Tisch Center Focus

Alumni Update

Matt Gomberg, B.S. Hotel and Tourism Management, ’06

“When I first entered the hospitality industry, I was 18 with a vision to be a general manager. With no prior formal training, I began my career at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park. Celebrities, royalty, diplomats—the rich and famous—would walk through the doors and it was my job to greet them. I was the envy of my peers.

But where was I going with this experience? If I were really going to get ahead in this business, I realized that I needed a college degree. Applying to the hospitality program at the Tisch Center was the smartest decision I could have made for my career. Being ‘in and of the City’ offers wonderful experiences for many NYU students, but for hotel students—it’s a playground.

All of the professors in the program had such an impact on me, both personally and professionally. They helped make me a better hotelier and a better person in general.

I am still working at The Ritz-Carlton, but as a housekeeping manager now, and I love every minute of it. In my position, I am learning about the ‘Heart of the House’ and the operation of the hotel has shown me how much impact the ‘Ladies & Gentlemen’ behind the scenes actually have on the guest’s experience.

There are many opportunities that lie ahead for me. I have aspirations of becoming a rooms executive, and later on, a general manager. The one thing that I am proudest of is that I am an NYU graduate, and with that degree, anything is possible.”

Amira Gertz, B.S. Hotel and Tourism Management, ’00

“After graduation, I started working in the hotel industry, but quickly discovered my passion was food. First, I worked for a wholesale food company. Later, I moved into catering, where I found that I loved designing menus, planning events, and working with chefs. As a founding member of the Pineapple Society (the undergraduate student club now named the Hospitality Business Society) at the Tisch Center, I was the one who always planned the events and parties, so it makes sense that this was the direction my career was to go.

In 2004, I joined Sebastians, a food-service provider of catering and special events services, where my career continues to flourish. As catering and event sales manager, I have planned and executed events in landmark locations, such as the New York Public Library, Radio City Music Hall, Nokia Theatre, and the Museum of the City of New York. A recent thrill was online coverage of one of my events by BizBash, the leading trade media for the event industry.”

Matt Slatus, B.S. Sports Management and Leisure Studies, ’06

“As part of my studies at NYU, I completed an internship in the corporate sales and marketing department at Major League Baseball. This led to a full-time job offer as a sales manager with the Staten Island Yankees, which I accepted upon graduation in December 2006.

Prior to the 2007 baseball season, the Staten Island Yankees team was purchased by Mandalay Sports Entertainment, a division of Mandalay Entertainment Group. A few months later, I was promoted to director, corporate partnerships. My responsibilities include selling corporate partnerships and supervising all sponsorship activation and servicing. I also oversee marketing and ad placement.

My career has advanced more quickly than I expected. I owe a lot of my success to some very talented and encouraging people. At NYU, Professor Wayne McDonnell always impressed me with his vast knowledge of baseball and his understanding of the business. Each class I took with him helped me in my career. Professionally, Jon Spoelstra, one of Mandalay’s presidents, has been a great mentor. Jon’s marketing philosophy—that sports teams are able to reach many, many people and not just fans who attend games—dictates the way I conduct business every day.

As I continue on my career path, I know that the skills I gained at NYU will continue to assist me in all my future endeavors.”

Peter Krasny, M.S. Sports Business ’06

Peter is the facility and events manager for New York University’s Department of Athletics, Intramurals, and Recreation. He serves as the on-site event manager for all NYU home varsity events and championships, and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Palladium Athletic Facility. Additionally, Peter is responsible for securing and negotiating corporate sponsorships for the department’s Tear It Up! campaign, which is designed to increase attendance at sporting events campuswide.

Mike Diegnan, M.S. Sports Business ’06
 

Mike is the senior broadband producer for NBCSports.com, based in Stamford, CT.

He is the manager of a crew of eight producers, editors, and production associates. Mike  is also working with NBCOlympics.com, which will be streaming more than 2,200 hours of live event coverage for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Before joining NBC in July 2007, Mike worked at MLB.com for four years, where he was a senior producer of original video content.

Michelle Chianese, Certificate in Meeting, Conference, and Event Management

“Initially, I took this certificate to help with my event planning job in the continuing education department of NYU’s School of Social Work. The semester after I com-pleted my certificate, my husband was transferred from his firm’s New York office to its Nashville, TN headquarters and I had to leave a job that I loved. I quickly found a position with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s (CCFA) Tennessee Chapter. I was hired to work on fundraising events. In the interview, my prospective boss commented on my certificate, saying that it would be a great asset for my new job.

Nearly two years later, I am still working for CCFA and using the skills I gained from the certificate program. I use negotiation skills while securing space for our events, efficiency tips that I learned from the PC applications classes, methods of organization for the day of event, and a host of other methods that are incorporated into my everyday thinking.

All my instructors were leaders in their fields; practicing what they teach. In particular, Ulla Buchner-Howard and James Spellos were both very encouraging and eager to help in any way that they could.

I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in honing event planning skills or for those who would like to start a new career.”