Club Management Association of America
James Madison University Student Chapter
Meet the Membership
Morgan Hitt
Senior
I started my hospitality experience in high school at my local McDonalds which is where I fell in love with working for guests. While I worked at McDonalds I was also interning at my local tourism department helping the Director of Shenandoah County tourism to market the county to the world. Later I worked at Sweet Blessings Bakery and Catering where I had various roles like cashier, delivery driver, and caterer. While working here, I also worked for Valley Ballooning where I helped set off and chase down hot air balloons. Last summer I moved to NJ for the season and got a job at Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery and Wildwood Country Club. When I moved to Harrisonburg, VA I began working at Hburg Bar and Grill and then later received my first retail job at Hennes & Maritz.
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Erin Conolly
Senior
I first got involved with the hospitality industry when I worked at a winery called Narmada Winery where I️ served food and eventually became a senior staff member able to train other employees. My next job was a serving position at a restaurant called Flint Hill Public House Restaurant & Inn. After that I️ completed my externship through Aramark for a semester and then I️ had another serving job at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. In the summer of 2018 I completed a management internship with the Bohemian Club in San Francisco, CA. I Interviewed, hired, scheduled, trained and managed a staff of 60+ bussers, as well as executed two events at the Club's second location in the Redwood Forest, a 1-week event and a 3-week event for 2,000+ members. The interns were also responsible for managing weekly and daily food service operations apart of the club and assisted the HR department in various tasks.
Jenna Edwards
Senior
The summer after my freshman year I was a banquet server at Springfield Golf and Country Club which initially made me interested in the club world. This past summer I completed a rotational internship at The Inn at Little Washington. I made incredible connections and gained experience in departments such as front desk, housekeeping, events and the food and beverage operation at the two Michelin star restaurant. This upcoming summer I am excited to be completing a food and beverage internship with Marriott Vacation Club on Hilton Head Island, SC.
Elizabeth Wittig
Senior
I was working in the industry for 7 years, primarily in F&B. I have hosted at Mikes American Grill, served at Macados, as well as helped open a Chuy's Tex-Mex where I served and trained. I was also on the leadership team at Chick-fil-A in Springfield for 3 years. Outside of F&B, I have worked as a consultant at a bridal salon, taking one-on-one appointment with brides and their bridal parties. I am currently an HR intern for Aramark at JMU and working at Chipotle. Last summer, I did a rotational internship with Pinstripes in Georgetown, DC for Front of House Management. In the summer of 2018, I will be doing a supervisory restaurant internship with Farmington Country Club.
Ashland Taylor
Sophomore
Hello my name is Ashland Taylor and I am a sophomore studying Hospitality Management at JMU. I am from Galax, Va and was first intrigued by hospitality as a senior in high school. I got a taste of the event planning industry when I coordinated an awareness walk for Multiple Sclerosis called “A Walk in the Park for MS.” In planning this event I completed tasks such as contacting donors, ordering supplies, overseeing volunteers, and handling finances. With about 200 participants, I was able to raise awareness of the cause and make a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I have also independently worked as a lifeguard at a country club for the past three summers where I handled pool upkeep, admissions, and enforced safety rules to all patrons. I hope to further my experiences in hospitality and see what the industry has to offer. In my free time I enjoy hiking, dancing, kayaking, and running
Meet the Membership
Cole Williams
Junior
Hey! My name is Cole Williams and I am from Lawrenceville, Virginia. I am a transfer student here at James Madison University. I am a junior studying Hospitality Management. I worked at Scotts Miracle-Gro for two seasons, where I worked at the front desk. I really enjoyed my time there because I loved helping people with their paperwork. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, kayaking, and gardening.
Erin Conolly
Senior
I first got involved with the hospitality industry when I worked at a winery called Narmada Winery where I️ served food and eventually became a senior staff member able to train other employees. My next job was a serving position at a restaurant called Flint Hill Public House Restaurant & Inn. After that I️ completed my externship through Aramark for a semester and then I️ had another serving job at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. In the summer of 2018 I completed a management internship with the Bohemian Club in San Francisco, CA. I Interviewed, hired, scheduled, trained and managed a staff of 60+ bussers, as well as executed two events at the Club's second location in the Redwood Forest, a 1-week event and a 3-week event for 2,000+ members. The interns were also responsible for managing weekly and daily food service operations apart of the club and assisted the HR department in various tasks.
Mariah Thompson
Junior
Hi my name is Mariah Thompson. I am originally from Blacksburg, Virginia. I transferred to James Madison University from New River Community College. So far, JMU has been a wonderful experience. I have a passion for helping and talking to people. I have always worked with people in my previous jobs and provide excellent customer service. After I graduate with a Hospitality Management degree, I would love to concentrate on special events.
Allison Criswell
Senior
Since September 2017 I have been a Tasting Room Associate at Cave Ridge Vineyard in Mount Jackson, VA. On a day-to-day basis, I give our customers wine tastings and educate them about our various wines grown and aged at our Estate Vineyard. I also work most major events we have at the winery including wedding vow renewals, baby showers, birthday parties, music events, and more. I want to get into Event Management so this experience with events is just what I need!
Ashland Taylor
Sophomore
Hello my name is Ashland Taylor and I am a sophomore studying Hospitality Management at JMU. I am from Galax, Va and was first intrigued by hospitality as a senior in high school. I got a taste of the event planning industry when I coordinated an awareness walk for Multiple Sclerosis called “A Walk in the Park for MS.” In planning this event I completed tasks such as contacting donors, ordering supplies, overseeing volunteers, and handling finances. With about 200 participants, I was able to raise awareness of the cause and make a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I have also independently worked as a lifeguard at a country club for the past three summers where I handled pool upkeep, admissions, and enforced safety rules to all patrons. I hope to further my experiences in hospitality and see what the industry has to offer. In my free time I enjoy hiking, dancing, kayaking, and running.
Tyler Tucker
Junior
Hello, my name is Tyler Tucker and I am from Smithfield, VA. I first started working in the hospitality industry when I was in high school at Little Caesars. When I came to JMU, I furthered my experience by accepting a customer service representative at Domino’s, followed by a special events catering server with Aramark. When I returned home for the summer, I moved into a management position at Domino’s after completing a four week training program. This position is where I grew the most and became so much more knowledgeable towards the hospitality industry and with customer service. After returning to JMU, I was in an extern position with Aramark and rotated throughout different positions and dining facilities here on campus. I am currently working with a group of classmates, for Spotswood Country Club, to participate in menu engineering and to propose a new menu to the board of directors. I have also just obtained a delivery driver position at Domino's here in Harrisonburg, and am looking forward to continuing my food & beverage education.
Hunter Hall
Sophomore
Hi my name is Hunter Hall from Winchester Virginia. I am a Sophomore, sports and recreation major. Golf is my primary focus in club management. Currently I am working as event staff at historic Jordan Springs primarily working weddings. Historic Jordan Springs is located in Winchester Virginia. My hobbies include golf, snowboarding, anything outdoors.
Grace Peterson
Freshmen
Hi my name is Grace Peterson and I am from Arlington, Virginia. I am a freshman studying Hospitality Management at James Madison University. My first experience with the hospitality industry was when I worked at the local military grocery store. I loved being able to interact and serve the people of the base and community. My next experience was in the winter of the 2017 when I worked for AMC Theaters in The Village at Shirlington of Arlington county. There I worked in concessions preparing food, performing weekly inventory, training new team members, and also assisted with closing procedures. I am looking forward to future opportunities that will allow me to gain more experience within this vast and exciting industry.
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Julia Macnamara
Junior
Hi! My name is Julia Macnamara and I am a double major in Hospitality Management and Italian, with a minor in General Business at JMU. During my freshman year at JMU, I began to work for Aramark at two different on-campus food courts and continued working for them through my sophomore and now my junior year. This past summer, I worked as a hostess and waitress at The Celtic House Restaurant & Irish Pub as well as with Salt Events LLC as an airport greeter and lead for a variety of events. I assisted with coordinating travel from the various airports to the event location. Both of these experiences reinforced my choice in pursuing hospitality, specifically hands-on customer service!
Elizabeth Wittig
Senior
I was working in the industry for 7 years, primarily in F&B. I have hosted at Mikes American Grill, served at Macados, as well as helped open a Chuy's Tex-Mex where I served and trained. I was also on the leadership team at Chick-fil-A in Springfield for 3 years. Outside of F&B, I have worked as a consultant at a bridal salon, taking one-on-one appointment with brides and their bridal parties. I am currently an HR intern for Aramark at JMU and working at Chipotle. Last summer, I did a rotational internship with Pinstripes in Georgetown, DC for Front of House Management. In the summer of 2018, I will be doing a supervisory restaurant internship with Farmington Country Club.
Madison West
Junior
Hi, my name is Madison West! I am proud to be a hospitality management student in the Hart School at James Madison University. I have held jobs in the hospitality industry since the age of 15 years old. I started my experience in two different frozen yogurt shops in my hometown of Virginia Beach, VA. It was at the frozen yogurt shops that I discovered I am passionate about providing customer service to help contribute in creating an unforgettable experience for each new and returning customer. After being referred to the Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club, I was lucky enough to secure a position there as a receptionist. Working at the Cavalier has been an incredible experience for me and really introduced me to the environment of country clubs. Eventually, I branched my way into the restaurant industry as a hostess and after a short time found myself at another country club, Broad Bay Country Club, but this time as a server. I continued my serving experience when I found an opportunity at a local seafood restaurant named Dockside. I am excited to be part of CMAA and look forward to the experiences the club has to offer, as well as, learning more about the country club industry.
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Allison Leung
Junior
Hi my name is Allison Leung and I’m a junior studying Hospitality Management at JMU from Falls Church, Virginia. I first started working in the hospitality industry the summer before my sophomore year where I worked as a hostess at Fogo de Chão. While working there, I often led the team of hosts in managing reservations. This past summer I had the opportunity to work as a hostess at the Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center. The most rewarding part about this position was the ability to interact with employees from other departments within the hotel and gain knowledge about how a hotel operates. I’m so glad to be a part of CMAA and I’m looking forward to everything the club has to offer.
Meghan Seamen
Junior
I first got involved in the hospitality industry as a tour guide within the Luray Caverns Corporation. Here I found a passion for serving others and building relationships. Within the organization, I have worked my way up to a shift manager working closely with junior staffers, scheduling tours and coordinating ticket sales. I also perform numerous other multifacted duties including; assisting with the execution of special events, festivals, and weddings held at the caverns, overall management of guest experience, including guest greeting, entry and assuring safety compliance, and providing excellent customer service to hundreds of guests on a daily basis, including directing them to other regional attractions.
Kaitlyn Tummarello
Senior
Hello my name is Kaitlyn Tummarello and I am a senior studying Hospitality Management at James Madison University. My hospitality experience began when I started working at Army Navy Country Club. I started working as a hostess and then later on became a server. This past summer I was able to do a Food and Beverage Internship at Army Navy Country Club where I was placed into a supervisory role. As an intern I was responsible for managing the staff, setting up the rooms for special events, redesigning the catering menu, completing the end of the night report, running my own event, completing inventory, and other various tasks. This internship allowed me to gain leadership skills as well as food and beverage knowledge and is something that I hope to carry over with me to my future career.
Mckenzie Riley
Junior
Hi my name is Mckenzie Riley and I am a junior in the hospitality program at JMU. I was born and raised in Williamsburg, Virginia, where I first got involved in the hospitality industry. After starting my first job as a server, I fell in love with the atmosphere of the restaurant business. Since then, I have worked as a waitress in several different restaurants in my home town. I then spent my summer of 2017 as an intern at Seabrook Island Club in South Carolina. As an intern there, I was able to shadow different department heads of the country club and gain a better understanding of what each aspect of the club looks like. This opportunity also introduced me to my interest in the HR department and event planning in a club setting. I am passionate about serving in the hospitality field and am excited to continue to gain more experience.
Fiona McHugh
Junior
I first got involved in the hospitality industry when I worked at The Water Mine, a small water park in Fairfax County. I worked as an admissions attendant and got to develop my customer service skills. My next job was a hostess at the restaurant On the Border where I got to train several other hostesses. After that I was an extern for Aramark. In the summer of 2018 I had an internship at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, VA where I was able to take on a supervisor position and manage 15+ employees at the restaurant by the pool. I was also able to conduct several interviews for potential employees, as well as further my knowledge in both the front and back of the house.
Austin Tydings
Sophomore
Hi my name is Austin and I am a sophomore hospitality management major. All my experience in the industry thus far has involved food and beverage. This past summer I worked at Stingray Sushi Bar + Asain Fusion in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. I worked as a restaurant expediter effectively communicating with the kitchen and wait staff, so that the food was correctly prepared and served.
Lauren Pollock
Senior
Hello, my name is Lauren Pollock and I am from the Northern Virginia area, right outside of Dulles Airport! I am a senior, Hospitality Management major and Business minor. This is my third year in CMAA and I am excited to be the new Service Chair! I am looking forward to this opportunity and cannot wait to learn more about the Club industry. A few of my passions are traveling, playing softball, baking, and hanging out with friends! I am excited to be a part of the Executive Board for the 2018-2019 academic year, and cannot wait to see where this opportunity takes me!
Lauren Pollock
Senior
Hello, my name is Lauren Pollock and I am from the Northern Virginia area, right outside of Dulles Airport! I am a senior, Hospitality Management major and Business minor. This is my third year in CMAA and I am excited to be the new Service Chair! I am looking forward to this opportunity and cannot wait to learn more about the Club industry. A few of my passions are traveling, playing softball, baking, and hanging out with friends! I am excited to be a part of the Executive Board for the 2018-2019 academic year, and cannot wait to see where this opportunity takes me!
Lauren Pollock
Senior
Hello, my name is Lauren Pollock and I am from the Northern Virginia area, right outside of Dulles Airport! I am a senior, Hospitality Management major and Business minor. This is my third year in CMAA and I am excited to be the new Service Chair! I am looking forward to this opportunity and cannot wait to learn more about the Club industry. A few of my passions are traveling, playing softball, baking, and hanging out with friends! I am excited to be a part of the Executive Board for the 2018-2019 academic year, and cannot wait to see where this opportunity takes me!
Julia Groene
Senior
Hi my name is Julia Groene and I am from right outside of Fredrick, MD. I have been a member of CMAA at JMU for the past 4 years! I am also a member of the international Hospitality honor society, ESD. During the summer of 2017 I was a Transfer Orientation Peer Advisor at JMU. This past summer I interned at the Cosmos Club in Washington D.C. as the Summer Administrative Intern. After graduation I look forward to entering the hospitality field!
Rebecca Hogarth
Junior
Hi my name is Rebecca Hogarth and I am a junior hospitality management major. I began my hospitality work experience with Aramark corporation here at JMU. The bulk of my work experience would be at Salamander Resort & Spa located in Middleburg, Virginia. I worked as an intern and have continued to work there as a seasonal employee.
Jake Abruzzo
Freshmen
Hi my name is Jake and I am a Freshmen Hospitality Management major. I am from Herndon, VA. My industry experience includes two plus years working for a privately owned wedding planning company, A Beyoutiful Fete Events & Design. Where I assisted in the planning, design, and execution of weddings and style shoots. After graduation I plan to become a successful wedding and or event planner, preferably part of a team. I would like to specialize in the planning of LGBTQ+ weddings.
Alexander Bassette
Senior
Hi my name is Alexander Bassette. This past summer I did my internship at the Bohemian Club in San Fransisco, California.
Natalie Pyne
Senior
Hello! My name is Natalie Pyne and I am a senior Hospitality Management major. I'm from Woodbridge, Connecticut. My love for hospitality began when I volunteered to work a convention my junior year of high school. Since then, I have worked in clubs, hotels, banquet facilities, and commercial food service. This past summer I interned in the banquet department at Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA.
Catherine Ontko
Senior
Hey Everyone! My name is Catherine Ontko and I am from Williamsburg, Virginia. I am a senior Hospitality Management major. My industry experience includes working as a hostess at Kingsmill Resort and Spa, and two summers ago I did my internship at the Stamford Yacht Club in Stamford, Connecticut. I did a rotational internship, so I was exposed to every department throughout the club including the dining room, banquets, and athletics. I was also a manager of the pool snack bar and managed a team of 11 servers and 4 cooks. This past summer I did my internship at the Bohemian Club out in San Francisco, California. I was a server intern and was in charge of 175 servers for our two events we had out at our second location. As an intern I was in charge of interviewing, hiring, scheduling, and managing my team! After graduation, I would like to either go into club management or work for a corporate hotel, such as Marriott or Four Seasons.
Savanah Eldredge
Junior
Hi everyone! My name is Savanah Eldredge, I am a third year Hospitality Management student and I’m from Austin, Texas. It is my pleasure to serve my CMAA student chapter as president this upcoming semester! My love for the industry began in high school when I served tables at a family owned restaurant in Northern Virginia – which is where I call home now. Since then I have enjoyed working in many restaurants, hotels, and even dipped my toes in event planning. During this past summer I interned with Marriott International at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas. I plan to graduate with an open mind about the wonderful opportunities this industry has to offer and hope to continue learning through the jobs I pursue. I’m looking forward to working with an amazing executive board and furthering my knowledge about the private club industry.
Allie MacCausland
Senior
Hi my name is Allie MacCausland and I am originally from Medford, New Jersey, but now live in Philadelphia during the summer. I am a senior studying Hospitality Management at JMU. In the summer of 2017 I worked at the Blue Pig Tavern, a fine dining restaurant housed inside Congress Hall Hotel in Cape May, New Jersey. This past summer 2018, I had an internship at Riverton Country Club in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. I enjoy sailing, snowboarding, baking, and traveling.
Brandon Miller
Senior
Hi everyone! My name is Brandon Miller and I am from Richmond, Virginia. I am a senior studying Hospitality Management. This past summer I served the New York Athletic Club as their Accounting & Membership Intern where I learned to interact with multiple departments as well as how best to approach sensitive situations. During my internship in Human Resources at the Cosmos Club I learned that I wish to further my understanding of the field and acquire my Masters in Human Resource Management. I hope to begin my career as a Human Resources Specialist and eventually become a Director of Human Resources.