Meet HTIM Graduate: Dawn Nelson

Employer: Trackside Restaurant Corporation 
Title: Assistant Manager / Dining Room Manager / Bartender
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
​Date of HTIM course completion: June 2024
Why did you want to enroll in the HTIM business management course?
This course was recommended to me at the time of my promotion and turned out to be an invaluable resource as I stepped into my new role. It was the perfect opportunity to round out my education in this industry and allowed me to thrive in my new position. 

How will this help you step up in your career?
This course helped me to think bigger about tourism and hospitality beyond food and beverage service. Accordingly, my career goals now align with a broader vision of what I can accomplish. I will continue to invest in my work and build a lifestyle I really enjoy.
 
What advice do you have for others in the hospitality industry who are looking for ways to grow their career?
There are resources out there for anything you want to learn, just do the work! Find colleagues who are similarly ambitious, share your goals, and encourage each other to find success.
 
What was your favorite part of the HTIM business management course?
This course was richly rewarding in terms of the depth and breadth of material covered, the more I learned, the more ambitious I became. Additionally, I enjoyed finding new colleagues who shared the same passion for the hospitality industry.
 
How long have you been working in the industry?
8 - 10 years
 
Can you share more background on your current role?
Three years ago, I started as a bartender in a neighborhood bar and tavern.  From there, my role expanded to include supervisor responsibilities and eventually led to my current role, which is as Assistant Manager and Dining Room Manager for both Casey's Tavern and Sim's Beer Garden.
                                                                                                                               
What was your first job in hospitality? How did you get into this industry?
At 17 I needed a job that was close enough to walk to as I saved up for my first car. I landed a position as a line cook at my local Italian restaurant that specialized in pizza. What started out as a temporary job to get me a car, turned into a job that would spark my interest in customer service and would eventually lead me to my lifelong career.

Interesting and fun fact:
I really do like to make pizza! I enjoy the creative process, which is how I arrived at the beverage side of service -- bartending! I would love to run a bar that has an adjoining kitchen side pizza line. One of my favorite things to do is scope out bar setups in various places and see what interesting designs are out there. Sometimes I draw out the designs I imagine would work well.
 
Anything else you’d like to share?
Find your people and build your network of support. Working in this industry can sometimes be draining, so having colleagues who want to see you succeed is really important. I remember finding the US Bartenders' Guild several years ago, and joining the guild was one of the best moves I've ever made as a bar professional. 

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