experience already in their back pocket—the School of Hospitality Management at Endicott College delivers just that.
School of Hospitality Management