Alumni Success

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and/or career?

My educational experience at SCC had a lot to do with landing my apprenticeship at Microsoft, which would evolve into my dream job.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

Being able to take evening and asynchronous online classes while working full-time and attending SCC made it the right decision for me.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

SCC provided educational structure when I needed it the most, since I needed to learn a lot inside and outside the classroom.

Tell us what degrees or certificates you earned or what types of classes you completed at SCC.

Certificates in database design, as well as programming and system analysis.

List any scholarship(s) you received while attending SCC.

PepsiCo Uplift scholarship.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. 

After graduating, I spent a significant amount of time creating a web development portfolio focusing on the .NET platform. About nine months after completing my certificates, I applied to Microsoft Leap’s apprenticeship program and was accepted to the January 2024 cohort. I completed the apprenticeship in May 2024 and received a full-time offer as a software engineer.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey? 

Focus on having a good foundation for whatever skills you want to develop. Everyone wants to get good fast, but very rarely does that work out. But the more time you spend on foundations, the quicker you pick things up in the long run.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC.

After SCC, I did the 2+2 program with NAU, earning my Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. Upon graduation, I was recruited to be an Intern at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa. Since then I've held several different roles at this hotel in Front Office, Spa Sales, Reservations Sales, and Event Management, including weddings. In pursuit of my desire to gain more experience to one day run my own hotel, I moved to a Courtyard by Marriott Hotel where I was the Assistant General Manager overseeing not only day-to-day operations but also the hotel finances, which prepared me for my current role as the Business Operations Manager for Marriott Managed Select Brands, where I get to plan and execute regional meetings for on property staff as well as above property leaders.

Tell us the ways that SCC prepared you for additional education and/or your career.

Focusing my studies on hotel management at SCC better prepared me for real life examples of how I could apply what I learned to real business scenarios.

Tell us about your involvement at SCC.

Working full time, SCC allowed me the flexibility to take night classes. I also joined the Hospitality Club that had several experts in the field come as guest speakers.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey?

Get involved. Utilize the flexibility of class schedules. Utilize all of the resources SCC has to offer.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

SCC was the right choice for me because it offers a Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. After taking some time off after high school, SCC allowed for an easier transition back into the world of higher education. Additionally, SCC makes for a seamless transition to a 4-year degree in the same discipline.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

My time at SCC was an incredible educational experience. It encouraged my passion for the hospitality industry and in becoming a discipline expert. I will always remain an advocate for one to pursue education in their life.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

The most memorable thing from my time at SCC is the friends and connections I made. These are friends and connections I still have to this day. There is a large core of SCC alumnus who are currently industry professionals in the Valley and we all stay connected. I have also maintained a close relationship with the faculty and the program itself.

After leaving SCC, did you get a job or did you transfer to a university?

I transferred to NAU to pursue my bachelor’s degree in the same discipline. I was also dual enrolled for a semester. Immediately following my graduation from NAU I obtained my first leadership position in Hospitality.

Have you visited SCC since you graduated?

Yes.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

I would encourage anyone curious about pursuing higher education to start at SCC. Specifically, I would encourage anyone in the hospitality field to explore their degree in HRM. The HRM program at SCC is well designed and continues to adapt to today’s climate. It’s led by faculty who are hospitality professionals and have a passion for our industry.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and or career?

The quality of the HRM program at SCC brought immense value into my career. It allowed for a seamless transition for me to continue my education. There is content I learned and connections I made which I still carry with me to this day.

What are you doing now and for whom?

I am the Assistant General Manager for The Camby Hotel, An Autograph Collection Hotel in Central Phoenix. The Management company I work for is Davidson Hotels and Resorts. This is my second stint with The Camby and Davidson, as I was previously the Director of Rooms from 2018-2020. In between my time at The Camby, I worked for Marriott at the St Regis Deer Valley in Park City Uah. During my 20 year career I have worked for Fairmont, Starwood, Marriott, and Davidson.