For SJC Long Island hospitality and tourism management major Gabriella Marino, the opportunity to serve an internship at the 2018 U.S. Open Golf Championship was a dream come true.
The 118th championship, held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, drew over 500,000 fans from June 11 to 17.
An Amazing Opportunity
SJC Long Island hospitality and tourism management major Gabriella Marino, 18.
“I am so happy I got to be a part of this experience,” said Marino, 18, who served as a buffet manager in her assigned tent. “I created new friendships, got the chance to see professional golfers and created lasting memories.”
Marino, a sophomore, learned of the internship through Tina Ferro, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at St. Joseph’s College. After meeting Ridgewells Catering Staffing and Operations Manager Nicholas Rogers, who came to visit SJC Long Island, Rogers hired Marino on the spot.
“My work would consist of setting up and breaking down the buffet for each meal, and keeping the buffet presentable and neat throughout the day,” said the 18-year-old Yaphank, New York, resident. “The tent I got assigned to was very busy, and I was on my feet for most of the day. If I wasn’t working at the buffet, I would jump in wherever I was needed.
“After a week of working 14 hours each day, I was exhausted,” Marino continued. “But the memories were all worth the exhaustion. It was an amazing opportunity to see how the back-of-the-house productions run; a lot of time and preparation is put into a successful event.”
Preparing for the Future
This opportunity provided Marino with the experience and knowledge necessary for her to succeed in the field of hospitality, one of the fastest growing industries in New York.
“This internship helped me realize the amount of construction and time needed to make it all happen!” she said. “Hard work, dedication and organization are what makes it all a reality. Along with my journey in hospitality, I will always remember that it doesn’t come easy. You have to really work hard if you want something.”
Her Heart Set on Hospitality
Although Marino is sure of her path now, that wasn’t the case when she started at St. Joseph’s.
“Coming to St. Joseph’s College, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life,” she said. “The end of my first semester, I decided to go to the ‘Meet the Majors’ event on campus. I met Tina Ferro in the hospitality classroom, and I instantly felt a burst of inspiration when she was talking about what the field of hospitality was all about. I was ecstatic — I knew instantly that this is the industry I wanted to be involved in.
“Once I left the room, I called my mom and shared with her the news that my heart was set on Hospitality,” Marino shared.
After graduation, she wants to start her own planning company. Her focus would be on planning corporate events, weddings and other special events.
“As the president of the Hospitality Club on campus, I coordinate events. By doing so, I instantly found gratitude,” she said. “I loved to come up with new ideas to fit the theme, and all the preparing that went into a successful event.”
