Jeffrey St. Cyr '11
Hospitality Management
Hometown: Alton, NH
As a UNH Student Senate Representative for Engelhardt Hall, I am highly motivated to spend my time not only on an academic level, but also volunteering and becoming involved with student affairs. As a student enrolled in the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, my contribution to campus life allows me to work with my peers to resolve issues important to students. I hope to utilize the academic and community involvement skill sets I gain from my time as an undergraduate to enhance my leadership skills and advance my career possibilities.
Why did you choose the Whittemore School of Business and Economics?
I knew that I wanted to stay within a one hour radius of Alton and Concord in order to manage my community and state commitments. I transferred to the University of New Hampshire's Whittemore School program my sophomore year to acquire an undergraduate college degree with a strong business curriculum. I am currently a Hospitality Management major interested in the tourism industry. This program offers service career tracks in various industry segments. WSBE"s Hospitality Management program is one of only ten programs worldwide that is accredited by both AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and ACPHA (The Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration).
How did growing up where you did influence your decision to enroll at WSBE?
Community service participation helped formulate my current career direction and ultimately defined my decision to enroll in WSBE's Hospitality Management program. I was elected to an open seat on the Alton School Board during my senior year in high school. At that time, I also served as a co-president for the Parent Teacher Student Association and was a delegate to the U.S. Senate Youth Program representing New Hampshire. My direct involvement through the Boys Scouts of America, as an Eagle Scout, afforded me an insight into the tourism industry. Tourism is the leading business in my hometown of Alton, NH with most visitors coming to visit Lake Winnipesaukee. Growing up involved in a town with abundant natural resources and enhanced with tourism businesses led me to the Hospitality program at WSBE. Here, a career in either tourism development or property management compliments my community involvement interests.
How are your experiences at WSBE meeting your expectations?
I took a class in Lodging Operations Management with Professor Lindblade and enjoyed getting to know this teacher on a more personal level. Here in WSBE, I feel that current industry and business information is readily obtainable from accessible teachers. And each semester I can plan my classes around the regular weekly meetings I must attend in Concord as a State Representative and in Alton as a member of the Alton School Board. Flexible class scheduling enables me to meet my local and state commitments while attending classes full time as a WSBE student.
Are there ways you see that a WSBE education is particularly important in the region you grew up?
Businesses in my area (the Lakes Region) talk about the economy and, more recently, the stresses and strains that are being felt personally by many local entrepreneurs. Business owners look to the Whittemore School to see what information is coming out about ways to deal with the economic crisis. They are interested to know how the economy affects tourism and other environmental issues around the state of New Hampshire.
Finally, how do you see your time at UNH helping you in your career?
As a WSBE student I have access to the expertise of a nationally ranked business school. Through my degree program, I am learning about various job functions in hotel operations and real estate management involved in tourism development. I hope to gain a broader view of the tourism industry segment of parks, lodging and camps. This information will benefit me directly as a current state legislator in the NH House of Representatives where I am a member of the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee. The Hospitality Management major can broaden my knowledge beyond the local and state levels, giving me information about the tourism industry on an international business level.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to learn more about managing hotel properties and promoting the tourism industry in New Hampshire. While it is challenging to be a student while actively involved in local and state government, I hope to utilize the academic and community involvement skill sets I gain from my time at UNH to advance my career possibilities.
More on Jeff's accomplishments:
State of New Hampshire House of Representatives
Top 40 under 40 (Manchester Union Leader, January 2009)
Student Senate University of New Hampshire