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The University of South Carolina and the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) are pleased to announce the newest inductees to the Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Management Honor Society. The Eta Sigma Delta USC chapter was formed in 1984 and today has more than 50 members. To be eligible for membership, students must meet the following criteria:
Dr. Robin DiPietro is an associate professor in the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management at the University of South Carolina, director of the International Institute for Foodservice Research and Education, and student advisor for the Eta Sigma Delta USC chapter. Says DiPietro, “I want to congratulate all of the newly inducted members of ESD. These students represent the top 5% of all students in our hospitality program in terms of academic achievement. With this membership, each now has access to an international network for increased education and industry engagement.” The Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Management Honor Society was formed in 1978 to recognize hospitality and tourism students for outstanding academic achievement, meritorious service and demonstrated professionalism. The society also provides a network system for students to exchange information and ideas, and participate in campus activities, fundraising and voluntary programs. Today, there are more than 60 active Eta Sigma Delta chapters throughout the world, serving one of the world’s largest industries and one that represents a $14 billion business sector in the state of South Carolina. Additional information is available online here. Students interested in learning more about the USC Eta Sigma Delta chapter should contact Dr. Robin DiPietro by email at rdipietr@mailbox.sc.edu. HRSM staff member named university’s top student advisor for second year running
Bradley began working at the University of South Carolina in 1998 and has been with the College of HRSM since March 2007. She is a graduate from the Darla Moore School of Business at USC and holds a master’s degree in International Hospitality from the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management at HRSM. A Mississippi native, Bradley says she will share this honor with her students. “We have exceptional students with exceptionally large dreams,” she explains. “These students are part of our larger college family – we laugh together, sometimes we cry together and we celebrate our achievements together. I am very touched to receive this recognition in their honor.” Lauren Welch, an academic advisor in the college’s Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, was the 2011 Ada. B. Thomas award recipient. She says Bradley works with students to reach their goals towards graduation and beyond. “The dream of graduation and success is a dream that Stephanie shares with her students well after they leave our campus. She makes a lasting difference every day.” School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management department chair, Dr. Sandy Strick, says Bradley was made for academic advising. “She has a compassion and love for these students that exudes from everything she works on, every single day. Her dedication to mentorship continues to add tremendous value to this university and the students that walk through our doors.” The Ada B. Thomas Staff Advisor Award recognizes only one full-time staff member each year who has demonstrated a concern for students as well as displayed a unique ability to engage in activities that improve current advising policies and procedures. Nominations are accepted from USC Columbia students, faculty, staff or alumni. Since the award recognizes quality advising, nominations from students are weighed heavily in the selection process. The following HRSM students were also recognized at the 2012 USC Awards Day as the most outstanding students from their respective programs:
Amy Woodell, a graduating student from the Department of Retailing, was recognized with the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Service. Woodell was a 2012 finalist for the university’s Woman of the Year award for her work in launching the nonprofit organization called “Clothed In Hope,” which supports widows in Zambia. More than 250 awards were presented at the 2012 USC Awards Day ceremony to honor undergraduate academic, service, athletic, and leadership achievements. Editor’s Note: Kathy Smiling, assistant dean of student services at the College of HRSM, was the Ada B. Thomas Outstanding Staff Advisor award recipient in 2004. Dr. John Grady, associate professor in the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, was the 2008 recipient of Ada B. Thomas Outstanding Faculty Advisor award. Visit the Office of the Provost website for additional information and to view past award recipients. Faculty Awards announced for College of HRSM Frank Roach and Dr. Mark Nagel receive top honors for teaching and research The College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) is pleased to announce its 2012 recipients for Teacher of the Year and Researcher of the Year. Frank Roach, senior lecturer in the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, has been named the college’s 2012 Harry E. and Carmen S. Varney Distinguished Teacher of the Year. Dr. Mark Nagel, associate professor in the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, has received the Patricia G. Moody Research and Productive Scholarship Award. Dr. Nagel and Frank Roach have combined more than 50 years of professional experience working in academia and/or industry. Each is held in extremely high regard in their respective industries of live event management and sport management.
Departmental award finalists for the 2012 Distinguished Teacher of the Year included Dr. Jason Carpenter (Retailing), Frank Roach (Sport and Entertainment Management), Dr. David Cardenas (Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management), and Dr. John Gerdes (Integrated Information Technology). Steve Taylor received this year’s Study Abroad Program Development Grant from the College of HRSM, recognizing his work in creating an internship program that will send 50 University of South Carolina students to work onsite at this summer’s London Olympics. Taylor is an instructor in the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management and director of the program’s student opportunity and industry involvement. Karen Edwards, a senior instructor in the Department of Retailing, has received the college’s 2012 Teaching Innovation Grant.
The following HRSM faculty have received 2012 awards in recognition their of applied industry research: Seed Grant Award: Faculty International Research Initiative Award: Faculty Premier Summer Research Award: Patricia G. Moody Research and Productive Scholarship Award nominees: Editor’s Note: The 2011-2012 Faculty Research and Grants Committee included: Dr. Charlie Partlow (Chair), Dr. Ercan Turk, Dr. Haylee Uecker Mercado, Dr. John Gerdes, Dr. Jung-Hwan Kim and Dr. Robert Li. The 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year Awards Committee included: Dr. Tom Regan (Chair), David Bobo (student), Katharine Gausman (student), Sarah O. Haile (student), Bryn Harvey (student), Dr. John Grady, Karen Edwards and Tina Weaver. School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management Hosts Spring 2012 GM Panel
“If you want it to, the hospitality industry will show you the world.” – Brent R. Gresham “The hospitality industry is very saturated and competitive right now. Experiences such as internships and volunteer work will continue to set you apart.” – Tony Tam “It’s fascinating the variety of people you’ll meet working in the hospitality industry – you’ll never meet a stranger.” – Ryan Tilden The School of Hotel Restaurant and Tourism Management (HRTM) welcomed three general managers from around the state of South Carolina on Thursday (April 12) as guest speakers for its 2012 Lodging Lecture Series GM Panel. The visiting general managers included: Brent R. Gresham Tony Tam Ryan Tilden The visiting general managers participated in an open discussion with students from different HRTM hotel and lodging classes. Each GM spoke to their personal career path and their own styles for management, leadership and maintaining staff productivity and morale. Panel discussions included topics such as: women in the hospitality industry, work-life balance, interview and resume tips, and current trends affecting the hospitality industry. The Lodging Lecture Series GM Panel is held each semester at the University of South Carolina and organized by the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management (HRTM). For additional information or to be considered as a guest speaker for an upcoming HRTM Lodging Lecture Series GM Panel, contact the College of HRSM’s Associate Dean Dr. Sheryl Kline at 803-777-3249. The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management is located with the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. The school is ranked in the top 10 nationally and has more than 600 enrolled students annually. Hospitality and tourism is a $14 billion industry for South Carolina. The College of HRSM is preparing the individuals that will one day help lead this industry locally and beyond. Amy Woodell finds inspiration in living a life greater than herself Amy Woodell, a senior Retail and Fashion Merchandising student from Cary, N.C., was recognized as one of only five finalists for the University of South Carolina’s 2012 Outstanding Woman of the Year award. The Woman of the Year award is sponsored by USC’s Women’s Student Services and Student Life, and is presented annually by University officials to an undergraduate who demonstrates exemplary academic achievement, service and leadership. All five finalists were recognized at an awards ceremony held on campus on March 27. Being named a finalist for USC’s Woman of the Year is incredibly humbling,” said Woodell. “All the things that have happened over the past four years have led to this wonderful recognition, but more importantly to this opportunity to tell more people about the Clothed In Hope mission.”
“I never imagined myself as a 21-year-old CEO of a nonprofit organization,” Woodell said. “But I’ve learned that real change is possible even if it has to start from something from very small. Something as small as being able to tell just one woman that they’re special and that there is hope.”
“Amy will be successful wherever her dreams take her,” explained Dr. Sallie Boggs, a professor in the Department of Retailing and Fashion Merchandising at USC. “Amy continues to combine her dream of fashion with her compassion for people. She is a wonderful role model for us all and I am certain that this is not the last we will hear of her.” Woodell will return to Zambia this May after graduating. As to where she’ll be in 10 years, she isn’t certain. More about Woodell’s story and project, and how to make donations, can be found at clothedinhope.org.
Busy, Successful year for Fashion Board at USC The Fall 2011-Spring 2012 seasons have been big for the fashion industry at large. With designer shake-ups abounding from New York to Paris, the industry is rife with changes and even expansion. Here in Columbia, S.C., that is reflected in the Fashion Board at the University of South Carolina. On April 9 through April 12, the Fashion Board at USC held its fourth annual USC Fashion Week. With a charity event to benefit the local nonprofit Pets Inc., a fashion symposium with Hunter Bell of the New York label Hunter Dixon and two nights of shows – 1.) Student Designer Showcase with a panel of judges including Hunter Bell, Emma Mahon of Emma Graham and freelance fashion stylist Josh Ratliff. 2.) the Sponsor Show – the week contained the most events ever held in the Board’s fashion week. In addition to these events, there was a silent auction that raised more than $500 towards scholarships. It wasn’t only the number of events that the Board increased this year but also the quality. Thanks to partners like the Tapp’s Arts Center who hosted the preview event during Urban Tour, the Columbia Museum of Art who hosted the symposium on Wednesday (April 11), the 701 Whaley venue who hosted both fashion shows, and Andrew Stintson of WAS Designs who decorated for both shows, the Board was able to match the quality of the venues with the quality on the runway! At the finale showing on Thursday (April 12) the board named 3 scholars: the Bohemian Scholar, the Handpicked Scholar and the VanJean Scholar and awarded each with a $500 scholarship. The scholars were Emma Howard, Danielle Minter and Mikelle Street. This year’s President, Melissa Karl, also announced the new President of Fashion Board at USC for next year, the current Vice President of Programming, Danielle Minter. Danielle’s 2012-2013 Executive Board will include Julia Hienz as Vice President of Programming, Taylor Santora as Vice President of Social Outreach, Giannina Thornton as Treasurer, Jessica Kiraly as Secretary, Brittany Terry as Executive Assistant and Nia Wylie as the Vice President of Promotions Assistant. None of this would have been possible without the continued support of the USC Fashion Week sponsors including Bohemian, Britton’s of Columbia, Handpicked, Just The Thing, LaRoque, M Boutique, Petal, VanJean and all of the many others. Editor’s Note: To learn more about Fashion Board at USC, one of 11 student-run organizations housed at the College of HRSM, visit www.hrsm.sc.edu/futurestudents/student_orgs.html. NFL’s Top Lobbyist visits HRSM “You may not be interested in Congress, but Congress is interested in you.” Where sports and Congress meet – that’s where you’ll find Mr. Martin Gold. In the 1990’s when the NFL successfully helped block state-sponsored sports gambling, Martin Gold was there. In 2011 when the NFL successfully avoided a work stoppage in America’s most popular sport, Martin Gold was there. And when the first phone rang recently for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell calling about the New Orleans Saints “bounty program” and the issue of player safety, Martin Gold was most certainly there.
Gold is a long-time Senate staffer, a highly distinguished scholar and a partner at the Washington D.C. law firm Covington & Burling where he co-chairs the firm’s Government Affairs practice group. He has more than 35 years of legislative experience in the public and private sectors and is considered one of the country’s leading experts on congressional procedures. He has advised the NFL and its sitting commissioners on significant and highly publicized issues, including:
“It is greatly beneficial to understand how the various moving parts of sports management interact with each other,” Gold explained to students. “Economics of the sport, labor relations, sponsor relations, government relations, successful use of new and old media outreach to customers, to name some obvious areas. Although each of these can be a matter of individual focus, it must be understood within a context. What happens in one sector is likely to affect others.” “It was a pleasure to have someone with the experience of Mr. Gold on campus,” said Associate Professor Dr. Mark Nagel who arranged Mr. Gold’s visit to HRSM. Our sport and entertainment management students were able to learn unique and detailed insights regarding how Congressional action impacts the business of professional sports. Mr. Gold not only presented pertinent information, but he also fielded numerous student questions, which provided the students an opportunity to enhance their understanding.” When asked his impression of the sport and entertainment program at USC, Gold characterized it as forward-looking and unique nationally. “Specifically, I am impressed with the programs’ interest in exploring the relationship of government relations and the business of sports. I am unaware that other programs have explored this interaction, which I know to be important.” Gold has lectured at the Russian Federal Assembly, the Parliament of Ukraine, Moscow State University, the Russian Foreign Service Institute and before numerous domestic university audiences on American political developments and the parliamentary processes of the United States Congress. In 2006, on the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, President George W. Bush appointed him to serve on the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. He has served as Floor Advisor and Counsel to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and was recognized in 2007 by The Washingtonian as “One of the Top 50 Lobbyists.”
Students from the College of HRSM’s sport and entertainment management program toured Charleston, SC on March 23 and visited some of the area’s top sports venues. The trip was organized by the Sport and Entertainment Management Club and included behind-the-scenes tour stops at:
Students met with facility and marketing staff at each venue, as well as with several top management executives. The tour stop at Joe Riley Park was arranged by 2009 SPTE alumna Lauren Allio who now serves as Director of Community Relations for the Charleston RiverDogs. Students met with Dave Echols, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Charleston RiverDogs. “Our day in Charleston was fun and extremely educational,” said Samantha Cain, a sophomore from Lexington, Ky. majoring in SPTE and current Treasurer for SPTE Club. “The tour of Family Circle Tennis Center was particularly interesting since we were able to witness first-hand the operational and logistical side of an actual event. It was exciting to see all the activity at the tennis center on the day of our tour.”
Faculty and staff that attended the Charleston trip included SPTE Chair Dr. Andy Gillentine, SPTE Associate Professor Dr. Matt Bernthal and SPTE Director of Business Operations Lori Hedstrom. Photos from the 2012 SPTE trip to Charleston are available at the College of HRSM Facebook page: . The Department of Sport and Entertainment Management is housed at the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management and is the largest undergraduate program of its kind in the country with more 600 enrolled students. Internships are completed regularly with organizations such as AEG Facilities, Feld Entertainment, Global Spectrum, NASCAR, Ticketmaster, Live Nation, USC Athletics, and many more. To learn more about this University of South Carolina program, visit http://www.hrsm.sc.edu/spte.
“We rely on our industry partners, alumni, and friends of the college to support, develop and encourage our students as part of their overall learning experience.” Janelle Havner, senior vice president at Kohl’s, addressed more than 150 HRSM students, faculty and staff on March 19 to kick off the college’s Spring 2012 “Dress for Success” seminar, an event held at HRSM each semester to help educate students on topics such as professional attire, interview etiquette and career planning. Havner spoke about the growing number of career opportunities available in today’s retail industry and challenged students to fully prepare themselves before entering the career search process. “It’s far more enjoyable to open stores than to close them,” Havner explained. “And the same can be said for doors of opportunity. Create you own career experience by seeking internships, networking with companies that you’re interested in, and by starting to work on your own personal brand. As employers, these are the expectations we have for you.” Havner joined Kohl’s in 2002 after serving as regional manager for Gap, Inc. At Kohl’s, she is responsible for launching the company’s newest territory in the Southeastern United States. This year Kohl’s is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The company has more than 1,100 specialty department stores in 49 different states and employs more than 130,000 associates. It’s tagline remains: expect great things. Additional representatives from Kohl’s that participated in the March 19 Dress for Success seminar included: Blaine Predmore, Regional Vice President; Phillip Daniels, District Manager; Mike Autry, Store Manager; and Lauren Fylstra, University Relations Manager. The event concluded with a live fashion show featuring USC students as models dressed in Kohl’s professional attire. The next Dress for Success seminar will take place in the Fall 2012. For additional information, contact Collin Crick, HRSM director of recruitment, at 800-611-4686 or Mike Moody, Department of Retailing internship director, at 803-777-0775. Information is also available online at www.HRSM.sc.edu.
More than 50 local high school and middle school students attended “Create IT Discovery Day” on March 17 at IT-oLogy located in downtown Columbia, SC. The event was organized by the Integrated Information Technology Program at USC (iIT) in partnership with IT-oLogy and was aimed at helping students explore the different career options available in today’s IT industry. Students participated in several hands-on learning workshops led by students and faculty from USC and also toured the University of South Carolina campus. Door prizes included iPads, iPods and other technology items. “We were very pleased with the turnout of students from the Midlands area and beyond,” said USC Integrated Information Technology professor Dr. Robert Brookshire. “We are also very grateful to our corporate sponsors: IT-oLogy, who provided the facilities; TM Floyd & Company, who funded the snacks and t-shirts, and Best Buy, who donated iPads, iPods and flash drives to be used as door prizes.” “This event is all about giving students the opportunity to get informed, ask questions, and dig into this thing we call information technology,” said Lonnie Emard, executive director at IT-oLogy. “We want these young individuals to understand that IT is changing the world we live in and how we live in it. But more importantly, the role they can have in shaping the future of this exciting industry.”
A news clip from Create IT Discovery Day is available online here. Event photos are available for download at the HRSM Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/UofSCHRSM/photos. To learn more about the Integrated Information Technology Program at USC, visit www.hrsm.sc.edu/iiT and for information about IT-oLogy, please visit it-ology.org/. HRSM Dean and USC Provost Speak at University of Aruba Kohl’s Senior VP to speak at HRSM ‘Dress for Success’ Seminar on March 19
Additional guest speakers from Kohl’s will include: Blaine Predmore, Regional Vice President; Phillip Daniels, District Manager; Mike Autry, Store Manager; and Lauren Fylstra, University Relations Manager. The Kohl’s Dress for Success seminar will take place from 5:30pm-7pm at the Public Health Research Center on Assembly Street and is open to all students, faculty and staff in the college’s Department of Retailing as well as to students enrolled in the HRSM 301 professional development course. The seminar will conclude with a live fashion show featuring USC students as models dressed in Kohl’s professional attire. More than 200 students, faculty and staff are expected to attend. Dress for Success is hosted by the College of HRSM in the fall and spring semesters and is designed to help educate students on topics related to professional development and the job search process. For additional information on the Department of Retailing or to learn more about the Kohl’s Dress for Success seminar, visit www.HRSM.sc.edu. Master Sommeliers visit USC, host wine workshop for hotel, restaurant and tourism management students
The workshop was hosted at the McCutchen House and covered a wide variety of wine related topics, theories and tastings. Students learned how to effectively evaluate, critique, decant, service and store different regional and international wines. Live demonstrations were also given on table service and appropriate table place settings. Certified wine specialist and HRTM 575 instructor, Dr. Sandy Strick, says the workshop is a something her students now look forward to each year. “Many of these students will be entering careers that require a knowledge of wine and wine service,” said Dr. Stick. “The opportunity to learn firsthand from master sommeliers is something you simply can’t overvalue in this industry.”
Dame is president and co-founder of the United States chapter of the Guild of Sommeliers and says that USC is on their map for one reason: the university’s hospitality program, which his group considers one of the top hospitality programs in the nation. “These students show an authentic passion for wine education,” said Dame. “Without passion, the education can only go so far and these students seem to understand that quite well.” First-year HRTM graduate student Shannon Sellers says the master sommelier seminar left her with a renewed sense of appreciation for the wine industry. “The truth is all I can think about right now is varietals, regions, climates and soil types. It may take me a while to recover from all this information but I know it will prove useful going forward from a professional standpoint.” The master sommelier workshop culminated with an examination of which all attending students passed. Upon passing the exam, students received certificates and Guild pins before officially closing the workshop with -- of course -- a toast of champagne. HRTM 575 is a an elective course offered through the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management and its school of hotel, restaurant and tourism management. For additional information, visit http://www.hrsm.sc.edu/hrtm or call 800-611-4686.
NBA professionals visit College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management
Staff visiting from the Charlotte Bobcats included: Ron Chase, coordinator, market development; Ed Ibarguen, coordinator, market development; Eryn Gradwell, coordinator, social media; and Kyle Trenthem, coordinator, box office. Trenthem is a 2011 graduate from HRSM’s department of sport and entertainment management. While at USC, he completed internships with the Greenville Drive minor league baseball team and USC Intramurals. Immediately after graduating, Trenthem landed a ticket operations internship with the Charlotte Bobcats. That internship evolved into a full-time position for Trenthem in the spring of 2011. “Not too ago I was in your same exact shoes,” Trenthem told students. “This college gives you amazing access to industry. Use it and make sure you’re prepared to seize these opportunities once they come your way.” Students in attendance received insider tips on finding internships and how to start exploring the different careers in today’s sport and entertainment industry. The Charlotte Bobcats visit was the first to HRSM in 2012 and just one of many industry-related guest speaker seminars being organized this year by professor Jeralds. “I chose to bring in these particular speakers from the Bobcats because they are all young professionals in the world of sports,” explained Jeralds. “Their jobs relate to the material we have discussed and will be discussing in class. I felt it was equally as important for our majors and minors to hear from professionals who are just a year or two removed from college as to the challenges they faced in pursuit of their jobs in sports.” Information regarding current job openings and internships with the Charlotte Bobcats is available online at: http://www.nba.com/bobcats. Interested students from HRSM’s department of sport and entertainment management should contact Steve Taylor, director of student opportunity and student involvement, at 803-777-0796 or by email staylor@sc.edu. HRSM grows international academic ties in United Kingdom
“There are a number of very close synergies between the College of HRSM and our school of tourism,” noted Dr. Shipway. “The aim here is to continue moving this partnership forward and put real frameworks in place for further collaborations among our programs in tourism and sport, as well as in retail.” BU’s school of tourism provides courses in events, hospitality, leisure, retail, sport and tourism, and has over 1,800 undergraduate students and 230 postgraduate students. Similar to HRSM, the BU school of tourism touts award-winning research in international tourism and sport tourism. The school of hotel, restaurant and tourism management at HRSM is the state’s largest hospitality program and ranks among the top ten programs nationally. The school enrolls more than 700 students annually and has 17 faculty representing five different countries. Dr. Simon Hudson, chair of the SmartState Center for Tourism and Economic Development, is the faculty member responsible for bringing Dr. Shipway to USC. Going forward, HRSM and BU will explore a shared research network for joint funding and publications, as well as look at setting up a program for student and faculty exchange. Bournemouth University is located 105 miles southwest of London and enrolls over 16,500 students annually. For additional information, visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/tourism. iIT student receives coveted IBM scholarship
IBM announced its scholarship winners after completing an extensive review process that, according to IBM, included the largest pool of applicants in the history of the scholarship program, now in its fourth year. A Columbia, S.C. native, Richardson is interested in graduating into a career as a network administrator and, ultimately, becoming a chief information officer at a major enterprise. He is currently part of a team conducting joint research for the University of South Carolina and IT-oLogy examining the regional and national industry growth of IT over the last decade. The research is due out in March 2012. “I would like to thank IBM and each of the supporting organizations that made this scholarship possible,” said Richardson. “This award is validation of the hard work each scholarship recipient has put in as well as a reflection of our continued pursuits within the IT industry.” Other academic institutions representing the 2012 group of IBM Destination z scholars include: West Texas A&M University, Northern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, Marist College, Texas A&M University, and Huston-Tillotson University. Additional information on the IBM Destination z Enterprise Computing Scholarship is available online at http://destinationz.org. In addition to receiving the Destination z scholarship, Richardson has also just recently been selected for a summer internship with IBM working out of one of the company’s national corporate offices. “IT-oLogy has created the environment for individuals to make informed choices about their IT careers,” said Lonnie Emard, executive director of IT-oLogy. “Chris Richardson represents an individual who chose to participate in several IT-oLogy programs that enhanced the growth of his IT talent. This growth meets our collective goal of preparing our future workforce.” “Chris has demonstrated his extraordinary initiative in winning this scholarship,” explained iIT professor Dr. Robert Brookshire. “He has participated enthusiastically in all the industry-related extracurricular activities sponsored by our program. He is keen to learn all he can about the information technology profession.” HRSM students make big splash at USC Career Fest Spring 2012
More than 250 HRSM students came out to attend two career fairs, Career Fest and the Science, Engineering and Technology Fair (S.E.T.), held concurrently on Feb. 1, 2012 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. HRSM students took advantage of the more than 130 employers that were in attendance, which according to the USC Career Center is a 15% increase in employers over spring 2011. The higher number of employers indicates that the job market is brightening for students, said Tom Halasz, director of the USC Career Center. Onsite interviews were held for USC students and alumni seeking full-time positions as well as internships and co-ops. USC Career Center reported a total attendance of 1,482 students, a reported 26% student increase from last year. Bryce Garvey, a senior majoring in sport and entertainment management at HRSM, was excited to see the variety of employers at this year’s event as well as the overall positive attitude of students. “This really is a ‘can’t miss’ event for USC students seeking internships or full-time jobs,” Garvey explained. “This year I was able to have face-to-face interviews with a variety of top-tier companies, many of which were hiring individuals with my background and skill set. My goal was to stand out from the crowd and I think I did that this year.” To hear what other HRSM students had to say about USC Career Fest Spring 2012, check out these student video interviews at the HRSM YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/USChrsm. Marriott International visits HRSM The College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management hosted a visit by executives from Marriott International in January for all students interested in pursuing internships or careers with one of the world’s top lodging companies. Marriott International is responsible for nearly 3,700 properties as well as 18 different hotel and lodging brands located worldwide. As part of the company’s national student recruitment efforts, Marriott International makes several visits each year to the top hospitality programs in the United States. The recent stop at HRSM was one of only 12 campus visits this year for Betty Ann Phillips, Marriott International’s manager of university relations and talent acquisition. “To be completely honest, it’s a little bit of a love fest for us with the University of South Carolina and the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management,” Phillips explained. “We consistently come away from these visits with outstanding hires for both internships and full-time positions. These students are prepared and very excited about becoming leaders in our competitive industry.” Also visiting HRSM from Marriott International were Laura Kitchens (HRTM ’00), general manager at Marriott International Augusta Courtyard; Cecilia Ramsey, human resources manager at Marriott Vacation Club International Hilton Head Island; Kelly Canady, director of human resources at Marriott Vacation Club International Myrtle Beach; and Jay Leskowitz, assistant general manager at Marriott International Renaissance Charleston. Information sessions for students were held in the classes of:
An evening information session was held at the McCutchen House and open to all HRSM students. After submitting resumes, 24 students from the college’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management (HRTM) were selected by Marriott International to participate in onsite interviews for paid internships and full-time manager-in-training (MIT) positions, both of which begin in Summer 2012. Applicants chosen by Marriott International will attend a final round of interviews taking place this Spring in Miami, Fla. For information on how to apply for internships or career opportunities with Marriott International or Marriott Vacation Club International, contact HRTM internship director Amy Jackson at amy.jackson@hrsm.sc.edu. Visit www.marriott.com/careers for additional information on careers and internship opportunities with Marriott.
The College of HRSM will host a variety of different guest speakers this semester representing the South Carolina technology industry. The guest speaker seminars will take place at IT-oLogy located in downtown Columbia and are open to all students enrolled in the college’s internship course within the Integrated Information Technology Program (iIT). In January, iIT welcomed guest speakers Gary Adams and Sheila Wray from CSC, a technology solutions and services company with global operations and offices located near the USC campus in Blythewood, S.C. CSC also offers internship opportunities annually through the University of South Carolina’s mainframe internship program. Please contact Shannon McCutchen for additional information at mccutch@mailbox.sc.edu. What is CSC looking for in a job applicant?
CSC has more than 97,000 employees worldwide and reported revenue of $16.2 billion. Experience.com ranks it as one of the Top 20 places to work for recent graduates. For additional information, and for links to CSC on Facebook and Twitter, visit their University Relations website page: http://careers.csc.com/university. The Integrated Information Technology Program (iIT) is one of four flagship academic programs offered at the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM). Students in the iIT program receive an in-depth background in information technologies in four major areas: networking, database systems, corporate training and development, and end-user support. More information is available at http://www.hrsm.sc.eduHRSM initiatives dovetail with USC Connect, the university’s five-year initiative to integrate course work with real-world learning experiences beyond the classroom. When USC kicked off its USC Connect program in September 2011, members of the HRSM family recognized that their college has long been a pioneer in offering the real world educational experiences that USC Connects is now promoting. Dr. Sheryl Kline, associate dean of HRSM, put it this way: “Internship and practicum courses are a hallmark of our college. These experiences let students gain real industry experience before graduation. “Internships give students the opportunity to apply what they learned in the classroom and in many cases they begin their career in their senior year of college. This has been quite a successful part of our curriculum that is highly valued by our students and employers.” Internships and practicums offered by HRSM include not only local and regional placements, but also opportunities for students in nationally known businesses and industries. "We are particularly proud of our placements in the sports and entertainment industry,” said Kline. This past year more than 300 students enjoyed internships and practicums in settings that included the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Phillies and CBS Sports.” Dr. Kline noted that HRSM’s retailing program practicums and internships include industry leaders Ralph Lauren, Target and Dianne Von Furstenberg; hospitality management student opportunities include Marriott Hotels and Darden Restaurants such as Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse; and technology students can choose from a long list of industry giants that includes IBM, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina and SCANA. “These partnerships confirm that our college has been truly successful in providing our students with invaluable experiences outside of the traditional classroom,” said Dr. Kline. “USC Connect is a wonderful new initiative that will ensure that all students have similar opportunities.” Want to read about some of the ways HRSM is making these connection? Catherine Moore's experience in Macao, China can be found by clicking here. Jarett Gerald talks about his internship with NASCAR here. Congratulations to our Fall 2011 Honor Graduates Masters Candidates Virginia Y. Ariail – SPTE Honor Graduates Sport and Entertainment Management All HRSM honor graduates were invited to attend a lunch reception hosted at the McCutchen House on December 12 followed by the University’s commencement ceremony at Colonial Life Arena with guest speaker and longtime NBC news journalist, Mr. Tom Brokaw. To view Mr. Brokaw’s full commencement speech, visit http://sc.edu/commencement. Industry advice for industry-bound SPTE students HRSM students in Frank Roach’s SPTE “Introduction to Live Entertainment” class received a visit recently from several graduates that now work in the sport and entertainment industry.
Here’s our Top 10 List of the best advice from these panelists on Nov. 29: 10. Be open and flexible with internship opportunities. If you love the job, refuse to leave. They may end up hiring you! 9. Be creative and thoughtful with everything you do. If you don’t, someone else will. And, in this industry, that person typically gets the promotion. 8. Strongly consider getting a minor while at HRSM. This could be the separating factor between you and other job candidates. 7. The College of HRSM and SPTE give you amazing access to industry – use that to your advantage. Your professors are here to help. 3. Want a leg up in entering the sport and entertainment industry? Go out and learn everything you can – right now – about mobile marketing, social media marketing and how to understand event contracts. Take an accounting class, if possible. 2. Just because you love going to concerts doesn’t mean you’ll be happy or successful in the sport and entertainment industry. This industry is brutally competitive. Get ready to work! 1. If you’re not cool with 60-70-hour workweeks and you don’t absolutely love the sport and entertainment industry, you may want to change you major…like now. This is the best industry in the world, but it’s also one most demanding. You gotta love it! The Sport and Entertainment Management Department at the University of South Carolina prepares undergraduate and graduate students for a variety of positions in the sports and entertainment industry. USC is first major university to create a separate department for the study of sport and entertainment with a strong business curriculum. For more information, visit http://www.hrsm.sc.edu/spte. USC Baseball Coach Ray Tanner visits HRSM to discuss leadership
Tanner gave students a unique look into his own personal path through the collegiate coaching ranks, a career that started nearly 25 years ago working as an assistant coach at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. Today Tanner is now the longest-tenured baseball coach in the South Eastern Conference and the leader of back-to-back national championship teams here at USC. He has been the head baseball coach at USC for 15 years and in that time has established our Gamecocks as one of the country’s premier programs. He is a three-time national coach of the year, a past SEC coach of the year and has served five stints with USA’s National Baseball Team as well as coached on two different Olympic teams (1996 Atlanta; 2000 Sydney). But as impressive as these professional achievements are, it’s volunteerism and community involvement, according to Tanner, that mater just as much if not more. Tanner is now an active leader in the local Columbia community. The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce recently named him their 2011 Ambassador of the Year in recognition of his university work as well as his community philanthropy. In 2005, Tanner, along with his wife Karen, started the Ray Tanner Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the betterment of economically and medically disadvantaged children and their families. The foundation supports organizations which care for seriously ill children, the homeless and other charitable causes. The Ray Tanner Foundation has recently launched a new giving campaign and is currently donating 100 percent of its proceeds from Carolina Baseball: Pressure Makes Diamonds, a limited edition book detailing the history of Carolina baseball, to help build a "Miracle League Field" in Columbia where any child can play baseball regardless of any physical handicap. Tanner wrote the foreword to the book. Tanner told HRSM students to enjoy their journey here at USC and to take advantage of all the opportunities that will surely come their way. He told them to get involved and become a part of the communities that they serve, including the university’s campus community. HRSM 301 guest speakers and seminars are held on campus several times each semester. For additional course information, contact Collin Crick or Kathy Smiling by calling (803) 777-4290 or by visiting www.hrsm.sc.edu. Lodging Lecture Series event matches students with leaders in hospitality
This year’s GM panel featured Jason Reader, area managing director and general manager at Columbia Marriott; Adriann Radder, general manager at Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge Charlotte; and Diane Keally, general manager at The Inn at USC. Each panelist spoke about their personal leadership styles, their thoughts on industry trends such as social media and “going green,” and gave advice on how to effectively enter into and advance within the hospitality industry. Some of our favorite quotes from the evening included: “Be patient and eventually you will conquer the world. Be passionate. Be focused. Be determined.” “Be patient, but not too patient. When you’re ready, go get it!”– Jason Reader “Ask questions every single day and be prepared to fail. From failure comes success.” “When you get there, be the manager you would want managing you.” – Diane Keally The event was organized by Dr. Sheryl Kline, associate dean at HRSM, and Olivia Vanesa Storia, graduate assistant and master’s student in the college’s school of hotel, restaurant and tourism management. The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management at HRSM is nationally ranked and touts more than 600 students. It has a Ph.D. program for hospitality management and is one of only two schools worldwide with a club management specialization endorsed by the Club Management Association of America (CMAA). Hospitality and tourism is a $14 billion industry for South Carolina. HRSM is preparing the individuals that will one day help lead this industry. HRSM Homecoming 2011 Raises Record Proceeds This year's HRSM Homecoming Party was held on 11-11-11 at the McCutchen House. The event saw a record attendance of more than 325 guests and brought in record proceeds of nearly $9,000. Proceeds will benefit the HRSM Alumni Society Fund, which provides scholarships and awards to worthy students who are interested in attending study abroad trips, Maymester course destinations and industry conferences. A few of the larger silent auction items won at this year's homecoming party included:
Winners of the inaugural "Jules Pernell BBQ Contest" were: HRTM – Best BBQ (overall vote winner) SPTE – Best Sales Pitch
iIT – Best Guest Engagement Recipients of the 2011 HRSM Alumni Awards included: The College of HRSM also presented 2011 Service Awards in recognition of alumni that have made significant contributions to the college. The 2011 HRSM Service Award recipients included Cliff Arthur (HRTM '86) and Katherine Brown (SPTE '99). Cliff is current chair of the HRSM Alumni Society Board and joint venture partner of Bonefish Grill for North Carolina and South Carolina. Katherine is the chair-elect of the HRSM Alumni Society Board and the Associate Director of Compliance for USC Athletics. Each has been instrumental in forming the college's Alumni Society Board and the HRSM Alumni Society Fund. Both continue today to provide leadership to the alumni board as well as to past and current HRSM students. A special thank you to all the HRSM students, staff and faculty that made this year's event a And thank YOU for making 2011 HRSM Homecoming a night to remember! Please stay in touch and visit our website often for college news and to discover new ways to get involved and give back to your College of HRSM. HOMECOMING PHOTOS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! Be sure to "like" the photo album and tag yourself in the photos! Website: www.hrsm.sc.edu
A podcast interview with Retail Merchandising major and USC Fashion Board member Danielle Minter HRSM sat down recently with Danielle Minter, a junior at USC, to learn more about USC Fashion Board, a student-run organization on campus housed at HRSM’s Department of Retailing.
For additional USC Fashion Board info, check out their blog at: http://fashionboardusc.wordpress.com. Dr. Harry Eugene “Sid” Varney Educator. Ambassador. Advocate. Friend. The College of HRSM has lost one of its greatest ambassadors, and one of its most influential educators. Dr. Harry Eugene “Sid” Varney, our dean emeritus, passed away on Friday, November 25 at the age of 83. Dr. Varney served as dean of USC’s College of General Studies and College of Applied Professional Sciences – the precursor to HRSM – from 1972 until his retirement in 1994. His dedicated service and overall impact during those 22-plus years was significant. He was instrumental in adding new flagship programs to HRSM as well as responsible for expanding the college’s internship program and acceptance of international students. The “Varney Endowed Scholarship Fund” was created in 1994 in his honor and in 2008 renamed the “Harry E. and Carmen S. Varney Endowment Fund.” More than $100,000 has been raised for the fund to support student scholarships and teaching awards at HRSM. Our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, faculty, staff and students who were touched and inspired by Dean Varney. He will be greatly missed at USC and remembered, always. A celebration of life service for Dean Varney will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at Greenlawn Funeral Home Chapel with internment to follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening at the funeral home. “I tried to cultivate a culture of helping students to do better, to succeed. If you care, people do better.” – Sid Varney, Dean Emeritus, USC College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management For obituary in The State, click here. USC’s dept. of sport and entertainment management Ladies and gentlemen – welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth! But the economy has presented challenges for companies such as Feld, which are struggling to continue offering quality entertainment when artists are asking for higher guarantees, production costs are skyrocketing and fans getting more selective about buying tickets. These are problems that representatives from Feld Entertainment, along with Global Spectrum and Nederlander Concerts, two other entertainment and sports powerhouses, will be addressing Nov. 16-18 in Columbia during the three-day Sport Entertainment & Venues Tomorrow (SEVT) conference at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, sponsored by the University of South Carolina’s department of sport and entertainment management. The conference will bring together sport and entertainment industry leaders, students and teachers to exchange ideas, talk about research and ways to advance the industry. “This week marks the 15th annual SEVT conference," said Brian Mihalik, dean of the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. “More than 31 universities from across the country will be represented at this year's event along with more than 25 national and international industry partner organizations. Together, they will map out the future of the sport and entertainment industry and discuss key challenges that will need to be addressed along the way.” During the conference, several panel discussions will delve into some of today’s most pressing and timely problems confronting the sports industry, including the recent highly publicized NCAA rules infractions, the ongoing NBA lockout and the recently resolved NHL dispute.
The NASCAR Foundation will present a check during the luncheon from 12-1 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center to the sport and entertainment department in the amount of $40,000, to be used for student scholarships. The keynote speaker for the SEVT conference will be Adonis “Sporty” Jeralds, USC sport and entertainment management professor and author of “The Champion in You”and “Let Your Light Shine.” For additional information, visit http://www.sevt.org. Retail Class puts on Fashion Show to support student-launched nonprofit
There were more than 275 department heads, students, and Columbia citizens at the “Birds of a Feather Flock Together” fashion show put on by Donna Watts’ RETL 388 class on November 13. While some were there just to see the latest wares from local boutiques like Pink Sorbet, Vanjean, LaRoque and Just The Thing, others were there in support of Amy Woodell’s charity, Clothed in Hope. "The Retail 388 show was a huge success!" said Emma Howard, secretary of the Fashion Board at USC. "My favorite part was learning about Amy Woodell's charity - I love that she found a way to incorporate fashion and business with helping people." The show, which raised $1,800, was a part of a series of events aimed at raising money to cover the initial operating costs of Clothed in Hope, a program to teach Zambian women life skills including a workable trade, financial literacy as well as public health concerns. Before the show the HRSM 301 class had already raised nearly $5,000 through various bake-sales and percent nights held at restaurants throughout Columbia. "The support of RETL 388, along with the Retailing department and HRSM as a whole has been incredible," said Amy. "The overwhelming support has meant the world to me, as I have received emails of people wanting to get involved and I have witnessed so many students so eager to help between the HRSM 301 class by professor Smiling and the RETL 388 class as well. I never imagined that this many people would come along side of me to get involved with Clothed in Hope but I In addition to giving a small presentation about her charity and showing a short documentary, Woodell showed 5 looks on the runway focused on the “restyled” tees that featured peplum detailing and deep scooped backs. The tops were a preview for what the Zambian women would be learning to make through Clothed in Hope. With over 100 models, the show consisted of two student designers in addition to Woodell as well as one local designer and 7 local retailers. The other two students were Lilly Greenhalgh and Ashlyn Tuggle showing their labels Halgh and Southern Beaus, respectively. “I've always had a huge respect for USC and their emphasis on community involvement, but Sunday took that appreciation to a new level as I was personally touched by the encouragement and support from so many people." said Amy. --Photos by Mikelle Street Lexington Medical Center Foundation discusses internships on visit to HRSM
Staff from Lexington Medical Center Foundation visited the College of HRSM on November 9, 2011 for an open information session to discuss upcoming internship opportunities. Guest speakers included Timothy M. James, director of the foundation, and Erin Pope, the foundation’s annual giving manager. More than 50 students sat in on the session to learn more about the Lexington Medical Center Foundation and two of its upcoming internships in IT and communications. Students were provided an inside track to exactly what the foundation is looking for in regards to applicant resumes and cover letters, and also had the opportunity to ask questions during an informal Q&A session. All HRSM students are required to complete at least one internship prior to graduation. Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management (HRTM) students interested in internships should contact Amy Jackson at Amy.Jackson@hrsm.sc.edu or (803) 777-2685. Integrated Information Technology (iIT) students interested in internships should contact Shannon McCutchen at (803) 777-1927 or mccutch@mailbox.sc.edu. Snapshot: Lexington Medical Center Foundation
“I am excited about our growing partnership with the Lexington Medical Center Foundation,” said Jackson. “Through these internship opportunities, our students will be exposed to a variety of different aspects of the event planning industry by working inside a fast-paced and highly-rewarding non-profit environment. They will be able to network, interact with community leaders, build their resumes, and invest in their community – all things that our College of HRSM promotes.” Students mind their manners at HRSM dining etiquette dinner
With fork in hand, Dr. Strick walked students seated at tables of eight through the Crick added, “Dinners are an ideal setting for networking in today’s business world. Tonight is about making sure you are prepared to excel in these situations.” A few highlights from the evening’s etiquette seminar included:
“With these dining etiquette basics mastered, the rest of the dinner is up to you,” Dr. Strick told students. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3MAjoRehqw (Ellen DeGeneres Show segment on dinning etiquette) Department of Retailing students at USC get schooled on employment law
Shuler is an attorney at Turner Padget Graham & Laney P.A., one of South Carolina’s largest law firms with 91 attorneys in offices located across the state. He has been practicing law for more than 25 years and has an expertise in virtually all aspects of labor and employment law at the state and federal level. His full and impressive bio is available online here. Students in attendance learned the many complex issues that managers – as well as employees – face today in regards to the interactions that are legally prohibited in the workplace. “These issues,” as Shuler explained to students, “have the potential to impact every individual in the workplace. To be successful as a professional, it is important to understand employment policies and procedures. In doing so, you protect yourself and those around you – and for managers and employers, you are better prepared to protect your business.”
So what’s legal and what’s not, many students asked. Shuler summed it up like this: “What if a newspaper published what you said or what you did, or what you were about to do in the workplace? Would that be ok by you? If not, it’s likely illegal.” Shuler also addressed how these laws have evolved and become even more relevant today with the advances of personal technologies such as email, text, digital photos and social networking. “What does $1 million in damages and another $1.6 million in attorney fees look like? Let’s take a look,” said Shuler going through some of his PowerPoint slides. “We would like to thank Frank Shuler and our other speakers from the business community who support our program by sharing with our students their time and expertise in fields related to HRSM,” said Edwards, a senior instructor in the Department of Retailing. “These speakers make a tremendous impression on our students and provide them with valuable real-world examples of what can be expected in their areas of work after graduating from USC.” For more information on the Department of Retailing and updates on guest speakers, visit http://www.hrsm.sc.edu/retail.
The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management (HRTM) hosted a pumpkin-carving contest for students at the McCutchen House on Friday, October 28, 2011. More than 40 hospitality students showed off their pumpkin carving skills while guests enjoyed a special Halloween-themed lunch featuring menu items such “witches stew,” “franken fish,” “blood bath pies,” “ghouls guts,” and “zombie toes.” All working HRTM students and staff were dressed in pirate attire. Britney Rast, senior, carved this year’s winning Halloween jack-o’lantern (pictured below). The event was organized by Chef Joel Reynolds, culinary instructor at HRTM, and Neal Smoak, director of the McCutchen House. Additional photos from the event are now available on Facebook. Located on USC’s historic Horseshoe, the McCutchen House is open to the public and operated by students from the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management under the close supervision of the director and professional chefs. A gourmet lunch buffet is open to the public during the fall and spring semesters. McCutchen House also offers services for private or professional events. For additional information on the McCutchen House or to make a reservation, call (803) 777-4450 or go online at www.hrsm.sc.edu/McCutchen-house. HRSM Hosts Dress for Success Seminar
It’s said that today’s job applicant has approximately 35 seconds to make a first impression. What happens in those first 35 seconds can be the defining difference between a great interview or a highly regrettable experience. And, of course, there are no “do-overs” with first impressions. It’s with this in mind that the College of HRSM offers HRSM 301 – a course in professional development that prepares students for the real world that awaits them outside the instruction of our classroom walls. HRSM 301 became a course requirement for all students in the college in 2005 and today continues to focus on workforce preparedness, financial responsibility and teamwork. On October 24, 2011, HRSM 301 hosted a “Dress for Success” seminar to help educate students on proper professional attire. More than 200 HRSM students filled the USC Law School Auditorium to learn the basic fundamentals of dressing for success, such as:
Amy Grinell, university relations manager at Kohl’s, was the guest speaker and led students through the clothing do’s and don’ts. Amy also provided helpful advice on personal business communications. She recommended to students that they start crafting their personal brand immediately and do so through activities such as:
The Dress for Success seminar included a live fashion show with USC students acting as models. Students were dressed in Kohl’s attire featuring appropriate wear for various professional occasions. Michael Autry, store manager for Kohl’s in Lexington, S.C, also spoke at the seminar and shared information on the Kohl’s Store Management Internship Program and its highly successful Store Management Trainee (MIT) Program. The Kohl’s Store Management (MIT) Program is a 12-week executive training program designed for individuals who are looking to get into the field of retail management. According to Autry, USC is now the store’s number one recruiting program, passing Georgia who previously held this distinction. Additional recruitment information for Kohl’s is available online at www.KohlsOnCampus.com and on Facebook. “Not being prepared for real life professional situations is no longer an option for our HRSM graduates,” said Crick. “This seminar is one of many outstanding opportunities that our students have at USC to gain an understanding and appreciation for what today’s employers are going to expect. Some of this information, while it may seem minor at the time, can make all the difference for our graduates in their initial career pursuits.” HRSM’s Dr. Betty Regan: Featured Panelist at 2011 ITPSC Conference Dr. Betty Regan, chair of HRSM’s integrated Information Technology (iIT) program, was a featured panelist at the 2011 Information Technology Professionals of South Carolina (ITPSC) Annual Conference held at the SC State Museum on October 18. In celebration of their 35th anniversary, ITPSC’s October 18 event was designed as a premier one-day technology conference playing host to several industry professionals and IT educators from around the state to “explore the next 35 years of information technology.” Additional conference speakers and panelists were from organizations such as Verizon Wireless, St. Nick Media Service, Avaya, and McNair Attorneys. “IT was recently voted one of the top five college degrees preferred by employers,” said Dr. Regan. “Today’s IT students have unprecedented choices in their career direction. Our program at the University of South Carolina is playing an important role in educating tomorrow’s IT professionals in South Carolina and beyond.” USC Sport and Entertainment Management Students: Meet NASCAR Students studying in HRSM’s Department of Sport and Entertainment Management (SPTE) at the University of South Carolina have unprecedented annual access to many of the industry’s top brands and working professionals. One of those brands, and arguably the most popular in the U.S. -- especially the Southeast -- is NASCAR.
Students also toured the Hendrick chassis and engine shops, which included an inside look at where some of the cars are built, repaired and stored in between races. They looked under the hoods of cars driven by Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and were able to witness first-hand how the cars -- and their parts -- are built, produced, painted and approved onsite before race time. The tour included a meet-and-greet with Jennifer Jones. Jennifer is a SPTE alum that now works for Hendrick Motorsports as a Licensing Coordinator for HGJ Licensing -- she coordinates the licensing for NASCAR star Jeff Gordon. And finally, what trip to NACAR would be complete without the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a real-life race car? Each SPTE student took laps around the Charlotte Motor Speedway track with SPTE student Jordon Amin in the pace car driving at a whopping 120 mph! Jordon is currently interning at Charlotte Motor Speedway and admittedly already had some driving experience under his belt. Reflecting on the recent NASCAR trip SPTE freshman Cody Diercks said, “Before this trip I had little knowledge of the NASCAR industry. But after getting a chance to talk with industry professionals like Kyle Edmiston and Jennifer Jones and being able to tour the various NASCAR facilities, I now have a much better understanding of the industry and what it will actually take to pursue a job in the sport and entertainment area.” SPTE graduate student Ashley Bennett added, “The trip to Hendrick Motorsports and Charlotte Motor Speedway was a great educational experience as well as an enjoyable time with my friends and peers. I learned so much 'behind the scenes', like the effort that goes into producing a NASCAR approved car. I also was able to check off a once-in-a-lifetime experience from my bucket list when I rode 120 mph on the NASCAR speedway 15 times.” Students, alumni, colleagues remember Pernell
Click here to listen to the podcast. About SPTE Club: HRSM dean speaks at 2011 SC Tourism & Higher Education Summit In addressing the SC tourism industry and the available set of higher education partners within the state of South Carolina, Governor Haley said, “To combine the tourism industry with the higher education groups is something that’s needed to happen for a long time. Tourism is a $14 billion industry for South Carolina and I think we’re just getting started.” SC higher education institutions present
SC tourism and hospitality organizations present
“We are moving in a positive, progressive direction that we are all proud to stand behind,” said Susan Thomas. “Working with these institutions is only going to aid in those efforts for the future of South Carolina tourism.” Related Media: HRSM hosts international delegation from Singapore The College of HRSM and the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management (HRTM) hosted an international delegation from Singapore on October 4, 2011. The delegation visit marked the first official tourism-education study trip to the United States by representatives of the Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) School of Business & Accountancy. NP’s visit to HRSM was pointed at gaining a more global perspective on education in tourism and service management, as well as exploring potential future collaboration opportunities with HRSM – and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Travel & Tourism Industry Center – in the areas of teaching, research, and/or building industry partnerships in the tourism field. Dr. Robert Li, associate professor at HRTM and associate director of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Travel & Tourism Industry Center, coordinated the trip with Dr. Rich Harrill, center director, to host following members from NP: Ms. Anna Yap, Mr. Lim Shee Chee, Ms. Annie Yee and Ms. Elaine Cheng. During their visit, the delegation had meetings with HRSM Dean Brian Mihalik, Pat Willer, associate vice president for international programs at USC, and many HRTM faculty and staff members. They also paid a visit to the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Inaugurated in 1962, Ngee Ann Polytechnic is one of the premier institutions of higher learning in Singapore. Today it boasts more than 15,000 full-time students and more than 2,000 part-time students in addition to an alumni base of more than 120,000. The institution offers 49 full-time diplomas through eight academic schools, including a broad-based tourism education diploma within its Tourism & Resort Management (TRM) program. NP provides the opportunity for every student to go on at least one overseas stint through internships, immersions, exchange programs, study trips or community service trips. It also touts two Centers of Innovation (COIs) in Environmental & Water Technology and Marine & Offshore Technology. The School of Business & Accountancy (BA) at NP is widely recognized as the premier provider of Business and Accountancy education at the polytechnic level in the region. It’s diploma in Tourism & Resort Management offers a diverse curriculum in the tourism sectors of meetings, incentive, conventions and exhibitions, and, similar to HRTM, features global study tours to locations such as Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Macau, and others. “The Singapore delegation’s visit once again shows the international recognition of HRTM as one of the leading tourism and hospitality programs in the U.S.,” said Dr. Li. “It also indicates the ‘brand power’ of our Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Travel & Tourism Industry Centre as a leading tourism research institution in the Asia Pacific area.
HRSM Students Meet Industry Execs, Gain Feedback on their Networking Skills
“It is exciting to see our students perfecting their networking skills with alumni and industry partners, many of whom were standing in their same shoes 5-10 years ago,” said Tina Weaver, Director of Alumni and Communications at HRSM. “Opportunities such as this help ensure that our HRSM students are both educated and fully prepared when entering the workforce after graduation.” SPTE Faculty and Student Speak at Drs. Andy Gillentine and Matthew Brown spoke at the conference giving a presentation on the economic impact of the sport industry. Dr. John Grady and SPTE graduate student Alex Nurkin presented research on the subject of mobile technology in ambush marketing campaigns. Alex is the first ever graduate student from SPTE to present research at an international conference. He explained the experience as both educational and motivational. “Without a doubt, the amount of knowledge that I gained from attending EASM and speaking with other professors and students was significant over the course of just three days. By meeting these people, especially from different countries, I was filled with new ideas and topics in sport management.” In addition to presenting research, Dr. Grady also initiated collaboration with international faculty members about stadium accessibility in European soccer venues. Dr. Grady saw the trip to Spain as a chance to gain and share knowledge, but more importantly a key opportunity to raise international awareness of the SPTE program and its applied industry research. “Being able to present research to an international audience was a tremendous opportunity and provided outstanding visibility for our program. Having international faculty members inquire about our research and possible research collaborations should be very beneficial to SPTE.” The 2011 EASM conference featured three days of keynote presentations from prominent industry professionals, themed session workshops, open forums, oral poster presentations and a variety of networking events and guided tours of Madrid. The event also included a Master Student Seminar where sport and entertainment students from around the world worked together on real life cases presented by leading companies and organizations. Additional information about the EASM Conference is available online at www.easm2011.com and on Facebook by searching for the fan page “EASM Conference 2011.” Center for Retailing Hosts Inaugural Small & Medium Size The conference featured the following speakers from industry and academia:
“Every business, small or large, could benefit from the real world examples and topics covered by the high quality speakers here today. All topics and speakers were relevant to improving our business’ success,” said Anne Shivers of Carolina Collegiate FCU. Plans for the 2012 Small & Medium Size Business Conference are already underway. In addition to the conference, the Center for Retailing will also host monthly one-hour seminars called “Retail Buzz” starting in October, 2011. Additional information is available on the Center for Retailing website or by calling (803) 777-3805.
The September 10th event was hosted by Operation Homefront South Carolina in partnership with Fort Jackson FMWR and Stockbridge Productions. It brought together members of the military community, wounded warriors, veterans and their families, and members of the
New 2012 Study Abroad Tours Announced for HRSM Students Department of Retailing HRSM students enrolled in RETL 592M will visit Rome’s famous Food District, explore Venice’s world-renown Riolto Bridge Shopping District, and take a walking tour of the Golden Quadrangle – home to iconic fashion brands such Armani, Gucci, Prada, Valentino, and more! This Maymester course will provide students a first-hand experience and hands-on education in international fashion and food while touring many of Europe’s most celebrated and historic locations throughout Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan, among others. As one of the fashion, retail and culinary hubs of the world, this trip to northern Italy will allow students to observe and interact with key international retailing, designer and culinary professionals at venues such as museums, art galleries, exhibitions, markets and related businesses. Additional trip and course information is available online at www.studyabroad.sc.edu or by calling Karen Edwards at 803-777-5216. Department of Sport &Entertainment Management HRSM students enrolled in SPTE 570C will be given a unique first-hand opportunity to study the Olympic legacy with international tours to the countries of Italy, Switzerland and Germany. Course lectures will be held by prominent members of the European sport management community at both historic and new sports venues throughout Europe. Students will visit two different Olympic sites – Turin, Italy and Munich, Germany – and tour the FIFA soccer headquarters. Trips are planned to a variety of different state-of-the-art European stadiums and arenas. Included in this trip are tickets to a number of professional soccer, volleyball and handball matches. Additional trip and course information is available online at www.studyabroad.sc.edu or by calling Dr. Mark Nagel at 803-777-3751. To participate in a HRSM study abroad program, interested students must be in good academic standing. Check with your academic advisor to see if credit earned may be used to fulfill general education, major or minor requirements. Both courses do involve some pre-trip meetings and course work. For the full list of 2012 Study Abroad programs offered through HRSM, please visit http://epay.hrsm.sc.edu/studyabroad.
HRSM Hosts Drop-in for Students and Parents Prior to New Student Convocation Several HRSM Student Ambassadors were in attendance to represent the College and help answer questions for other students and parents. Thank you to the following students for being outstanding HRSM Student Ambassadors on Sunday: Casey Olden, Casey Dornhecker, Anna Wells, Emily Supil, JennaMarie Hill, Maricus Harrison, and Latisha Graham. University:
HRSM:
The two-hour drop-in was immediately followed by the University’s New Student Convocation held at the Carolina Coliseum. HRSM would like to thank all students, family, and friends, as well as the HRSM faculty and staff who came out for Sunday’s reception at the McCutchen House. Fun UofSC Fact: Did you know that Zeta Tau Alpha sorority donated the current wrought-iron gates of the Horseshoe in 1982? The Horseshoe gates open to the heart of the University of South Carolina and its original campus comprised of almost entirely 19th century structures. It is called “the nexus of the University, joining the past, present, and future.” It is also, of course, the most scenic route to HRSM’s McCutchen House built in 1813. Congratulations to our August 2011 Honor Graduates! “This was your home at an extraordinary time at the University of South Carolina. This was your moment.”
HRSM faculty, staff and administration celebrated the August 2011 HRSM honor graduates at a reception held at The McCutchen House shortly after the Hooding & Cording Ceremony held at Rutledge Chapel on the historic horseshoe. Dean Mihalik gave opening and closing remarks. Tina Weaver, Director of Alumni and Communications, welcomed graduates into the HRSM Alumni Society. HRSM faculty that joined Dean Mihalik on stage during the Hooding and Cording Ceremony included: Dr. Cathy Gustafson (HRTM), Dr. Ercan Turk (HRTM), Dr. Marianne Bickle (RETL), Dr. Andrew Gillentine (SPTE), Dr. Matt Brown (SPTE), and Dr. Lynn Keane (iIT). We hope you will keep in touch and best of luck from all of us at the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, as you start a new chapter in your lives. Masters Candidates: Honor Graduates: Integrated Information Technology (iIT) Retailing (RETL) Sport and Entertainment Management (SPTE) OTHER HEADLINES IT-oLogy and HRSM host Computer Camp Students show off passion for fashion at the University of South Carolina Fashion Camp High school valedictorians talk about their goals Six HRSM graduating seniors, academic advisor recognized on University Honors and Awards Day Congratulations to Dr. Robert Li who was recognized as a "Rising Star" for scholarly pursuits, scientific inquiry, and passion for teaching. Read his story at ww.sc.edu/rising_stars
Student award recipients were: 2011 Dean’s Award for Outstanding Service
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CONGRATULATIONS The Department of Retailing would like to congratulate the following former Gamecock football players and University of South Carolina Retailing students -- each is now headed to the National Football League:
USC business education professor, Tena Crews, presented with Gregg Award Congratulations to HRSM faculty named Patricia G. Moody Research and Productive Scholarship Award: Congratulations to the 2012 HRSM Research Award recipients: Marianne Bickle, RETL, publishes new book, The Changing American Consumer Congratulations to Marianne Bickle, Chair of RETL, who has been asked to blog on Forbes. Her first blog can be found by clicking here. Bickle will post a blog every week. PRESS Dr. Rich Harill (HRTM) op-ed column for The State newspaper: "Harrill: Hunting for economic development" HRSM alumnus Mark Plessinger (HRTM '96) featured in The State newspaper "Main Street pioneer advances in contest" Fashion Board at USC, a USC student organizations house at HRSM, was featured in The State newspaper for its Fashion Week 2012 event USC retail student is 'sew' fashion-forward Dr. Mark Nagel (SPTE) mentioned in the New York Times MidlandsConnect.com story features students and faculty from the Integrated Information Technology Program at HRSM Dr. Marianne Bickle (RETL) quoted for story in the Charlotte Business Journal "Aspiring retailers, franchisees seek loan alternatives" USC's Third Largest College Among SC's Largest Career Launchers $20 Billion Reduction Plan by U.S. Postal Service New racing group speeds search for Grand Prix sponsor Study will analyze feasibility of horse park HRSM students set to show off their passion for fashion Will pathway to Democratic Convention wind through S.C.? Safety concerns may slow cruise industry's growth Chinese travelers are seeing the USA in record numbers A free wedding, courtesy of USC |
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For the second consecutive year, a staff member from the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) has received the University of South Carolina’s top award for outstanding student advisement. 
Woodell hopes her organization will create a ripple effect of students and volunteers from around the world to ignite real change throughout Zambia, a country that has become one of the world’s poorest and most riddled with disease and societal injustice. 
The National Football League’s top lobbyist, Mr. Martin Gold, made a visit to the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) on Thursday (March 29) to speak in front of University of South Carolina sport and entertainment management students. 
SPTE students take VIP tour of Charleston sports venue
USC partners with IT-ology to “Create IT Discovery” for local youth 
The IT industry in South Carolina now employs more than 47,300 professionals and Information Technology was recently named by the University of South Carolina as one of its Top 5 Most Popular Majors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs in the IT sector will increase by as much as 30% by 2018.
Kohl’s Senior Vice President Janelle Havner will give a keynote presentation to HRSM students as part of the college’s‘Kohl’s Dress for Success’ seminar scheduled for Monday, March 19. Havner has more than 28 years of experience in the retail industry and currently serves as Senior V.P. of the Kohl’s Southeastern Territory Division. Prior to joining the company in 2002, she served as Regional Manager with Gap, Inc. 
Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management
The now annual visit to USC is one of only five university stops for master sommeliers Andrew McNamara, Fred Dame and Matt Stamp. In addition to USC, the Guild of Sommeliers holds workshops for students at Purdue University, Houston University, California Polytechnic State University and Auburn University.
University of South Carolina students majoring or minoring in sport and entertainment management got to play some one-one-one recently with several staff professionals working for the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats franchise. 
The College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) and Bournemouth University (BU) located in the United Kingdom continue to explore new strategic alliances for their award-winning programs in tourism and sport. HRSM hosted Bournemouth University’s top international tourism expert, Dr. Richard Shipway, for a weeklong visit to USC in Feb. 2012. The visit was Dr. Shipway’s first to USC and the state of South Carolina, and included campus meetings with faculty from HRSM’s school of hotel, restaurant and tourism management as well as faculty in the department of sport and entertainment management. 
Chris Richardson, a junior majoring in integrated information technology (iIT) at the University of South Carolina, has been selected as one of only 12 students nationwide to receive the 2012 IBM Destination z Enterprise Computing Scholarship. 
South Carolina IT professionals visit HRSM, discuss major jobs initiative
Ray Tanner
More than 100 students filled USC’s public health building auditorium on November 17th to attend the “Lodging Lecture Series: Fall 2011 Hotel GM Panel,” an annual college event providing HRSM students the unique opportunity to hear firsthand from leaders in the hospitality industry.
RETL – Best Decorations 
smashing success, as well as thank you to Sysco of Columbia for being this year's official Homecoming Party food sponsor and supplier for the McCutchen House. Countless individuals and companies throughout the state helped make this year's party the best yet!
Guest student post
couldn't be more grateful for it all. It's just so humbling to see people dedicating their time and even finances to this cause that's so near to my heart. It's a surreal feeling, that's for sure."
Pictured left-to-right: Catherine Luthren, Erin Pope, Timothy James, Amy Jackson and Shannon McCutchen
More than 200 HRSM students in the college’s 301 Professional Development course participated in a dining etiquette seminar held in the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Columbia on November 7, 2011. 
do’s and don’ts of dining manners and protocol. 
These were just a few of the valuable tips shared at the November 7 HRSM dining etiquette seminar. The evening of advice and shared dinner tips lasted nearly two hours. 
More than 200 HRSM students sat in on 
On Friday, October 7, 2011 SPTE students made a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina and experienced NASCAR in its most natural form-- on the track, under the hood, behind the scenes, and even behind the wheel!
USC Students: Y’all heard about SPTE Club?
Dean Brian J. Mihalik
More than 200 college students came out for the 2011 HRSM Alumni Society Career Night held on September 28 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The event matched students from every HRSM major with alumni from industry organizations such as South Carolina Athletics, Target, Compass, Inc., Computer Sciences Corporation, Thornblade Country Club, SREE Hotels, Toys “R” Us, and Applebee’s, among many others locally and nationally. 
HRSM students were tasked with “working the room” and introducing themselves one-on-one to company executives. Conversation topics ranged from career aspirations, internships and resume building tips to things like current events and even musical tastes. At the end of each conversation, students were evaluated and provided feedback on their networking skills. Students were graded “excellent,” “good” or “needs improvement” and offered feedback in a safe and friendly HRSM environment on criteria items such as first impressions (eye contact, handshake, professional attire) conversation (introduction, interesting dialogue, graceful exit) and also employability (knowledge, reciprocal relationship). 
“I wish they had put together a program like this when I was in college,” added one company executive that participated. “It’s great that these students have a chance to practice their networking skills with people who genuinely want to help them improve before it really counts.” 
HRTM Students Help Promote 9-11 Memorial Concert
In addition, Lauren Welch, Academic Advisor for the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, was presented with the Ada B. Thomas Outstanding Faculty/Staff Advisor Award which recognizes an undergraduate advisor for quality advising and demonstrating a concern for students. 