Students in Instructor A鈥橰ion Raymond鈥檚 Event Management Summer 2012 course had spent six weeks learning and preparing to host a new award banquet known as the Southern Summer Soiree.

The inaugural Soiree, which honored Dr. Deborah Breiter and Dr. Robertico Croes for their contributions to the college鈥檚 Department of Tourism, Events and Attractions, was attended by more than 30 faculty and industry professionals.

In preparation of the event, students chose as a team leader to oversee the event鈥檚 $1,450 budget and delegated various responsibilities among the rest of the class. Students were responsible for all aspects of the planning and execution of the Soiree, including the creation of event鈥檚 concept, room layout and d茅cor, catering and entertainment coordination, hosting and managing the event鈥檚 schedule.

鈥淭he purpose of this event was to provide my students with hands-on experience in the six stages of event planning, which include: anticipation, arrival, atmosphere, appetite, activities and amenities,鈥� said Raymond. 鈥淒espite only having six weeks to put the event together, this class did an amazing job preparing and executing the entire event. They put a lot of hard work into this event and I know they took away a lot from this experience. 鈥�

According to graduating senior Chelsea Bettmann, 鈥渢hroughout this process, we learned all about the business side of events, from pricing and knowing how and where to order things from, to being able to deal with unexpected issues and thinking on your feet. This was a great learning experience for all of us and it was extremely rewarding to see all our hard work come together like it did.鈥�

In addition to the valuable work experience and the highly sought-after education, UCF Rosen College Graduate Certificate students are often treated to behind-the-scenes tours of award-winning resorts and attractions, as well as guest lectures and presentations from top industry executives.

Recently, UCF Rosen College professor, Dr. Deborah Breiter, traveled just two miles from campus with her Convention Sales and Service class to expose her Graduate Certificate students to the sales and marketing intricacies of the Peabody Orlando, the top-rated convention hotel in the United States, according to Cvent – the world’s largest meetings and event management technology company.

Dr. Breiter and her class of 12 international students, who hail from 10 different nations, toured the AAA Four Diamond hotel with the Peabody Hotel Company鈥檚 VP of Sales & Marketing, Gregg Herning.

During the tour of the more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space, Herning discussed his role as VP of Sales & Marketing, his 17-person sales office at the Peabody Orlando, and the different markets the hotel sells to, as well as booking windows and booking pace.

鈥淭he students learned a lot about how a convention hotel deploys its sales force and the dynamics of the marketplace,鈥� said Breiter. 鈥淭hey also learned the importance of convention services in delivering the 鈥榙ream鈥� to clients.鈥�

Dr. Breiter鈥檚 Convention Sales and Service class offers students a process-oriented approach to selling the convention/conference market and servicing the events.

The Spring 2012 cohort of international students will complete the UCF Rosen College聽Graduate Certificate program on July 12.

For more information on the Graduate Certificate program at UCF鈥檚 Rosen College of Hospitality Management, please visit .

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Students at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management had only 14 weeks to plan, promote and produce the second annual Cabaret & Cabernet event, and they did so with flying colors.

Conceptualized and produced under the guidance of Instructor Suzan Bunn with the culinary talents of students in Chef Jay Judy’s class, the event generated $28,000 in sponsorships and profits.

Professor and Chair of the Tourism, Events & Attractions Department, Dr. Deborah Breiter, shared, 鈥淭his year鈥檚 proceeds will be used to update technology and equipment for the Bachelor of Science in Event Management program.鈥�

Bunn鈥檚 students developed the theme, planned menus, hired entertainment, secured sponsors, created collateral, handled logistics and promoted the event.聽 Amanda Katsch managed social networking and shared, “This year we used Facebook, Twitter and a blog to give the community a behind-the-scenes tour. We made use of people’s desire to know about the event to spread the word and build anticipation.”

Two hundred twenty tickets were sold for the April 16 evening showcase of food, wine and live Broadway-inspired performances.聽 The event captured the progression of cabaret alongside a robust menu highlighting classic and contemporary trends in fine wine and cuisine.

Cabaret & Cabernet was 鈥渒icked off鈥� by can-can dancers from the Columbus Center Dance Academy and a welcome from Rosen College Dean Abraham Pizam.聽 From there, guests followed the dancers into the Rosen College Courtyard for the first of many wine and food pairings.

Throughout the evening, attendees experienced three performances in separate venues around the campus, punctuated by tastings between each set.聽 The Courtyard Caf茅 was transformed into a speakeasy with smooth tunes by Dave Worker and Kristina Simmons.聽 The Disney Dining Room featured the musical talents and humor of performers from Baby Grands Dueling Piano Bar.聽 The Anheuser-Busch Beer and Wine Lab highlighted Legacy, a dynamic four-piece ensemble comprised of experienced Disney performers and hospitality professor Ron Logan.

At the conclusion of the event, guests enjoyed a champagne toast coupled with desserts.聽 Simmons sang, 鈥淐abaret鈥� from the courtyard balcony, and each attendee left with a souvenir wine glass, stopper and lanyard.

Save the date for the third annual聽Cabaret & Cabernet on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Visit for updates.聽 To view this year’s event photos by student Dereck Mateo, please click here.

Cabaret & Cabernet was supported by GES Exposition Services, Silversea Cruises, Universal Orlando, Visit Orlando, Smart City and the Orange County Convention Center, Cabot Creamery, Puff 鈥榥 Stuff Catering, Seasons 52,聽Shepherd Exposition Services and Walt Disney World Resort.

Partners Brian Avery, Andrea Gillman and Jessica Rivers recently launched 10×10 Solutions, a tradeshow marketing, consulting and staffing firm. 10×10 Solutions provides exhibiting companies with personalized strategies to attract quality tradeshow attendees, generate positive buzz on the showroom floor and increase business leads and profitability.

The trio met at Rosen College while Rivers and Gillman pursued their degrees in Event Management.聽 Avery, an alumnus with his Master鈥檚 Degree 聽in Hospitality and Tourism Management, and pursuing his Ph.D. in Hospitality Education, instructed Rivers and Gillman in his course on Hospitality & Event Risk Management. 聽Avery quickly became their favorite professor as a result of his industry know-how and applicability of concepts.

After graduating in the midst of an economic slump, Rivers and Gillman hit a wall when applying for jobs as they were either described as 鈥榦verqualified鈥� or told that companies were only hiring interns.聽 During this time, they recognized a need in the Orlando market for a company dedicated exclusively to tradeshow marketing services.聽 聽Rivers shares, 鈥淲e were so surprised when we started doing research that there were only secretarial and modeling agencies out there.鈥澛� Gillman adds, 鈥淔eedback from companies that hired a model for their booth was that although attractive, he/she couldn鈥檛 effectively market the company鈥檚 services.鈥澛� Realizing that paid booth staff could all at once be eye-catching, hospitable and knowledgeable, the two launched a business model and shared it with Avery for professional guidance.

Avery uncovered similar industry needs and instantly jumped on board with the project.聽 The three shared vision, passion and a background of entrepreneurial-minded homes, so the next step was logical.聽 They combined their collective 40-year experience with the Central Florida hospitality and events industry to initiate a recipe for success.聽 As the partners describe, 鈥淎fter several pots of diner coffee, waffles, biscuits and gravy and Tabasco-covered eggs later, 10×10 Solutions was born.鈥澛� The company name was easily agreed upon, as it鈥檚 understood by industry professionals and will receive top billing in phone books and online searches.

Although sharing a great deal of common ground, they each bring a different attribute to the table: Gillman is organized; Rivers is creative; and Avery possesses a wealth of knowledge.

In reflecting on their Rosen College roots, Rivers and Gillman are particularly indebted to the classes of Art Sims, Dr. David Kwun and Dr. Deborah Breiter, for their practical application to 10×10 Solutions.聽 Rivers describes 鈥淭he college as a whole feels like a family and is a professional environment.鈥澛� The three hope to cultivate a strong partnership by hiring our students and collaborating with faculty.

Avery calls this 鈥渏ust the beginning鈥� and plans to add additional staffing features in the future.聽 Promoting heavily through social media such as Facebook and Twitter, unveiling a fresh logo and a new website complete with professional photography, the young company is quickly making strides.

Rivers describes the successful partnership and shares, 鈥淲e鈥檙e completely in synch with one another.鈥�

To learn more, please visit .

Faculty and staff delighted in tropical cuisine such as tostones, tropical mango salsa, coconut crusted chicken breast, tropical fruit skewers, and — of course — 聽Key Lime Mousse Shooters.

The attendees wet their whistles with delicious mocktails including the Island Cooler and Fruit Loop while enjoying a photo station, Wii video games, coconut bowling and a Spinwheel of Fun.

Dr. Wilfried Iskat called the event 鈥渁 well planned and executed affair.鈥� Faculty members Dr. Deborah Breiter and Dr. Fevzi Okumus were naturals at bowling and staff member Jackie Toops couldn鈥檛 get enough of the photo station.

A slideshow acknowledging faculty and staff鈥檚 recent awards played throughout the reception. Raymond plans to incorporate a 鈥渢raditions鈥� theme again for next year鈥檚 event.

In addition to fun, food and recognition, faculty and staff won prizes including stays at White Lodging Hotels and gift cards to restaurants including Chili鈥檚, TGI Fridays, Tijuana Flats, Starbucks and more.

Raymond thanks faculty and staff for making the event a success.