2014 Student Industry Exchange Event (SIXe) Management Team

EVENT MANAGEMENT TEAM
  Keilah Cabrera
Event Logistics Manager
kacabrera@usfca.edu
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Keilah is a senior at USF, and was born and raised in the San Francisco bay area. She is a Communication Studies major, and Hospitality Industry Management minor. Upon graduation, she will pursue a career in Hotel Management. Her previous work experience include an event production internship at Merchants Exchange Productions, and as a Guest Experience intern at the Clift Hotel. She is currently working at the Front Desk at Clift, and is passionate about events, and creating memorable experiences for individuals. Through her experience as an event manager for the Student Industry Exchange event, she has learned many vital skills that she will utilize throughout her career.

  Gabriella de Castro
Sponsorship and Communications Manager
gvdecastro@usfca.edu
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Gabriella was born in San Mateo, CA but grew up in the Philippines, before returning to the Bay Area to finish her education. Her interest in event management began as a child upon watching the ending of the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. In Gabbi’s eyes the movie was outrageous in how the “grand ball" was planned in a matter of minutes, even from that age she was considering event logistics. In high school Gabriella worked as the Student Events Commissioner on campus, as well as volunteered for various community non-profit fundraisers in stage entertainment and event management. As a Hospitality Management Major at USF, she has developed professional skills through various work experiences and extra-curricular activities. Gabriella served as the Treasurer for HMA during the 2012-13 school year, as well as the CMAA Internal Relations Manager that same year, and is finishing up as the current CMAA student chapter Vice-President. As of now, she is working in Operations at the Hotel Monaco San Francisco, A Kimpton Hotel. Gabriella hopes to continue her education by obtaining a Certified Meeting Planner license and will work to make seamless and uniquely memorable events.

  Alanna DeSalvo
Talent Manager
acdesalvo@usfca.edu
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Alanna grew up in Marin County and discovered her passion for hospitality at a young age. As a child she could be found cooking in the kitchen with her mother or watching cooking shows on the Food Network. In Middle School, Alanna found her passion for events when she helped execute fundraisers for a sister-school in South Africa. In High School she continued to plan school fundraisers and functions in Leadership and as Senior Class President.

USF has allowed Alanna to obtain and develop skills in business management as a Hospitality Management and Entrepreneurship & Innovation double major. She has gained valuable working experience and further explored her passion for hospitality and events through internships at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa and McCalls Catering & Events. As Talent Manager for SIXe she has been able to apply the skills she has developed through her education and internships, further explore different aspects of events, and gain more hands on experience. Upon graduation in May, Alanna plans to pursue a career in Event Management where she’s inspired to create enchanting memories and experiences for others.

  Christine Duverney
Registration and Technology Manager
cnduverney@usfca.edu
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Christine is a senior Hospitality Industry Management major originally from Sacramento, California. For as long as she can remember, she has had a passion for food, and for many years dreamed of attending Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France to become a chef. Over the years her culinary aspirations changed to embrace the managerial side of the industry where she will be able to experience the entirety of the industry rather than just one, albeit tasty, aspect. Christine had the incredible opportunity to spend her junior year abroad in Paris, France and study with the University of Paris and Boston University. During her career at USF, Christine’s most memorable internships have been at The Palace Hotel, Orchard Hotels, and at her current internship in the Worldwide Sales Office for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

  Kelsey Hui
Catering Manager
kjhui@usfca.edu
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Kelsey Hui was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She grew up loving food and exploring the diverse restaurants in her hometown. She is a senior Communication Studies major, but because of her passion for food and event management, she started pursuing USF's hospitality program during her junior year. She declared a Hospitality Industry Management minor that same year and has never looked back! She has enjoyed getting to know the program's professors and is grateful for the professional skills they teach. Kelsey is currently the President of USF's Campus Activities Board and a charter member of the Eta Upsilon chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. She works in Student Leadership and Engagement as a Peer Advisor and has been interning with CuisineStyle by Pamela Keith to further develop her hospitality skills. Upon graduation, Kelsey hopes to find a career within the food industry that challenges and sparks her creativity!

  Kathleen Leo
Marketing and Finance Manager
kleo@usfca.edu
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Kathleen is a senior, graduating this May with the Hospitality Management Program. Born in San Francisco, but raised in Seattle, she was exposed to the industry as a child from her Aunt who worked in Hotel Operations. Traveling and staying at her Aunt’s different properties, instilled memories that she hopes to one day create for others. Even at a young age, she loved to serve people and tried to duplicate the hotel rooms in her own home with pyramids of hand towels and chocolates on the pillows for turndown.

Throughout her time at USF, Kathleen has had a variety of internships as Food and Beverage Intern at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, Housekeeping Intern at Mandarin Oriental San Francisco, Front Desk Intern with Courtyard by Marriott Bellevue/Redmond, Sales Intern in Four Seasons Worldwide Sales Office, and Social Media and Analytics Intern with start-up, Delicious Karma. She is currently President of Hospitality Management Association and is currently in the process of creating a USF Chapter of National Society of Minorities in Hospitality. Kathleen will follow in her Aunt’s footsteps and be pursuing a Management Training Program in Hotel Operations.