“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”

Service is an essential component of a professional career. I was involved in several organizations in my undergraduate program and held leadership positions. The involvement developed my leadership skills. I have been a Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) member for well over 20 years. I served as a local board member and president of a chapter. I served on the global board of directors and eventually was on the executive committee and served as the association's president. Being part of that organization has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional career. I have met people from all over the world who work in different aspects of hospitality. It's almost as if we were an extended family. Whenever I need to find an answer or fill a position, I just reach out to this network of professionals. The organization also provides professional development. I have been the faculty advisor for the student chapter of this same organization and have seen first-hand the impact it has on my students when they can interact with professionals in their field. My goal related to service is to find an organization that will have that same feel and opportunities for me as I move forward in this new ISDT career journey.  

Another way of providing service is helping within the community. During the summer of the pandemic, I spent some time doing presentations for organizations that were assisting the restaurant industry in navigating through the challenges of the COVID-19 shutdown. Everyone who attended the sessions was so appreciative of the information I provided. Even though I thought this was something they probably already knew, surprisingly enough, they did not. We can all contribute somehow, whether it's mentoring someone who is just starting in their career or assisting someone who needs help getting started. Service is probably one of my favorite things to do because it gives you a sense of purpose. Assisting someone in achieving their goal is an honor. 

Service through the review of journal articles, volunteering at conferences has provided me opportunities to obtain different perspectives on topics and to strengthen my research acumen. Volunteering at conferences has also given me opportunities to network and has exposed me to aspect of the field I had not considered. Curiousity has then lead me to further investigate topics that are also applicable to my area of interest.