Alumni Spotlight

Brittany Tasch ('09)

Featured in the April/May 2010 issue of Commraderie

What is your current job?

I am the Graduate Hall Director at Alvernia University in Reading, Pa.

What are your job responsibilities?

I am one of three Hall Directors. I supervise an all first-year student building called Clare Hall. I live in the building and have a staff of six RAs that live in the building with me. I supervise the RAs, making sure they complete their responsibilities on time (such as programming, weekly updates, and duty nights/rounds). I also build positive relationships with the RAs on my staff so that we can together provide a safe and welcoming environment and community for first year students. I also work in a general office in which I do advertising and graphic design for Residence Life at Alvernia and I do a lot of event planning for the residence halls on campus.

What is your overall opinion of the job?

I absolutely LOVE my job! Of course, there are frustrations and times when I’m so completely drained I just need a break. But I love what I do and love that what I do plays a part in something so much bigger than myself. I love having those conversations with students that alter their path and attitude, or smiling at someone who is having a really bad day and finding out later that you made an impact. I love that I get to interact with people and touch lives as a profession! And I do work I love to do at the same time, like event planning and advertising and graphic design! I could not have asked God for a better first “real” job.

What experience at Messiah would you say prepared you for your career?

Well, I would say that it was my time as an RA at Messiah. I became an RA my junior year and it was the best experience of my life. I was an RA for two years in Witmer (with first-year students) and could not have picked a better role of leadership for my personality and passions. It gave me the opportunity to mentor 45+ young women spiritually and emotionally and just build a family atmosphere on my floor. Both years were such positive experiences for me as I was blessed with amazing girls and each floor truly became my family...we had such community and such a bond. Those girls are engraved on my heart forever. Needless to say, I couldn’t help myself and decided to pursue a career in higher education, student affairs, and honestly don’t think I will be venturing toward another for quite some time.

Is there any advice you have for job seekers?

It is hard out there. It really is. BUT, my advice is to listen to what God is putting on your heart. There is nothing wrong with getting a college degree in a specific field and deciding not to pursue a career in that field. I majored in communications PR, minored in business and art. I am not necessarily in a career that specifically requires that combination of degrees. However, the skills and knowledge I gained from those classes and professors have developed my professionalism and really honed my skills. Every organization needs someone who can communicate effectively and understand people, which are you communication majors! What I learned through the job search process was that it took for me to be in a complete state of uncertainty about my future and my path for God to truly work in His own unique way. We often get in the way of what God has for us. So, my only advice is this: seek God in all things, in all decisions, and your future will beautifully unfold.

Dominic Morrone ('09)

Featured in the March 2010 issue of Commraderie

What is your current job?

My current job is at the Homewood Suites by Hilton in New Windsor, New York.

What are your job responsibilities?

At this time I am the Front Office Manager; I started out as a front desk assistant and was quickly promoted to supervisor and then manager. I run a team of individuals who handle any guest needs that they can throw at us. I also facilitate their training and coach them in areas of need for guest satisfaction. Hilton has very specific and measurable goals for all of their hotels and I am proud to say that my team and I are in the top 10 of all 292 Homewood Suites front desk teams, bringing our rank up 180 spots since I first arrived. I help with group billing and reservations but most of all guest assistance. This job allows me to wear many hats including roles in Sales, where I had the opportunity to gain our hotel some big accounts. My biggest project to date has been handling West Point Military Academy’s Graduation weekend. A great deal of time and effort goes into this weekend as it is probably the biggest economic boost our area sees all year. Some other smaller responsibilities include scheduling, interviewing, and extended stay supervision.

What is your opinion of the job so far?

Overall I love this job. Like I mentioned above I get to wear a lot of hats and that suits me well as a Public Relations graduate. I am also in front of the people each and every day trying to make their hotel experience the best they have encountered. Service is at the forefront of all of our minds in a society that seems to put very little importance on guest and customer experience and satisfaction. It really shows you how simple it is to make a big difference. The industry is also very competitive which is perfect for a person like me. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to win. I also find that this job brings out my nature of servanthood and it’s easy to do what is natural; getting paid for it doesn’t hurt either.

Is there any experience you had at Messiah that best prepared you for this career?

I know it’s cliché to say, but it is tough to pick out one experience at Messiah that prepared me. As much as everyone would love to hear that it came out of the classroom, it really didn’t. Service opportunities at Messiah are great, and the ones that I took advantage of were very rewarding and an easy transition to my career. I think that a place like Messiah brings together many like-minded people, people who want to serve others and do business the responsible and right way. Each Messiah class I took stressed high moral fiber and the importance of honesty, which I do not waiver upon when faced with making a decision at work. Naturally, my fellow Communication students and teachers helped give me an edge into understanding and communicating with people—an invaluable skill in the hospitality business. If I had to pick a someone and not a something that defined how I would go forth in my career, it is undoubtedly Nance McCown. Certain people might have doubted my drive and character, but Nance really gave me the respect and chance I needed to see how I could work and serve through the PR Campaign. Messiah has the faculty that can do that like no other college, and that really puts us over the top.

Do you have any advice for current job seekers?

For job seekers right now, I would suggest to be open and be yourself; you cannot fake the character that students at Messiah have. Employers will see you for what you are and integrity is your greatest asset. When I say be open, I just mean don’t let your major tie you down. You never know what you will find that suits you or your personality. I used to be driven by the idea of a paycheck; I could have been an accountant but no offense to our great accounting majors, I couldn’t be that boring. Be patient and look at any job, whatever the size, with the same focus; be the best at what you do, big or small; and always remember that integrity is what you do when no one is watching.