Steps to my Career Path 

 

I have led a busy life, always multitasking in careers and education. I began in the retail electronics and sales world, then transitioned into the hospitality and restaurant industry as my career focus. This included food and beverage (wine, beer, spirits, etc), cake decorating, culinary, baking, etc. In the midst of all this was a big move from Southern California to Las Vegas, where my career skyrocketed due to my innate interest in instructional design and technology and love for hospitality.

 

One of my major career goals was to bridge the gap between the hospitality/F&B field and technology, and the increased demand for online and hybrid course designers has helped contribute to my lifelong career goal. My experience working as an instructional designer for the Office of Online Education at UNLV led to a great human resources/training and development career with MGM Resorts University as a Learning Design & Development Business Partner, leading a team of e-learning/curriculum designers who develop curriculum for the 62,000+ employees at MGM Resorts International, all while continuing my education as a part-time student in the Ph.D. program in the WilliamF. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

 

Despite the many hats I wear, my love for sharing knowledge with others has not ceased, as I have also continued my experience in the teaching field as an adjunct instructor in the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, teaching a variety of hospitality classes in online formats (face-to-face, hybrid, online).

​

In 2016, I relocated to the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, to fulfill my 15+ year goal of living here. I was fortunate enough to join the IT Educational Technology Services - eLearn team at Kamehameha Schools as a Sr. Instructional Designer. Here I am able to continue serving students through the mission of Bernice Pauahi Bishop. 

​

Ultimately, I would like to culminate my experience with a career that allows me share my passion and knowledge with others whether it is through hospitality, teaching, or instructional design, and one day, perhaps all of the above! 

Future Goals 

 

My other personal goals to strive for:

 

1. Obtain my Doctor of Philosophy in Hospitality Administration (Completed in December, 2016!)

2. Become a Master of Wine

 

In December, 2016, I fulfilled my personal goal of completing my Doctor of Philosophy in Hospitality Administration, with a focus on learning and development with the use of learning management system to. My dissertation was titled: The Effect of Blackboard Tools on the Community of Inquiry and Learning Satisfaction with Learning Management System-enabled Courses. 

 

In the hospitality/food & beverage realm, so far I have obtained my: 

• Certified Specialist of Wine, Society of Wine Educators

• Level 1 Sommelier, Court of Master Sommeliers

• Level 3 Advanced Sommelier, Wine and Spirit Education Trust

• WSET Diploma (Level 4) Certification in progress 

• Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE)

• Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA)

​

Goals for the future are the following certifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP)

• Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) through the Association for Talent Development (ATD).