Black Meetings and Tourism

September/October 2010

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TWO STUDENT LEADERS IN HOSPITALITY AND SPORT INDUSTRIES EARN NATIONAL RECOGNITION L eadership is a required course at Temple University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM). But students such as Meagan Carty and Darrion Woodard are taking leadership a step further by actively promoting equality and inclusion on a national level. Carty, a senior tourism major, was recently appointed to the National Board of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) as 2010-2011 Northeast Regional Chair, a pres- tigious position that attracted a competitive pool of applicants. Originally from the Caribbean island of Anguilla, Carty is presi- dent of Temple’s chapter of NSMH, the premier professional organization for minorities in the hospitality industry. Founded in 1989, NSMH hosts networking, workshop and seminar events for its members, as well as an annual national conference. “Coming from where I come from,we don’t see race orminority. It doesn’t exist.So it was new tome coming into such an atmosphere likeTemple,” said Carty,who has been inspired tomake sure that fellowminorities have the same professional opportunities as everyone else in the com- petitive tourismand hospitality industry. Having started her yearlong termin June,Carty is responsi- ble for planning theNortheast’s regional conference and acting as a liaison for all of the NSMH university chapters inMaine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York,New Jersey and Pennsylvania. “Meagan is a very effective leader and has successfully directed our chapter to success,”saidGregDeShields,STHM’s 20 senior director of corporate relations and NSMH chapter adviser.“She has consistently demonstrated an ability to rise to any challenge that shemust face.” Carty said she hopes her newpositionwill open doors as she begins a career in destinationmarketing. “I amglad I have been able to growmore involvedwith the organization each year,” she said.“It has helpedme inmy per- sonal and professional development,and nowI can contribute my ideas not only to STHM, but to the national organization as well.” Woodard, a sport and recreation management sophomore, was chosen to representTemple in theFindingLeadersAmong Minorities Everywhere (F.L.A.M.E.) programin July. The F.L.A.M.E. program was introduced to STHM by the Philadelphia Multicultural Affairs Congress, a division of the Philadelphia Convention&Visitors Bureau.Woodard applied for the program after hearing about the opportunity at a STHM Sport & Recreation Professionals Association (SERPA)meeting. “Darrion was among seven students from the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management who applied for the 2010 F.L.A.M.E. program, but he has displayed a particular passion to take part in this priceless opportunity to enhance his leadership capability,”DeShields said. Hosted by theUnited StatesOlympic Committee (USOC), F.L.A.M.E. is an educational program that brings leading stu- dents fromacross the country to theU.S.Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs for four days. Once there, students have the opportunity to enhance their leadership abilities, to take part in sports demonstra- tions and learn from USOC leaders, Olympians and Paralympians – and, of course, to live like Olympians in the athlete dormitories. Woodard was most interested in meeting USOC members, some of whom are Temple alumni, and seeing how the com- mittee functions. Woodardmerged his love of sports and interest in business when declaring his sport and recreationmanagementmajor at STHM. In just his first year at Temple, he joined SERPA, became a member of the NSMH, volunteered at Temple Athletics’ Cherry andWhite Day and the Philadelphia Union home opener at Lincoln Financial Field, andwas accepted into the F.L.A.M.E.program.He hopes to become anNFL general manager. As for others interested in advancing their careers early, Woodard has some concise advice. “Work hard, get involved and take every opportunity that’s presented to you,” he said. Black Meetings & Tourism September/October 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com

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