Commentary: Wanderlust helps hospitality students thrive

Bill Oleksinski

Chief financial officer, POSabilities Inc., Fort Myers

Born and raised in a hospitality-focused family pioneered by my grandfather who was a skilled baker, my interest in the field of hospitality began at a young age.

This interest grew into a 30-year career of providing hardware and software products to the hospitality industry.

As an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, co-chair of the Resort & Hospitality Management Advisory Council, and co-chair of the Resort & Hospitality Management Director’s Council, I can clearly see how FGCU’s School of Resort & Hospitality Management shapes and prepares students for success in an industry that is not only growing within Southwest Florida, but also is vital to our region’s economy in terms of economic impact and employment.

The success of a resort and hospitality program in our area is essential to attracting and keeping much-needed industry professionals here in Southwest Florida.

The School of Resort & Hospitality Management prepares students for future careers by providing a broad range of educational opportunities within the classroom setting, along with practical resort and hospitality experiences that students need to succeed in the industry. The program also offers a wide range of concentrations to offer a targeted education in specific areas of hospitality to grow the individual student’s knowledge and expertise in the fields they wish to pursue.

That’s why I believe events that support this educational program, like the upcoming Wanderlust 2017, are essential to the continued growth of resort and hospitality management in our region.

The annual Wanderlust event supports the School of Resort & Hospitality Management by funding scholarships, conferences and training opportunities for students. Beyond the financial support, the event is also beneficial for both this program and the hospitality community, bringing these two worlds closer together for an evening that is not only fun but also essential to providing students with quality education.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to attend a number of Wanderlust events, enjoying the fun of the event themes and the many auction items up for bid. Some of this year’s auction items include vacation packages to California, Las Vegas or Germany, a round of golf at four different golf clubs throughout Naples, and dinner at Shula’s.

The true value of the Wanderlust event is that it is put on by the students themselves. As a student-run event, Wanderlust provides students with a real-world experience working on a high-profile and valuable event.

The Wanderlust event engages students through a student intern committee, this year led by School of Resort & Hospitality Management students Hannah Garnes, Laura Merritt and Leigh Pudwill, who are responsible for overseeing the complete production of the event, including planning, coordination and execution.

The 28th annual Wanderlust event on April 1 encompasses an evening of fun and entertainment that supports a fundamental program for Southwest Florida students. Tickets are still available for the event, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Six Bends Harley-Davidson in Fort Myers, followed by an after party at HeadPinz in Fort Myers from 9:15 to 11:15 p.m.

Event proceeds will benefit students within the School of Resort & Hospitality Management program. I invite you to visit www.FGCUWanderlust.org to learn more.

Wanderlust is a great event for the School of Resort & Hospitality Management program, and I hope you will join us in supporting Southwest Florida students. Together, we can prepare future hospitality business leaders for success.

Oleksinski is chief financial officer of POSabilities Inc. in Fort Myers.

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