Members of FIU’s National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) attended the NSMH Regional Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. The event was NSMH’s first Tri-Regional Conference encompassing the Northeast, South, and Southeast.

FIU student and NSMH National Programs Director Yolanda Suarez attended along with 17 national board members who worked together over the past few months to ensure the conference’s inaugural success.

“I was both honored and exuberant to be able to have other members from FIU along with myself,” Suarez said.

The first day began with speeches from the national board, and industry round tables. The industry round tables allowed conference attendees to get up close and personal with recruiters, general managers, and panelists from Marriott, Hilton Worldwide, Hershey Parks and Entertainment, Sodexo, and MGM.

On the main conference day, several panels were held representing different companies; each focusing on a different aspect on career development. Panel topics included soft skills, interview dos and don’ts, planning for the future, and the importance of networking. After each session, FIU students had a chance to network with other students, as well as with the different companies present. NSMH ended the evening by sponsoring a local food truck, and announcing the winner for a Harvest for Happiness drive involving collecting clean socks for the Baltimore area. While FIU did not win for the most creative and overall effort in collecting socks, the school did collect the most at 360 pairs!

“As a young professional who has been attending these conferences throughout the course of my entire college career, I can honestly credit NSMH and our on-campus advisor Dr. Miranda Kitterlin for the professionalism and standards that I hold today,” Suarez said. “This organization and the regional and national conferences alike have  prepared me to be both a leader and a force to be reckoned with in the hospitality industry.”

As an example of how Suarez’s involvement in NSMH has provided a boost to her career, she recently attended final interviews for the Marriott Voyage Program in Newark, New Jersey. She walked into the opening session and knew a majority of the recruiters personally, as well as over 15 students from different schools throughout the United States.

“The networking and connections that NSMH has provided and allowed me to build will last me a lifetime. I am excited to be able to represent FIU at the National Conference in Washington D.C. this February and hope to bring a group of new NSMH members along with me,” Suarez said.

Photo (left to right):
FIU NSMH members Yolanda Suarez (national programs director), Michelle Diaz (treasurer), Kayla Bryant (secretary), and Christopher Dirube (president)